The People of the Book

Abu 'Uthman an-Nahdi said, "Abu Musa wrote to a Persian grandeeand greeted him in his letter. He was asked, 'Do you greet him when heis an unbeliever?' He replied, 'He wrote to me and greeted me, so I haveanswered him.'"

Abu Basra al-Ghifari reported that the Prophet, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, said, "I will ride to the Jews tomorrow. Do notgive them the greeting first. If they greet you, then say, 'and on you.'"

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, said, "Do not give the People of the Book the greetingfirst. Force them to the narrowest part of the road."

'Alqama said, "'Abdullah used to greet the Persian grandees witha gesture."

Anas said, "A Jew passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, saying, 'Peace be upon you.' His Companions returned thesalam.' The Prophet said, 'The Jew said, 'Poison (sam) be upon you.'He caught hold of the Jew who admitted it.' The Prophet said, 'Answer himwith what he said.'"

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of the Jews greets you andsays, 'Poison be upon you (as-samu 'alaykum),' say, 'And on you.'"

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Return the greeting to whomever it is, Jew,Christian, or Magian. That is because Allah says, 'When you are greetedwith a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it.' (4:
86)"

Usama ibn Zayd related that one day the Prophet, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, was riding on a donkey on a straw saddle coveredby a blanket from Fadak. Usama ibn Zayd was riding behind him. He was onhis way to visit Sa'd ibn 'Ubada. He passed by a meeting which included'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul - before the enemy of Allah had becomeMuslim. The gathering contained a mixture of Muslims, associaters and idolaters.He greeted them.

'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas related that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb sent himto Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, and he called for the letter of theMessenger of Allah which Dihya had brought to the governor of Busra, whoin turn passed it on to Heraclius. He read it out, saying, 'In the nameof Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, from Muhammad, the slave ofAllah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, ruler of the Byzantines. Peace beupon the one who follows guidance. I call you to Islam. If you become Muslim,you will be safe and Allah will double your reward. If you turn away, thenyou incur the wrong action of your subjects. "O People of the Book!Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you (to Hiswords) Bear witness that we are Muslims."(3:
54)'"

Jabir said, "Some of the Jews greeted the Prophet, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, by saying, 'Poison be upon you (as-Samu 'alaykum)'and the Prophet replied, 'And on you.' 'A'isha, may Allah be pleased withher, said angrily, 'Didn't you hear what they said?' The Prophet replied,'Yes, and I answered them. What I said about them will be accepted andwhat they said about me will not be accepted.'"

See 1103.

'Uqba ibn 'Amir al-Juhani passed by a man who looked like a Muslimwho greeted him. 'Uqba answered him, saying, "And on you and the mercyof Allah and his blessings." His slave said to him, "He is a Christian."'Uqba got up and followed him until he caught up to him. He said, "Themercy of Allah and His blessings are for the believers, but may Allah makeyour life long and give you much wealth and many children."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "If Pharaoh had said to me, 'May Allah blessyou,' I would have said, 'And you.' But Pharaoh is dead."

Abu Musa said, "The Jews used to sneeze in the presence in theProphet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hoping that he wouldsay to them, 'May Allah have mercy on you,' but he used to say, 'May Allahguide you and out your affairs in order.'"

'Abdu'r-Rahman said, "Ibn 'Umar passed by a Christian who greetedhim and Ibn 'Umar returned the greeting He was told that the man was aChristian. When he learned that, he went back to him and said, 'Give meback my greeting.'"

'A'isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, said to her, "Jibril sends you the greeting." She replied, "Andpeace be upon him and the mercy of Allah."