Here is a benefit on how to give Salam when you see a Muslim in the company of non-Muslims. This happens at times, especially when we meet Muslims who are sitting with non-Muslims in malls or other public areas. The Sunnah is the following:
As for giving salam to a mixed audience, then Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah said:
فَصْلٌ وَثَبَتَ عَنْهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ ( «مَرَّ عَلَى مَجْلِسٍ فِيهِ أَخْلَاطٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ عَبَدَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ، وَالْيَهُودِ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ» )
Chapter:
It is established from the sallahu alayhi wa salam that he passed by a gathering mixed with Muslims and Mushrikeen worshipers of idols and jews, so he gave salam to them.
[Reported al-Bukhari]
Hafidh Ibn Hajr rahimahullah said:
قال النووي : السنة إذا مر بمجلس فيه مسلم وكافر أن يسلم بلفظ التعميم ويقصد به المسلم
“Imam Nawawi rahimahullah said: The Sunnah is if a person passes a sitting with a Muslim and a Kafir, he gives salam with a general wording and he intends by that the Muslim”
[Fathul-Bari]
Hafidh Ibn Hajr rahimahullah mentions two ways to do so:
وأخرج عبد الرزاق عن معمر عن قتادة قال السلام على أهل الكتاب إذا دخلت عليهم بيوتهم السلام على من اتبع الهدى وأخرج ابن أبي شيبة عن محمد بن سيرين مثله ومن طريق أبي مالك : إذا سلمت على المشركين فقل : السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين
Abdurrazzaq reported from Ma’mar from Qatadah rahimahullah who said:
“The greeting to the people of the Book when you enter their houses is :
السلام على من اتبع الهدى
May peace be upon those who follow the guidance”
[I say its chain is Saheeh]
Ibn Abi Shayba reported from Muhammad Ibn Sireen something similar and from the way of Abu Malik:
“If you give the greetings to the polytheists, then say:
السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين
May peace be upon us and the righteous servants of Allah”
[Fathul-Bari]
And Allah knows Best
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
