Prayer: Answering Non-Standard Greetings: What’s the Ruling?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Prayer: Answering Non-Standard Greetings: What’s the Ruling?

English:

Question #508:

What is your opinion with regards to answering a greeting that is not in the form of "al-salām ..."?

Answer #508:

It is not permissible to reply to it during prayer, but if he is not in prayer then it is closer to caution to return the greeting when it is oral and is considered to be a greeting by common view.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Prayer