Is the prohibition against initiating greetings of peace with people of the Book for the purpose of proscription (tahrim) or detestation (karahah), and is greeting them considered part of the equitable treatment (qist) enjoined in Surat Al-Mumtahanah, and what is the ruling on one who initiates greetings of peace with them without heartfelt loyalty?

There is a disagreement regarding the ruling on initiating greetings of peace (salam) to disbelievers. Some scholars have inclined towards its prohibition due to the prohibition mentioned in the hadith, while others have deemed it permissible for the sake of expediency. Not initiating greetings of peace to them does not contradict the verse of justice (al-qist). Justice is fairness, and Islam has enjoined kindness to the People of the Book and good treatment of them, and prohibited oppressing them. However, salam is not a right for them; it is the greeting of the people of Paradise. It is disliked to initiate salam to a disbeliever, and it is permissible to respond with only "wa 'alayk" (and upon you).