That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do not precede the Jews and the Christians with the Salam. And if one you meets one of them in the path, then force him to its narrow portion."
[He said:] There are narrations on this topic from Ibn 'Umar, Anas, and Abu Basrah Al-Ghifari the Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ).
[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. And regarding the meaning of this Hadith: "Do not precede the Jews and the Christians": Some of the poeple of knowledge said that it only means that it is disliked because it would be honoring them, and the Muslims were ordered to humiliate them. For this reason, when one of them is met on the path, then the path is not yielded for him, because doing so would amount to honoring them.
Hadith Text & Reference
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do not precede the Jews and the Christians with the Salam. And if one of you meets one of them in the path, then force him to its narrow portion."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1602 | Book: The Book on Military Expeditions | Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Scholarly Commentary
This prohibition against initiating greetings with Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book) stems from the Islamic principle of maintaining the honor and superiority of Muslims over non-Muslim communities under Islamic rule. The greeting of "Salam" carries prayers for peace and divine blessings, which should not be voluntarily bestowed upon those who reject the final message of Islam.
The instruction regarding pathways demonstrates the practical application of Islamic supremacy in public spaces. Forcing non-Muslims to the narrowest part of the path serves as a visible reminder of their diminished status under Islamic governance and prevents the appearance of Muslims yielding honor to them.
Legal Rulings & Exceptions
Scholars classify initiating Salam with Jews and Christians as makruh (disliked) rather than haram (forbidden), based on the understanding that this ruling aims at preventing undue honor to non-Muslims rather than constituting absolute prohibition.
If they greet Muslims first, Muslims are required to respond with "wa 'alaikum" (and upon you), as established in other authentic narrations. The pathway ruling applies particularly in Muslim-majority lands where Islamic law is implemented, ensuring Muslims maintain their dignified position in society.
Historical Context & Wisdom
These rulings were revealed during the establishment of the Islamic state in Medina, where clear social boundaries needed to be maintained between the Muslim community and other religious groups. The regulations served to strengthen Muslim identity and prevent cultural assimilation.
The wisdom behind these teachings includes preserving Islamic distinctiveness, preventing excessive familiarity that might lead to religious compromise, and maintaining the psychological and social ascendancy of the Muslim community in its own lands.