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:

Assalamualaikum wrwb,

Are we allowed to say salam to non-believers? I know this doesn`t make much sense but sometimes we do encounter some non-believers who mostly are surrounded by believers and tend to say salam to believers. So in that case, is there any harm in us aswering there salam by saying walaikum assalam? Plz clarify.

Jazak Allah! 

(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:

Salaam to non believers

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 86:

86 When a (courteous) greeting is offered you meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 60 Surah Mumtahina verse 8:

8 Allah forbids you not with regard to those (unbelievers) who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just.

‘As-Salaam o Aleikum’ is a dua or supplication a believer makes for his believing brother and sister, and asks for Peace, Blessings, Mercy and Safety for his brother-in-faith from The Source of All Peace, Allah Subhanah. There is absolutely no harm if one wishes Peace for a non-muslim, but the truth of the matter is that no person can experience genuine peace and safety in the life of this world and especially in the Hereafter, if one is not guided to the Truth of Islam.

Thus, the absolute best dua or supplication a believer can make for his non-muslim brother/sister-in-humanity is that Allah Subhanah guide them to the Truth and Straight Path of Islam. Thus, regardless of how the unbeliever chooses to wish a believer, be it ‘hi’, ‘good morning’, or ‘good evening’, or ‘salaam’ etc., the absolute best wish or supplication a believer may and should make in reply, as his genuine well wisher in this world and the Hereafter is one of the following:

1.      Allah Yah-deek : may Allah Guide you (to the Truth).

2.      Hadaak Allah : may Allah Guide you (to the Truth).

Your Question: So in that case, is there any harm in us aswering there salam by saying walaikum assalam?

Although there is absolutely no harm in replying to the ‘salaams’ initiated by our non-muslim brethren, a much better reply would be to implore Allah Subhanah to guide them to the Truth of Islam. It might sound and feel a little different in the beginning, with a little practice this beautiful supplication of imploring Allah Subhanah to guide them to the Truth would become second nature when replying to the greetings of our disbelieving brethren in humanity.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan