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Saying 'Salaam' to a person who is praying

Question

My question relates to pray. If someone is praying, and a latecomer says, ‘Salaam Alaikum', do we move our hand? Second, is it possible to have 2 Jamaat in the same mosque at different times but same prayer?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to say 'Salaam' to a person who is praying, and the latter may respond immediately by pointing with his hand, or by words after he concludes the prayer.

Suhaib  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: “I passed by the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) while he was praying, and I said ‘Salaam’ to him, and he made a gesture with his hand (as a response to me)”. [Abu Dawood, an-Nassaa'i, At-Thirmithi, and others] At-Thirmithi said that 'it is a sound Hadith'.

Ibn Masoud  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: “We used to say ‘Salaam’ (greet) when people pray, and order what we need, so I came to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) while he was praying, I said ‘Salaam’ to him and he did not respond to me. I was sorry for what had happened. When the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) finished the prayer, he said: “Allah renews whatever of His matters He wishes, and Allah has brought something new that ‘it is not permissible to talk during the prayer”. Then he replied to my ‘Salaam’. [Abu Dawood, Imam an-Nawawi graded it as Hasan]

Allah knows best.

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