Hadith 515
The People of the Book
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)"
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي ثَوْرٍ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: رُدُّوا السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يَهُودِيًّا، أَوْ نَصْرَانِيًّا، أَوْ مَجُوسِيًّا، ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ: {وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا}.
Hadith gradings, numbering and translations can differ between editions. For legal rulings or detailed interpretation, consult qualified scholarship and the referenced edition.