حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ عَنْ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِکٍ أَنَّ يَهُودِيًّا أَتَی عَلَی النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ السَّامُ عَلَيْکُمْ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهَ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا قَالَ هَذَا قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ سَلَّمَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ لَا وَلَکِنَّهُ قَالَ کَذَا وَکَذَا رُدُّوهُ عَلَيَّ فَرَدُّوهُ قَالَ قُلْتَ السَّامُّ عَلَيْکُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عِنْدَ ذَلِکَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْکُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْکِتَابِ فَقُولُوا عَلَيْکَ مَا قُلْتَ قَالَ وَإِذَا جَائُوکَ حَيَّوْکَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّکَ بِهِ اللَّهُ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَی هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
جامع ترمذی · Hadith 3301
Anas bin Malik narrated that: A Jew came to the Prophet of Allah and his Companions and said: “As-Samu Alaikum (Death be upon you).” So the people replied to him. The Prophet of Allah said: “Do you know what this person said?” They said: “Allah and His Messenger know better – he said the Salam – O Allah’s Prophet.” He said: “No, rather he said like this and that. Bring him back for e=me.” So they brought him back and he said: “Did you say As-Samu Alaikum? He said: “Yes.” So with that Allah’s Prophet said: “When one of the People of the Book gives you the Salam, then say: “Alaika Ma Qulta (Whatever you said to you too).” He said: ‘And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not.’
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020