Is it mustahhab to say “assalam alaikum” aloud when one enters the hall in the masjid where people are praying ? And if it is should a person who enters the hall say “assalam alaikum” aloud even if the Jamaah for the salaah has begun and it might disturb the khushoo of the jamaah ? I am asking this question since few of our brothers say “assalam alaikum” aloud even when the imam is reciting in the loud prayers.


Praise be to Allaah.

The majority of scholars are of the view that it is
permissible to say salaam to the one who is praying if that will not lead to
spoiling of the prayer of one who is unaware of the things that invalidate
the prayer, because he may think that it is obligatory to return the salaams
verbally, so he will reply and thus invalidate his prayer. The Hanafis are
of the view that it is makrooh. 

It says in Tabyeen al-Haqaa’iq: It is makrooh to say
salaam to one who is praying, reading Qur’aan, sitting to pass judgement,
researching a fiqhi matter or is relieving hismelf, and if one does say
salaams to them, it is not obligatory for them to respond, because it is
inappropriate.  End quote. 

In Sharh al-Kharashi ‘ala Mukhtasar Khaleel (a Maaliki
book) (1/325) it says: It is not makrooh to say salaams to one who is
praying either an obligatory or a naafil prayer. End quote. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Majmoo’ (a Shaafa’i book) (4/105): The words of our companions
suggest that it is not makrooh to say salaam to one who is praying. This is
what is suggested by the saheeh ahaadeeth. End quote. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Liqa’ al-Baab
il-Maftooh (24/31): Saying salaams to one who is praying is permissible
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not
criticize those who greeted him with salaam. But if the Muslim fears that he
may confuse the worshipper, then he should not say salaams, or if he fears
that he may talk and reply – i.e., because most of the common folk do not
understand so if you say salaam to them they may reply Wa ‘alayka
al-salaam, thus invalidating their prayer – if he knows that the prayer
will be invalidated thereby. Whatever the case, we say that saying salaams
to one who is praying is not wrong, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) approved of it, unless there is the fear
that the person who is greeted may be confused or his prayer may be
invalidated, in which case one should not say salaams. 

But how should he respond? He should not respond verbally by
saying ‘Alayka al-salaam, rather he should respond by means of a
gesture, by raising his hand so that the one who greeted him will know that
he has returned the greeting. Then if the one who greeted him is still there
when he has said the salaam and finished his prayer, he may respond
verbally, but if the person has left, then the one who was greeted does not
have to do anything more than what was mentioned, namely gesturing. The
apparent meaning of the text is that returning the greeting is obligatory
but he is excused from speaking because it invalidates the prayer. End
quote. 

There is nothing wrong with saying salaam to one who is
praying, but if it is going to disturb the worshippers, such as saying
salaam when the imam is reciting, then one should not say salaam. 

And Allaah knows best.