Al-Adab Al-Mufrad: The People of the Book

512

Chapter: When a dhimmi writes and gives the greeting, he is answered

Abu 'Uthman an-Nahdi said, "Abu Musa wrote to a Persian grandee and greeted him in his letter. He was asked, 'Do you greet him when he is an unbeliever?' He replied, 'He wrote to me and greeted me, so I have answered him.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1101
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 1
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1101
513

Chapter: Do not initiate the salam with dhimmis

Abu Basra al-Ghifari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I will ride to the Jews tomorrow. Do not give them the greeting first. If they greet you, then say, 'and on you.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1102
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 2
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1102
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not give the People of the Book the greeting first. Force them to the narrowest part of the road."
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1103
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 3
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1103
514

Chapter: A person greeting a dhimmi with a gesture

'Alqama said, "'Abdullah used to greet the Persian grandees with a gesture."
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1104
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 4
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1104
Anas said, "A Jew passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, 'Peace be upon you.' His Companions returned the salam.' The Prophet said, 'The Jew said, 'Poison (sam) be upon you.' He caught hold of the Jew who admitted it.' The Prophet said, 'Answer him with what he said.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1105
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 5
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1105
515

Chapter: How to answer dhimmis

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of the Jews greets you and says, 'Poison be upon you (as-samu 'alaykum),' say, 'And on you.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1106
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 6
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1106
Ibn 'Abbas said, "Return the greeting to whomever it is, Jew, Christian, or Magian. That is because Allah says, 'When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it.' (4:86)"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1107
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 7
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1107
516

Chapter: The greeting to the gathering which includes both Muslims and idolaters

Usama ibn Zayd related that one day the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was riding on a donkey on a straw saddle covered by a blanket from Fadak. Usama ibn Zayd was riding behind him. He was on his 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 become Muslim. The gathering contained a mixture of Muslims, associaters and idolaters. He greeted them.
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1108
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 8
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1108
517

Chapter: How does one write to the People of the Book?

'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas related that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb sent him to Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, and he called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah which Dihya had brought to the governor of Busra, who in turn passed it on to Heraclius. He read it out, saying, 'In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be upon 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, then you 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 His words) Bear witness that we are Muslims." (3:54)'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1109
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 9
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1109
518

Chapter: When the People of the Book say, "Poison be upon you"

Jabir said, "Some of the Jews greeted the Prophet, may Allah bless him 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 with her, 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 and what they said about me will not be accepted.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1110
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 10
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1110
519

Chapter: The People of the Book are forced to the narrowest part of the road

See 1103.
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1111
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 11
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1111
520

Chapter: How to supplicate for a dhimmi

'Uqba ibn 'Amir al-Juhani passed by a man who looked like a Muslim who greeted him. 'Uqba answered him, saying, "And on you and the mercy of 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, "The mercy of Allah and His blessings are for the believers, but may Allah make your life long and give you much wealth and many children."
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1112
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 12
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1112
Ibn 'Abbas said, "If Pharaoh had said to me, 'May Allah bless you,' I would have said, 'And you.' But Pharaoh is dead."
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1113
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 13
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1113
Abu Musa said, "The Jews used to sneeze in the presence in the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hoping that he would say to them, 'May Allah have mercy on you,' but he used to say, 'May Allah guide you and out your affairs in order.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1114
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 14
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1114
521

Chapter: When someone greets a Christian whom he does not recognize

'Abdu'r-Rahman said, "Ibn 'Umar passed by a Christian who greeted him and Ibn 'Umar returned the greeting He was told that the man was a Christian. When he learned that, he went back to him and said, 'Give me back my greeting.'"
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1115
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 15
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1115
522

Chapter: When someone says, "So-and-so sends you his greetings"

'A'isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to her, "Jibril sends you the greeting." She replied, "And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah."
Reference : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1116
In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 16
English translation : Book 44, Hadith 1116