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Etiquette

Hadith 4488

Chapter on Greeting

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Etiquette

Chapter on Greeting

Zujajat al-Masabih 4488Volume 4

English

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Do not 1 initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians. If you meet one of them on a path, compel them to its narrowest part.”
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Commentary and footnotes (2)

Note 1

Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians

(1) His statement: “Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians”: It is said in Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar: “Do not initiate a greeting to a non-Muslim, based on this Hadith. It can be said that the general Hadith, ‘Offer the greeting of peace to those you know and those you do not know,’ was for the purpose of winning hearts at the beginning of Islam, then this prohibition was revealed.” For this reason, At-Tahawi said in Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: “The Prophet’s greeting to them was when Allah commanded leniency and forgiveness toward them, avoiding argumentation except in the best way. Then Allah abrogated that and ordered fighting them, abrogating the greeting with it. It is established by his statement: ‘Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians, and if one of them greets you, say, “And upon you,” returning only what they said.’ They were prohibited from adding to it, which is the view of Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf, and Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on them).” It is also said in Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar: “A Muslim may greet a dhimmi if there is a need, otherwise it is disliked, which is the correct view.” It is further stated in Radd al-Muhtar: “Some scholars said there is no issue with it without distinction, as mentioned in Al-Khaniyyah.”

Note 1

قوله

(۱) قوله: لا تبدؤوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلام قال في الدر المختار: فلا يسلم ابتداء على كافر، لهذا الحديث. ويمكن أن يقال: إن حديث العموم: تقرأ السلام على من عرفت عمن لم تعرف كان في ابتداء الإسلام المصلحة التأليف، ثم ورد هذا النهي . لذلك قال الطحاوي في شرح معاني الآثار»: إن ما كان من تسليم النبي عليهم كان في الوقت الذي أمره الله بالعفو عنهم والصفح، وترك مجادلتهم إلا بالتي هي أحسن، ثم نسخ الله ذلك وأمره بقتالهم، فنسخ مع ذلك السلام عليهم، وثبت قوله: «لا تبدؤوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلام، ومن سلم عليكم منهم فقولوا: وعليكم حتى تردوا عليه ما قال. ونهوا أن يزيدوهم على ذلك، وهو قول أبي حنيفة وأبي يوسف ومحمد الله . وقال في «الدر المختار» أيضًا: ويسلم المسلم على أهل الذمة لو له حاجة إليه، وإلا كره، هو الصحيح. وقال هنا في رد المحتار» مقابله : إنه لا بأس به بلا تفصيل، وهو ما ذكره في الخانية» عن بعض المشايخ.