Is it permissible not to greet men on the street with "As-salamu alaykum" unless they are elderly, and is it wrong for me to say "As-salamu alaykum" to my husband solely so that he may respond with a better greeting, based on the Almighty's saying: {And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with one better than it, or [at least] return it [in a like manner]}?
A woman greeting a group of non-mahram men is permissible if there is no fear of fitna (temptation/strife) from either side. It is sunnah when meeting them, entering a gathering, or leaving it. Omitting the best form of greeting (i.e., "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh") is permissible, but it forfeits a greater reward.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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