Saying Asalam o alikum to Non-Muslims
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Asalam o alikum,May I know kindly that Islam allows Muslims to greet non muslims with complete Asalam o alikum? as I have read somwhere that Muslims should not say complete Asalam o alikum to non muslims, now i have Non-Muslim friends, and i am always confused what to say to them.plus may I know that can Muslims say Hello?regards Aiman Batul Shaikh.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
‘As-Salaam o Aleikum’ is a dua or supplication a believer makes for his believing brother and sister, and asks for Peace and Safety for his brother-in-faith from the source of All Peace, Allah Subhanah.
If a non-muslim, who does not believe in Allah and the Last Day, says ‘As-Salaam o Aleikum’ to a believer, one may reply ‘Wa-Aleikum’ (and unto you… {whatever is appropriate to you}).
The best dua or supplication a believer can make for a non-muslim is that Allah Subhanah guides him to the Straight Path of Islam. Thus, he may reply in any of the following ways to the non-muslim who says As-Salaam Aleikum or Allah Hafiz:
Allah Yah-deek : may Allah Guide you (to Al-Islam).
Hadaak Allah : may Allah Guide you (to Al-Islam).
It would be best to reply ‘Allah Yahdeek’ or ‘Hadaak Allah’ to any salutation of a non-muslim, for it would be the best dua or supplication a believer can make to the non-muslim, as their sincere well-wisher and their brother-in-humanity.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam,
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