[Muramoursuard]

Salaams, everyone.

Right, I know this may sound really petty, but, how do you peoples react when a person never responds accordingly when you greet him with ‘Assalam’u’alaikum’? Because I’m currently having this issue, and it’s been irritating me for a while.

I help out at my uncle’s fast-food shop on weekends, and we get this one brother – a taxi driver – that pops in regularly on a Saturday night. I can safely assume he’s into his deen, because he has a decent length beard (that’s well maintained) and Islamic car-hangings in his taxi. So you’d think he’d acknowledge the traditional Islamic greeting from one brother to another, right?

No.

On every occasion, when he steps foot into the shop, I’m always the first to initiate the dialogue with a “Assalam’u’alaikum”, only for him to say nothing in return. Not even a “hi”, ar a simple nod of the head! He’d just look at me after I’ve greeted him, scan the hot plate to see what’s available, look up at the menu, before finally instructing: “Just do me the number one meal. How long?”. And upon his exit (after he’s been given his stuff), I’ll always say “Assalam’u’alaikum” or “Allah-hafiz/Khuda-hafiz”, and he’ll just walk out again not replying in the same manner. Not even a “thank you” or a “goodbye”.

Am I overreacting? Or is that just outright rude/disrespectful? Miserable git. I’m not gonna’ treat him with the same courtesy anymore. I’ll just say “what you want?”, make his food as quickly as possible, and send the prat on his way.

Thoughts?

Salaams