Is It Obligatory to Respond to ‘Salam’ from a Beggar in Islam?

Responding to ‘Salam’ from a Beggar: Islamic Ruling on Greetings

Question: If a beggar comes asking for alms and greets with “Salam,” is it obligatory to respond to their greeting?

Answer: Saying “Salam” is a Sunnah, but responding to it is obligatory. Therefore, if a beggar, who is a Muslim, greets with “Salam,” it is obligatory to respond to their greeting. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged us to greet every Muslim, whether we know them or not. This teaching indicates that if any Muslim greets us, it is necessary to respond to their greeting, regardless of their social status.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (may Allah preserve him)

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫