They may be confused about whether it's correct for them to return your salam or not.They may be confused about whether you are Muslim or not, and.Socially speaking, it's absolutely proper to greet Muslims with salam even if you are not a Muslim. Socially, What Should I (a Non-Muslim) Do? Some say yes it is, and some say no it's not.įor those who say yes it is, based on this ayah, they see no problem with returning salam if a non-Muslim (Christian or Jew specifically) initiates salam. Scholars differed about whether it's obligatory to return the greeting or not. Indeed,Īllah is ever, over all things, an Accountant. In fact, one ayah mentions:Īnd when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with oneīetter than it or return it. On the other hand, Islam commands us to treat others well, irrespective of their choice of religion or way of life. (Ahlul Kitab is considered a higher level of non-Muslims since their religions were originally also divine if they can't have salam initiated to them, obviously it would apply to other religions and ways of life that Islam holds at a lower status.) Because we cannot initiate salam to non-Muslims. I Thought this came from an ayah however, I cannot locate that ayah presently.ĭo not initiate the greeting of salaam to a Jew or a Christian ( Saheeh Muslim)īased on this, we can conclude that there may be a problem giving salam (or returning it) to non-Muslims. Should Muslims Return the Greeting of Salam to Non-Muslims?įirst of all, there's a principle that the greeting 'As-salaamu 'alikum' (peace be upon you) is for the believers (Muslims). Then, I will address the social implications of doing so. Let me address the inverse of this question (should Muslims return salam?) first, because that issue appears in the mind of Muslims when someone not visibly Muslim gives them salaam. Since I brought this up in chat, I feel I should throw my perspective here.

Common greetings in arabic