Mohammad Elshinawy – Giving Salaam to Non-Muslims
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AI: Transcript ©
The default the obvious default is that, you know,
a Muslim does not do that. And in our context, there could be small exceptions, but there should also be a readiness to say, I don't shake hands with women, I don't have the right to touch you, you know we should be
expecting respect from others after we have respect for our own values and do this.
And there's hardly ever a time that I do this, by the way, except that it turns into a very pleasant conversation
about Islam and Islam as regard for women to not just be stared at or touched by anyone.
And there's usually a great deal of appreciation for the the wisdom behind this and the
the sentiment behind this that could be misunderstood lots of times if you don't try to explain in brief terms of course, the elevator pitches they say. So let's move on Sharla tonight, the next chapter and no Rahim Allah Allah says or the next section in this chapter, he says Rahim Allah, Bebo to headin at death in El kheir fear Ravi Selim, the chapter on the prohibition, there has been a reported prohibition of us initiating salaam with the gaffer with the non Muslim
the unbeliever work a fee at a rod the ally him and how a person should respond to them meaning if they initiate the salam was the hubbub is Salam, Yala Helene Mejlis aefi him Allah Al imaginisce. In fee him Muslim Munna or Kfar and the sooner or the right it is encouraged for you to give the salam when people are sitting there including Muslims and non Muslims. In that case, you will be giving the salam. So there's three Hadith here that we alluded to when someone asked this question a few nights back. The first of them is Abu Hurayrah Radi Allahu Allah narrated the messenger of allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Let's have dealt with Yahoo they were not Sarabi Salam do not
begin or initiate the Jews and the Christians with salaam are telling them As Salam Alikum for either Allah P to a hada home fee for either lucky to Maha homefield, la dippin for rule who either I'll be happy. And when you encounter one of them
on the road, then
rowhome have them walk or press them to walk on the sides of it the sides of the road.
What does this mean? I told you that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as a middle class and Rahim Allah who mentions in his books and others, of course, my readings were just written in plain writing a whole lot. That you know, the Prophet SAW Selim, many times his statements cannot be understood the way the Quran can be understood, because the Quran was meant to be a universal address. Yes, there is some degree of expectation in the Quran that you understand the background of the ayat. Right? When the when the Quran is speaking about whether or * doesn't always say better or it's expecting that the Muslim especially is so close to the Quran, that he understands what's
being discussed. There is some degree of that, but there is exponentially more of that necessary to understand the Hadith, right? Because a hadith did not come down as an address for a community. The hadith came down as a lived experience the Prophet SAW Salem saw one thing was speaking in a certain moment, about a very specific incident. Right? Some of the Quran came down incidents related some of it came down universal address, whereas the statements of the Prophet SAW Selim came down in the course of his 23 year ministry, right, on incidents, right. And it would not have made sense for him to speak out of context, something is going on, he's addressing something else people will not
understand. So it had to be this way. And so the middle claim says this particular Hadith, you know, was stated after Bennell cooroibah, which were their
partners in Medina, there was to dry two tribes of the Arabs allows Aloha Suraj and there were three tribes of the Jews of Medina bento, another bento final car and Venom Corolla. At that time, bento Karela had betrayed the treaty that was between the Muslims and the Jews, that they would protect Medina together. Benbecula, this tribe of the Jews had conspired with the Mexicans, the pagans of Mecca to Dr. Mohammed out alayhi salatu salam of Medina, they were going to murder the women and children and they were going to have the men overrun by the coalition. This was why it was called the Battle of Allah has served the Confederation and confederated against the Prophet salallahu
Alaihe Salam and the Muslims. And so after this standoff took place and they the Confederates didn't want to wait anymore and they left to Medina, the prophets Allah marched out to Benin, Quran Allah to punish those who are going to annihilate them. Right who did this act of treason. And so this was stated in that context when you get there. They were more
What's going on Corrado? Don't give them Salam because Salam is a prayer but it's also a notice that we are on good terms right Peace be upon you, meaning I wish well for you know, this was a different type of context, a different moment that required a very different reaction. And so Allah azza wa jal knows best, perhaps this is the most correct way to understand what type of situation this applies in. Right.
That's all. And so it could be warranted, it could be argued that when, you know, there is a potential benefit and giving a non Muslim said I'm saying as salaam alaikum this could be done based on this understanding of that text.
Wow. And also,
if there could be harm averted, right, if you're keeping it to yourself, and not greeting A salaam aleikum, or otherwise, your non Muslim colleagues and co workers, this could bring about a great deal of harm for you and also for the reputation of your religion. And so in that case, even if this were the universal rule, an exception could still be imagined in the Sharia with the flexibility of the Sharia.
And as Radi Allahu Anhu said, This is the second Hadith and we will not have time for all three. Let the messenger of allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said either Salam aleikum al Kitab if according to Aleikum, when the people of the book say to you, salaam they greet you say to them? Well, I like them. In other words, don't say to them well, I like them as salam.
So is that once again, a standard rule and absolute rule that you don't say why they come as salaam to Al Kitab. The people of the book, some scholars have said this, we need to be honest, some scholars have understood it to be that way, because the wording is very general. But other scholars understood it in light of other a hadith that seemed to be speaking about the very identical situation where the Prophet SAW salem said what Alikum what not to people that gave Salam people that gave Salam in a very conniving way in a very hostile way. And so he said, if they do this, so the second group of scholars will say if they do this, only tell them why they come. So whatever
they're saying the mockery, you're saying right back to you. So they don't mean something evil towards you. And then you mean back to them made a piece? No, you this will look like naivety this would look like you're either a pushover or someone who's gullible and doesn't understand what's happening in the real world. What is that other Hadith it's actually also unselected Muslim, where a group of Jews had come to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in Medina and they said to him, Assam or alayka or Assam or Alikum Assam sounds like if say it fast like a salaam, but Assam means death. So they were saying may death be upon you.
And so the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam caught this and he said to them, Well, I like them and upon you.
I shall have the Allahu Anhu couldn't stop there. So she said to them, well I like when was Sam or Allah, Allah to Allah he will hobble may death be upon you and the curse of God and His wrath.
And then he said to her, Oh, a riff Shall I shall be gentle in Allah raffia Can you hippo riff, Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, what yak you will furnish and beware of vulgarity beware of harshness. She said Dr. Rasul Allah, you didn't hear what they said.
He said to her, and did you not hear what I said? I said, Why, like, that's enough. He said a * and now who lie you stir jab will let him fear while you stir Jabu LiFi him is that I said, Well, Alikum and the only difference between what they said and what I said it was not any weaker it is the fact that they're do it against me will not be accepted, and my dua against them will be accepted. So this is the greater story, the greater context, they're inside a Muslim. And perhaps that is the way to understand the statement of when they address you. Meaning if they address you like this, it's controversial, but that's the understanding that I lean towards for whatever that's
worth and Allah azza wa jal knows best Subhanak long Hamlet Chateau La Ilaha Lannister Filipina to Willick Sorry, I couldn't split it up to you. I didn't know how to, for my apologies