When returning the greeting one must add the conjunction “and,” saying, “And upon you be peace.”

It is discouraged to initiate the salām to a woman who is not a close relative, unless she is elderly and plainly dressed. It is likewise disliked to greet someone who is reciting Qur’an, engaged in remembrance, proclaiming the talbiyah, teaching ḥadīth, delivering a sermon, giving an admonition, and the like—as well as those who are listening to them. The prohibition on shunning a fellow Muslim is lifted once the greeting is exchanged.

Saying the salām is recommended when taking one’s leave, when entering one’s home, an empty house, or an empty mosque, with the wording: “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.” The minimum wording that suffices is “Peace be upon you,” to which the reply is “And upon you be peace.” The complete form is “Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings,” and the reply should be the same.

It is impermissible to shake hands with a young woman to whom one is not related. Handshaking is recommended between men, and likewise between women, and one should not withdraw his hand until the other withdraws, unless necessity demands it. There is no objection to embracing, or to kissing the head or hand of scholars and pious people and those similar to them.

Second: “If he invites you, then respond.” The Exalted says, “But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse” ⦗33:53⦘. In Sunan Abū Dāwūd (3741) it is reported from Ibn ʿUmar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever is invited and does not respond has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.” Muslim records: “When one of you is invited by his brother, let him respond,” and in another wording, “When one of you is invited to a wedding banquet, let him respond.”

Al-Iqnaʿ states: Responding to a wedding banquet is obligatory when the host specifically names a Muslim whom it is forbidden to boycott, whose livelihood is lawful, and this applies on the first day only. It is the host’s right, though it is waived if he excuses the invitee. If the invitee is ill, nursing the sick, occupied with guarding property, impeded by extreme heat, cold, or rain that would soak his clothes, or if he is an employee who has not obtained his employer’s permission, then responding is not obligatory.