Is it permissible to use the expression “greetings” or “best wishes”?

 

At the end of official communications between government departments it says “with my compliments (la lakum tahiyyaati)” or “with our compliments (wa lakum tahiyyaatuna).” But it is well known that al-tahiyyaat (greetings or compliments) are only for Allaah alone, with no partner or associate. [As said in the tashahhud in prayer]. What is your opinion on that?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

There is nothing wrong with one person saying to another,
“with my compliments (la lakum tahiyyaati)” or “with our
compliments (wa lakum tahiyyaatuna)” and other such phrases. 

With regard to the tahiyyaat that are for Allaah alone, that
refers to perfect tahiyyaat, as in the tashahhud in prayer: “Al-tahiyyaatu
Lillaahi wa’l-salawaat wa’l-tayyibaat (all compliments, prayers and pure
words are for Allaah).” 

But there is nothing wrong with the greetings or compliments
that are given by one person to another. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) was asked about these words, “arjuka (I hope that
you…)”, “tahiyyaati (my compliments)”, “an’am sabaahan (good
morning)” and “an’am masaa’an (good evening)”. 

He replied: 

There is nothing wrong
with saying to someone, “I hope that you…” with regard to something that he
can fulfil your hope in. The same applies to saying, “My compliments to you”
and so on, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“When you are greeted
with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least)
return it equally”

[al-Nisa’ 4:86] 

Similarly there is
nothing wrong with saying “Good morning” or “Good evening” etc, so long as
these are not adopted as greetings instead of the salaam that is prescribed
in sharee’ah. 

Al-Manaahi al-Lafziyyah
(question 8). 

In questions 9 and 20, the Shaykh was also asked about the
phrases “with our best wishes (wa lakum tahiyyaatuna)” and “I give
you my compliments (uhdi lakum tahiyyaati).” 

He replied: 

There is nothing wrong with the phrases “with our best wishes
(wa lakum tahiyyaatuna)” and “I give you my compliments (uhdi
lakum tahiyyaati)” and other similar phrases. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“When you are greeted
with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least)
return it equally”

[al-Nisa’ 4:86] 

It is
permissible for one person to give greetings or compliments (tahiyyaat) to
another, but tahiyyaat in the general sense belongs to Allaah, as we also
say “Praise be to Allaah”, and “Thanks be to Allaah,” but at the same time
it is also valid to say, “I praise So and so for doing such and such” and “I
thanked him such and such”. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“give thanks to Me and to your parents”

[Luqmaan 31:14] 

And Allaah knows best.