Returning the Salam of the Shi‘a

Question

If the Shi‘a and the like greet the Ahl al-Sunna wa-l-Jama‘a with “al-salamu ‘alaykum”, should one reply “wa ‘alaykum al-salam” or not?

Answer

To those Shi‘a who are sinners (fasiq) but not kafirs, one should return the salam in accordance with the Sacred Law: “wa ‘alaykum al-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh”; and to those Shi‘a who are kafirs one should say in reply only “wa ‘alaykum”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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