Question:
Is the greeting of Salaam given to the people of Innovation? If the Salaam was not returned to them audibly is it to be returned inaudibly?
Answer:
It’s found from the Salaf that were those who didn’t give Salaam to the people of innovation, whoever’s innovation was to be known, and their stubbornness, then they are not to be greeted with the Salaam, not audibly nor inaudibly, this is if this didn’t result and cause harm upon you or upon the Dawah, in what would be a greater evil due to you not replying to them.
This is not from ourselves, this is from the Salaf, may Allah have mercy upon him, upon proofs.
Imam Maalik said:
“How evil are the people of Innovation, we don’t give them Salaam”.
And in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا، وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا، أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ؟ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُمْ
“You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you won’t believe until you love one another, should I not direct you to something if you was to do it you would love one another? Spread the Salaam amongst each other.”
[Reported by Muslim (54)]
You are prohibited from means which bring about love between you and the people of innovation, as long as they are upon their innovation and stubbornness, the Most High said:
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْۚ أُو۟لَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُۚ أُو۟لَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
“You (O Muhammad ﷺ) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Ruh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful.” [Al-Mujaadila:22]
As for the other evidences which contain the virtue of greeting with the Salaam and returning it, and not separating and not turning away from one another and boycotting, this is regarding other than the people of Desires those that stubbornly reject the truth.
The people of Innovation are dealt with how our Salaf, may Allah be pleased with them, dealt with them.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: Kanz Ath-Thameen, 5th volume, book of the Sunnah.
حكم إلقاء السلام ورده على أهل البدع
Translated by: Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani