Replying to the greeting of a non-Muslim

Question

Some Hindus of the village say “namaste” (a Hindu greeting) when meeting, and to some they say “Ram Ram” (a greeting invoking the name of Rama). What should Muslims reply? And what is the meaning of this couplet of Hafiz Shirazi: [ar]حافظا گر وصل خواهی کن با خاص و عام ٭ با مسلمان الله الله با برہمن رام رام[/ar] “O Hafiz, if you desire union, deal with the elite and the common: with a Muslim — ‘Allah, Allah’, with a Brahmin — ‘Ram, Ram’.” Does Hafiz Shirazi permit replying to “Ram Ram” with “Ram Ram”?

Answer

In reply one should say: [ar]هداك الله[/ar] “May Allah guide you.” This couplet is not by Hafiz Shirazi — Allah knows whose it is. It is not a Shari‘a proof from which one could argue for replying with “Ram Ram”.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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