Peace be upon you. How should one respond to a greeting if the person only greets with a gesture, such as raising their hand, without saying the words 'Peace be upon you'? Should I just raise my hand, respond verbally, or not respond at all?
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1 Answer
And peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):
If the greeting is not 'peace' but something like 'may God grant you a good morning' or a gesture, there is no obligation to respond.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Khamenei (may God protect him):
It is not permissible to respond if one is in prayer, but if one is not in prayer, it is obligatory to respond if it is verbal and is considered a greeting by common understanding.
Therefore, a response is not required.
Source: Answers to Inquiries, Responding to Greetings in Prayer.
May you be successful in all good.