Ruling on giving and returning salaams in public washrooms

 

Is it wrong to answer salam in big public bathrooms as long as one is not in the stalls/answering the call of nature?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The fuqaha’ are agreed that it is makrooh to give salaams to
someone who is relieving himself, and it is also makrooh for him to respond.
It was narrated that Abu’l-Jahm al-Ansaari (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him)
came from the direction of Bi’r Jamal and was met by a man who greeted him
with salaam. The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon
him) did not return the greeting until he went to a wall and wiped his face
and hands, then he returned the greeting.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (no. 337) and Muslim (no. 369). 

And it was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a man passed by when
the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) was
urinating. He greeted him, but he did not return the greeting. Narrated by
Muslim (no. 370).  

And it was narrated from al-Muhaajir ibn Qunfudh that he came
to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) when he was
urinating and he greeted him with salaam, but the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allaah be upon him) did not return the greeting until he had done
wudoo’, then he apologised to him and said: “I do not like to mention
Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, except in a state of purity.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood (17); classed as saheeh by Ibn Hajar in Nataa’ij
al-Afkaar, 1/205; and by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.  

Ibn al-Humaam al-Hanafi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

They were unanimously agreed that the one who is defecating
is not obliged to return the greeting at that moment or afterwards, because
greeting him is haraam, unlike the one who is in the hamaam (i.e., bathing),
if he is wearing a waist wrapper. End quote.

Fath al-Qadeer, 1/248 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

Our companions said: It is makrooh to greet him [meaning the
one who is relieving himself], and if someone does greet him it does not
deserve a response, because of the hadeeths of Ibn ‘Umar and al-Muhaajir.
End quote. 

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (34/11): 

The Maalikis, Shafaa’is and Hanbalis are of the view that it
is makrooh to greet with salaam one who is defecating. The Hanafis also
regarded that as makrooh. Ibn ‘Aabideen said: What is meant by that also
includes urinating. He said: And it seems that this means it is haraam. End
quote. 

Based on that: if a person enters a public washroom and does
not find anyone doing wudoo' at the sinks, it is makrooh for him to say
salaams to those who are in the stalls where people relieve themselves. But
if he finds that some of them have finished relieving themselves and have
started to do wudoo’ or to wash their hands in the places prepared for that,
there is nothing wrong with saying salaam to these people and they must
return the greeting. 

And Allaah knows best.