What he told them to say back
A man had greeted them with something that only sounded like a greeting.
The words
إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقُولُوا عَلَيْكَ
Idhā sallama ʿalaykum aḥadun min ahli-l-kitābi fa-qūlū: ʿalayk
If one of the People of the Book greets you, say: and upon you.
Where this comes from
The man had said as-sāmu ʿalaykum, death be upon you, close enough in sound that the companions answered normally. The Prophet caught it, called him back, and confirmed it to his face. Then he set the reply. Two words. Not an insult back, not a lie either.
The full narration
Anas bin Malik narrated that:A Jew came to the Prophet of Allah and his Companions and said: “As-Samu Alaikum (Death be upon you).” So the people replied to him. The Prophet of Allah said: “Do you know what this person said?” They said: “Allah and His Messenger know better – he said the Salam – O Allah’s Prophet.” He said: “No, rather he said like this and that. Bring him back for e=me.” So they brought him back and he said: “Did you say As-Samu Alaikum? He said: “Yes.” So with that Allah’s Prophet said: “When one of the People of the Book gives you the Salam, then say: “Alaika Ma Qulta (Whatever you said to you too).” He said: ‘And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not.’
Source
Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī · 3301
- Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Sahih
- Al-Albani: Sahih
- Bashar Awad Maarouf: Hasan Sahih
- Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih - Agreed Upon