Is it permissible for a person praying to verbally respond to a salam offered to them?
Chapter on the Two Prostrations of Forgetfulness
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is prohibited for a person who is praying to verbally respond to a greeting (salam) offered to them. This is established by the narration where Ibn Umar greeted a man who was praying, and when the man responded verbally, Ibn Umar returned to him and prohibited him from doing so.