If two people give salam simultaneously, who must reply?

Question

Often two Muslims meet and both say “السلام عليكم” at the same moment. In this case is it necessary to reply or not?

Answer

[ar]إذا التقيا فأفضلهما أسبقها، فإن سلما معًا يرد كل واحد منه[/ar] “When two meet, the better of them is the one who is first; if they give salam simultaneously, each of them replies” (ʿAlamgiri). From this it is known that both should reply.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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