is based on reasoning. Reports have also been transmitted to this effect. Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Juhanī reported: “I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘Whoever rides out to the Jews in the morning, do not initiate the greeting of peace to them. If they greet you, say: “And upon you.”’” A report with a similar meaning has also been transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through Suhayl ibn Abī Sālih, from his father, from Abū Hurayrah.

Ashhab related from Mālik, in the section entitled al-Jāmi‘ in al-‘Utbiyyah, that one should neither greet non-Muslims under Muslim protection nor return their greeting. This means that one should not respond to them as one responds to Muslims, but should confine the reply to “And upon you,” as stated in the hadith. The hadith in al-Muwatta’ states that when one of the Jews greets you, he merely says, “Peace be upon you,” so say, “Upon you,” without the wāw (“and”).

The appropriate response here is “Upon you,” without the wāw. If you are certain that his greeting was “Al-sām ‘alayk,” meaning “Death be upon you,” or “Al-silām ‘alayk”—with an i vowel on the sīn—meaning “Stones be upon you,” then say, “Upon you,” without the wāw. If you wish, you may say, “And upon you,” with the wāw, because our supplications against them are answered, whereas theirs against us are not, as reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

‘Ā’ishah related: “Some Jews entered upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, ‘Death be upon you.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, ‘And upon you.’ ‘Ā’ishah then said, ‘Death be upon you, and Allah’s curse and wrath, you brothers of apes and swine!’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘‘Ā’ishah, be forbearing and avoid foolishness.’ She said, ‘Messenger of Allah, did you not hear what they said?’ He replied, ‘Did you not hear how I answered them? Our supplication against them was answered, while theirs against us was not.’”

If you are not certain of this, say, “And upon you.” They explained that if you say, “Upon you,” without the wāw, when he has actually said, “Peace be upon you,” you will have denied peace to yourself and directed it back to him.

Someone who mistakenly initiates the greeting of peace to a Jew is not obliged to tell him: “I only greeted you first because I thought you were a Muslim. Do not think that I intended to greet you while knowing that you were not a Muslim.” This is the meaning of Mālik’s statement in his al-Muwatta’ that someone who has greeted a Jew need not ask him to release him from that greeting. For if he does so, he has withdrawn the honour he conferred upon him by greeting him, and the protected non-Muslim’s pleasure at receiving it is undone. Al-Dāwūdī explained its meaning as follows: he should not ask him to