A Muslim can offer the greeting of peace to a group of Muslims and unbelievers providing that he intends it to Muslims. The Prophet used to offer peace greeting when he passed by a group of Muslims and idolaters. 

Greeting a Mixed Group of Muslims and Unbelievers

Similar Questions

•    Offering the greeting of peace to a group of Muslims and non-Muslims.

The Issue

A Muslim living in a non-Muslim country may meet a group of people, some of whom are Muslims and some who are not. Can he offer them the greeting of peace generally? He may come into a room or a class and find many people, including some Muslims. May he say assalamu alaikum (i.e. peace be to you)?

Ruling

It is permissible to offer the greeting of peace to a group of people that includes some Muslims, but he should mean to direct his greeting to the Muslims. This is stated by Ibn Hajar and endorsed by Shaikh Abdullah ibn Jibreen.[1]

Evidence

It is confirmed that the Prophet passed by a group of people that included Muslims, idolaters, Jews and hypocrites, and he offered them the greeting of peace. (Related by al-Bukhari, hadith No. 4,566; Muslim, hadith No. 1,798) Ibn Hajar says: ‘This hadith indicates that offering the greeting of peace to Muslims who are with unbelievers is permissible. The person offering it should intend it to the Muslims.’

Sources

•    Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari
•    Abdullah ibn Jibreen, Al-Mufid fi Taqrib Ahkam al-Musafir
•    Mut’ib al-Qahtani (ed.), Is'af al-Mughtaribin bi Fatawa al-'Ulama’ al-Rabbaniyyin.