Ibn Masud thus permitted initiating a greeting to them by gesture, because it is not the greeting distinctive to Muslims. The same may likewise be said of greeting them with expressions such as those we have mentioned.

As for what is stated in some Hanbali works, such as al-Dalil—that it is also forbidden to initiate conversation with them by saying, “How are you this morning or this evening?” or, “How are you?” or, “How are things with you?”—I know of no evidence for this in the sunnah. Indeed, its commentary, Manar al-Sabil, explicitly states that this was inferred by analogy from the greeting. I say: It is evident that this is an analogy with a relevant difference, for the greeting possesses virtues that are not reported regarding the other expressions mentioned. And Allah knows best.

Another issue discussed in the gathering referred to was whether, in returning the greeting of a non-Muslim, one may say, “And peace be upon you.” I answered that this is permissible, provided that his greeting is clearly and correctly pronounced, with no distortion of the tongue—as the Jews used to do with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions when they would say, “Death be upon you.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, therefore instructed that they be answered only with, “And upon you,” as is established in the two Sahihs and elsewhere in the hadith of Aishah.

I said: Considering the reason for this prescribed ruling entails that one may return the greeting in like manner when the stated condition is met. I supported this with two points:

First, his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “When a Jew greets one of you, he only says, ‘Death be upon you’; so say, ‘And upon you.’” It was narrated by the two Shaykhs, and also by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1106). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained his instruction, “So say, ‘And upon you,’” by the fact that they say, “Death be upon you.” This explanation indicates that if they say, “Peace be upon you,” then their greeting should be returned in kind: “And peace be upon you.” This is further supported by the following second point: the general import of Allah’s saying: “When you are greeted with a greeting, return it with one better than it, or return it in like manner.” Its general wording includes non-Muslims as well.