Jazakum Allahu khairan for this balanced and informative article.

I’m hindu and when a hindu says namaste to you, they’re basically just saying hi. Namaste actually just translates to “I bow to you” which means nothing except you respect the person you are greeting. The whole “I bow to the spirit/soul/God within you” business came about with the popularity of Yoga and spirituality. But of course its really what you mean by it when you say it. My best friend along with Muslims who reside in India have said it before and meant nothing more than a hello by it. I’m not Muslim but I’m sure that if you’re not worshipping other than Allah, associating partners with him, giving his characteristics to others beside him, or not believing in his characteristics than you’re not doing anything wrong or commiting shirk. Of course, if you still feel uncomfortable then just say hi back. I’m sure they won’t feel offended as long as you don’t just ignore them. I hope this helps

How are we to respond if a hindu says Namaste to us? I’ve been told by hindus that this means something like ‘I bow to the god in you’… in this case, saying ‘and to you’ would be akin to shirk? right?

Jamilah

From Shimon Ibn Ibrahim: “There are two types of people in the world. There is the Muslim, and those not yet Muslim. No one is hopeless.”

Those are words for any to hold dear to heart. I recognize that I am the second type of person, but for those that I have met in the faith, I can never look at a Muslim and see anything except a brother (or sister).

Thanks a ton, I’m off to bed.
Assalaamu ‘Alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh

I stumbled on this article randomly, i am no scholar, but i’d just like to bring attention to this:

[25:63]

WaAAibadu alrrahmani allatheena yamshoona AAala al-ardi hawnan wa-itha khatabahumu aljahiloona qaloo salaman

And the merciful’s worshippers/slaves (are) those who walk on the land/earth quietly/tranquilly , and if the lowly/ignorant conversed with them , they said: “Greeting/peace .”

Yusuf Ali And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!”;

Pickthal The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace;

Arberry The servants of the All-merciful are those who walk in the earth modestly and who, when the ignorant address them, say, ‘Peace’;

Shakir And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say: Peace.

Sarwar (Among) the servants of the Beneficent God are those who walk gently on the earth and when addressed by the ignorant ones, their only response is, “Peace be with you.”

Khalifa The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace

Hilali/Khan And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.

H/K/Saheeh And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace,

Malik True servants of the Compassionate (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and when the ignorant people address them, they say: “Peace;”[63]

QXP The true servants of the Beneficent are those who: Walk upon the earth humbly. And when the ignorant ones address them, they say, “Peace!” (3:138), (22:41), (31:17-18).

Maulana Ali And the servants of the Beneficent are they who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!

Free Minds And the servants of the Almighty who walk on the Earth in humility and if the ignorant speak to them, they Say: “Peace.”

Qaribullah The worshipers of the Merciful are those who walk humbly on the earth, and when the ignorant address them say: ‘Peace, ‘

George Sale The servants of the Merciful are those who walk meekly on the earth, and, when the ignorant speak unto them, answer, peace:

JM Rodwell And the servants of the God of Mercy are they who walk upon the Earth softly; and when the ignorant address them, they reply, “Peace!”

Asad For, [true] servants of the Most Gracious are [only] they who walk gently on earth, and who, whenever the foolish address them, [Sc., "with the aim to ridicule them or to argue against their beliefs".] reply with [words of] peace;

Interesting paper.

I once asked why we say Assalamu alaykum to a person in the plural and was told that we do so because of the angels that accompany the person.

That being said, does saying salam to a non-Muslim in the singular imply that they are not accompanied by angels? Even they believe that Esau the brother of Yaqub had a guardian angel. If one is going to say salams to a non-Muslim it would seem that they should say it in the plural.

One thing, amongst many, that turned me away from Orthodox Judaism, was the racist attitude they hold. They feel they are better than anything or anyone in creation. They view the non-Jews as pseudo-animals. Remember, for them not anyone can be a Jew. One is either born a Jew or converted under strict rules. Even then they view the convert as a person who was already a Jew and the conversion revealed what was hidden. They interpret the Tawrah saying “a ger s’mitgeier” or “a convert that converts” as meaning that the convert already was Jewish. Their proof is the double wording. Otherwise it would say “a non-Jew that converts” or “a Goy s’mitgeier”. They believe that the world was created for their benefit, and that all of creation is meant to serve them..

I could be wrong, but I treat every creation of Allah with the same respect not because they are Muslim, or otherwise but because they are creations of Allah. There are two types of people in the world. There is the Muslim, and those not yet Muslim. No one is hopeless.

On a side point, what should a Muslim man do when they pass a Muslim woman. In my previous life in O.J. one did not address a woman unless one had to. Is it appropriate to say salams to sister wearing hijab? I see sisters wearing hijab from time to time to and from work. I am happy to see that they are doing the right thing and am compelled to give salams to them, but I do not know if it is appropriate. I am not talking about starting a conversation with them, but merely giving salams to them and going on my way.