Transliteration:( Wa izaa huyyeetum bitahaiyyatin fahaiyoo bi ahsana minhaaa aw ruddoohaa; innal laaha kaana 'alaa kulli shai'in Haseeba )
272. From this we learn that it is incumbent upon a person to return the greeting (Salaam). The reward of some acts of sunnah is obligatory. To greet is an act of Sunnah, but to return the greeting is obligatory, yet the greater reward is for greeting. From this we also learn that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم hears our greeting from wherever it is made, and returns our greeting.
This is so because in every Salaah greeting is made to the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and since it is obligatory to return the greeting, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم returns our greeting.
It is prohibited to greet anyone who cannot return the greeting eg. one who is sleeping, one who is in a toilet, etc. In reply to "Peace be upon you" it is better to say "Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of every Salaah greeting is made to the Holy Prophet and since it is obligatory to return the greeting, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم returns our greeting.
It is prohibited to greet anyone who cannot return the greeting eg. one who is sleeping, one who is in a toilet, etc. In reply to "Peace be upon you" it is better to say "Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah Almighty". To merely say "And Peace be upon you" would be its return. The "better word suggests the full reply while 'return the same refers to the second or the short reply.
To give a better reply is always commendable. To return the greeting is obligatory. Thus, "to greet him back" is a supererogatory command while 'return it' is for returning the greeting.
273. The laws pertaining to greeting can be obtained from books on jurisprudence. Here just a few are listed:
It is forbidden to extend a greeting to an infidel, an apostate or a polythiest, as they deserve to be cursed while in salaam a prayer (dua) is offered;
Whoever cannot hear a greeting extended or who is unable to return the greeting it is forbidden to extend a greeting to him, eg. one who is sleeping, one engaged in Salaah, a person in toilet, etc;
It is undesirable to greet a Muslim engaged in sinful activities, eg. one engaged in singing and music, playing cards, chess etc; Greet your wife and children on entering the house. It is sunnat for the one standing to greet the one who is sitting, while a person who is riding or driving should greet one who is walking.
When entering an empty house greet as follows; "Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you, Oh Messenger of Allah" because the resplendent is soul of the Holy Prophet present in the house of his followers (Haazir -Naazir - present & seeing ). A stranger should not greet a young lady as there is a fear that this could lead to mischief
The tafsir of Surah Nisa verse 86 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Nisa ayat 84 which provides the complete commentary from verse 84 through 87.
(4:86) When you are greeted with a salutation then return it with a better one, or at least the same.[114] Surely Allah takes good count of everything.
114. At that time the relations between the Muslims and non-Muslims were strained to the limit. It was feared, therefore, that the Muslims might feel inclined to treat the latter discourteously. They are accordingly asked to pay at least as much respect and consideration to others as is paid to them – and preferably more. Good manners and courtesy are to be matched by the Muslims. In fact, the mission entrusted to the Muslims requires them to excel others in this respect. Harshness, irritability and bitterness are not becoming in a people whose main function is to preach a message and invite people to it; a people committed to guiding mankind towards righteousness. While harshness and bitterness may at best satisfy one’s injured vanity, they are positively harmful to the cause that one seeks to promote.’
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