Refusing to answer when someone says salam

[shajarah]

Question: Are there any circumstances when a Muslim is allowed not to answer another Muslim's salam?

Someone was telling me that there were some people during the time of the Prophet (s) who didn't go to battle when they were ordered to, and the Muslims stopped speaking to them or saying salam until they repented. This person was telling me that, therefore, when there are people who are really disobeying the commands of Allah and causing fitnah, we shouldn't say salam to them, even though they are Muslim.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I'd never heard of it before. What is the proof for and/or against this opinion?

[brother_bruce]

The incident took place, I think, during the Tabuk Expedition. When RasulUllah (SAW) returned from Tabuk, the hypocrites came forward with their usual excuses... Rasulullah (SAW) accepted them at face value, due to his mercy.

However, there were three true Muslims who didnt have a real reason for not going out on the expedition... they were so ashamed, that they confessed to the Prophet (PBUH) that they had nothing to excuse their actions.

These 3 Muslims were boycotted by the community - and eventually even by their wives - for a total of 50 days. Nobody was to interact with them, or even say salaams. Eventually, Allah [swt] forgave them and so the boycott was lifted.

So yeah, thats the story they're talking about. But the Prophet (PBUH) specifically ordered Muslims not to talk to the three in that case. Dunno about how it would apply today.

[AbdulHasib]

Allahu A'lam

Just to clarify..
The 3 were excused by Qur'anic ayaat. Hadith Ka'b ibn Maalik radyAllahu a'nh.
That specific incident was an exception, because it's DIRECTLY not obeying the Messenger salAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam, thus the pardon came in the form of wahy.

The narration is in Sahih Muslim: Here (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/037.smt.html#037.6670) and you can read more Here (http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/seerah/0027.htm)

As for the case, are there times where muslims can NOT reply salaam... Allahu A'lam.

I do know it is of the 5 rights of a Muslim per the hadith in Sahih Muslim in the BOOK of Salam

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Five are the rights of a Muslim over his brother: responding to salutation, saying Yarhamuk Allah when anybody sneezes and says al-Hamdulillah, visiting the sick. following the bier.'

And the hadith of only 3 days limit that is allowable to DISSASSOCIATE oneself.

Clarifying that there is a difference between giving salaam (a side point. In responding to a salaam, An Nawawi rahimahullah mentions that it is WAJIB) and disassociating oneself... since ibn rajb mentions dissasociation in worldly matters is limited to 3 days. In the religious matters, disassociation is one of the punishments that Islam allows - i.e. to disassociate with those who commit sins in order to teach them a lesson.

Just as an ending thought...

When A'li radyAllahu a'nh had a disagreement with Mu'awiyyah radyAllahu a'nh.. in the Battle of Jamal. A BATTLE that lasted a YEAR!! .... there are reports that the armies used to pray qiyaam together at night..

These are the sahabah of RasoolAllah, radyAllahu a'nhum. In THAT grave and great of a fitnah.. they prayed Qiyaam, much less give SALAAM to each other.

As RasoolAllah salAllahu a'laihee wa salam said, Khairun Naas Qarnee. Thummaladheena yalunahum thummaladheena yalunahum.
"The best of mankind are my generation, then those after them, then those after them" (Muttafaqun A'laih - Bukhari and Muslim)

Fa Allahul Musta'an.

Insha'Allah the sheikh can give us more insight

WAllahu A'lam

[shajarah]

Jazak Allahu khair to both of you for your comments and the links to the hadith; I learned a lot. Do any of the shuyookh have some ideas about what situations this might apply to today? Is it only applied to a person who refuses to go to battle without any excuse, or are there other people who it applies to?