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:

As Asalumualikum wa alaikum

i would like to know follwings.

4) What to reply if non muslims says "As-Salamualikum" to muslims as some say just say "Walekum" or something else ? and if non muslim says "Allah Hafiz ?"

A Muslim. 

(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:

Reply to salutation of non-muslim

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.

Q-1: What to reply if non muslims says "As-Salamualikum" to muslims as some say just say "Walekum" or something else ?

‘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}).

Q-2: and if non muslim says "Allah Hafiz ?"

Allah Hafiz basically means a declaration that ‘Allah is the Protector’. Thus if a non-muslim declares ‘Allah Hafiz’, he is indeed stating the Truth that Allah is indeed the Protector. Thus there is no harm if a believer replies in return the same declaration.

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.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan