Is there a contradiction between the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) interacting with Jews (such as visiting the sick, standing for a funeral, and grieving over the death of a Jew), and the permissibility of marrying a woman from the People of the Book, on the one hand, and the prohibition of initiating greetings to the People of the Book and showing them affection, on the other?

The forbidden affection for disbelievers is loving them for their religion. As for natural affection, such as ties of kinship or good treatment, there is no prohibition in it, provided that their disbelief is detested. The permissibility of marrying women from the People of the Book does not contradict the prohibition of religious affection, as marriage may serve other purposes. The Prophet's standing for the funeral of the Jew was an act of reverence for Allah, the Taker of Souls, not for the person himself. The Prophet's weeping over the Jew who slipped into hellfire is not authentically reported in the Sunnah; what is authentically reported is his visit to the Jewish boy, his invitation to him to embrace Islam, and his joy at the boy's conversion. Visiting the People of the Book is permissible for a legitimate Islamic interest, such as inviting them to Islam or preventing their harm. However, initiating greetings of "peace" (salam) with them is forbidden according to the majority of scholars, but it is permissible to greet them in other ways, such as saying, "How are you this morning?"