Conveying Salaam to a Ghair Muqallid or Raafdhi
Case 90
If a ghayr Muqallid i.e. non-conformist or Raafdhi conveys Salaam to the Ahle Sunnat, should he reply to him or not, and if he replies, then how should he reply?
The Ruling
If there is no fear of fitna i.e. strife, there is actually no need to reply.
ولا يقاسون على ذمى بل ولا حربى، لان حکم المرتد اشد
Regarding them is the analogy concerning Zimmi kaafirs (i.e. those obeying Islamic Rule) or the Harbi kaafirs, is not valid, because the ruling regarding an apostate is most strict.
If there is fear i.e. risk of strife, then simply say ‘Alaik’. It is in Durr e Mukhtar;
لوسلم یهودی او نصرانی او مجوسى على مسلم فلا باس بالرد ولكن لا يزيد على قوله وعليك، كمافى الخانية
If a Jew or a Christian or a Zoroastrian conveys Salaam i.e. greets a Muslim, there is no harm in replying, but do not say more than Alaik, just as it has been mentioned in Fatawa Qazi Khan.
There remains now one (other) scenario, that by replying in such a brief manner if there is still a real risk, or Allah Forbid and a Muslim has some Shar’i need and compulsion in his early days of Islam (i.e. a new Muslim), then what should he or she do? I (Aala Hazrat RadiyAllahu Anhu) say, (In this state of compulsion only) he should say the entire Salaam and even add the word ‘Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu’ as well, and there is no harm in this. What is the (wisdom) in this case! It is this, that with every person, even if he be an unbeliever, Kiraaman Kaatibeen (the two Angels attached to each person to record his deeds), and some Angels of protection are also present.
Almighty Allah says,
كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِالدِّينِ
Certainly not, but you deny the authenticity of Justice taking place
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ
And undoubtedly, there are some custodians set upon you
كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ
The Honourable Scribes (i.e. of your deeds)
[Surah Al-Intifaar (82), Verse 9]
Almighty Allah says,
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ
For man (i.e. humans) there are interchanging Angels, in front of him and behind him, that safeguard him by the command of Allah.
[Surah Ar-Ra’ad (13), Verse 11]
So when replying (to them) or when conveying Salaam i.e. greeting, make the Niyyat that you are making Salaam to those Angels.
Translator’s Note: This is in an extremely risky situation which will lead to immense strife if one does not respond. This should not be used as an excuse by the agents of false unity, to start conveying Salaams to budmazhabs, on a general basis.
References
Fatawa Africa, case 90, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Qadri RadiyAllahu Anhu
[Translation]
Mufti Afthab Cassim Qadri Ridawi Noori