Ibn Masʿūd permitted initiating them with a greeting by gesture because it is not the greeting specific to Muslims, and similarly, it is said regarding greeting them with the expressions we mentioned. As for what is mentioned in some Ḥanbalī books like "al-Dalīl" that it is forbidden to initiate them with "How are you this morning or evening?" or "How are you or your condition?" I do not know of any evidence for this from the sunnah, and it is explicitly stated in its commentary "Manār al-Sabīl" that it was analogized to the greeting! I say: It is evident that this analogy is flawed, due to the virtues associated with the greeting that are not mentioned with other expressions. And Allāh knows best. Another issue discussed in the aforementioned gathering was: Is it permissible to respond to a non-Muslim's greeting with: "And upon you be peace"? I answered that it is permissible on the condition that their greeting is clear and articulate, without twisting their tongue, as the Jews used to do with the Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) and his Companions by saying: "Death be upon you." The Prophet ﷺ commanded responding to them with "And upon you" only, as established in "al-Ṣaḥīḥayn" and other collections from the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah. I said: Considering the reason for this legislation, it necessitates the permissibility of responding in kind when the mentioned condition is met, and I supported this with two points: first, his ﷺ saying: "When a Jew greets you, they only say: 'Death be upon you,' so say: 'And upon you.'" This is recorded by the two Shaykhs, and also by al-Bukhārī in "al-Adab al-Mufrad" (1106). The Prophet ﷺ explained his saying: "So say: 'And upon you'" because they say: "Death be upon you," and this explanation implies that if they say: "Peace be upon you," one should respond in kind: "And upon you be peace." This is further supported by the following point: second, the generality of Allāh's saying: *"And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it"* (Sūrah al-Nisāʾ, verse 86), as its generality includes non-Muslims as well