Authentic hadith articleDo not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians, and if you meet one of them on the way, force him to narrowest part thereof
AuthenticNarrated by MuslimHadeethEnc #5347
Arabic hadith textعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا تَبْدَؤوا الْيَهُودَ وَلَا النَّصَارَى بِالسَّلَامِ، فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمْ أَحَدَهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ فَاضْطَرُّوهُ إِلَى أَضْيَقِهِ».
English translationAbu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians, and if you meet one of them on the way, force him to narrowest part thereof."
ExplanationExplanation of the hadith
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbids initiating the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians even if they are Dhimmis (free non-Muslim subjects living in a Muslim country), let alone others from the disbelievers. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) further explained that if we meet one of them on the road, we should force him to the narrowest part thereof, as the believer is the one entitled to walk in the middle of the road and the disbeliever is the one who should make way. A Muslim should in no way be abject.