Is it allowed to greet non-Muslim with the meaning of "assalamu alaikum" but not with word "assalamu alaikum"?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The scholars differed in opinion regarding greeting a non-Muslim in principle, and in responding to his greeting if he is the one who greets first.

Most of our contemporary righteous scholars and their predecessors agreed that it is forbidden to start the greeting but it is obligatory to answer it.

The Prophet said: "Do not start greeting the Jews and Christians …..". [Muslim]  Therefore, it is not permissible to start greeting them even in a language other than Arabic.

Al-Munaawi said: 'Greeting is considered as elevating and honouring, and it is not permissible to elevate or honour non-Muslims.  It is more appropriate to neglect them and not look at them as a way of degrading and humiliating them.'  If greeting them in another language, is elevating and honouring them, then it is also forbidden.

However, some other people of knowledge are of the view that it is permissible to start greeting them.

This is the opinion of Ibn 'Abbaas, and Abu Umamah and others.

Moreover, 'Ikrimah and An-Nakha'i are of the view that it is permissible to start greeting non-Muslims for a necessity or a need, or for an expected religious benefit.

Nevertheless, our view in Islamweb is that it is forbidden for a Muslim in a Muslim country to start greeting non-Muslims based on the aforementioned narration at the beginning of this Fatwa.  But if a Muslim is in a non-Muslim country, he can start greeting them and/or answer their greeting as a way of repelling the harm that could happen if he does not greet them.

However, it is more appropriate to greet them with an expression other than using the word 'Salaam'.

Allaah knows best.