Sunan an-Nasa'i 1220

"We used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) with salam and he would return our salam, until we came back from the land of Ethiopia. I greeted him with salam and he did not return my greeting,a nd I started to wonder why. So I sat down; and when he finished praying, he said: 'Allah (SWT) decrees what He wills, and He has decreed what we should not speak during the prayer.'"

We used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) (when he was praying) when we were in Makkah before we went to Abyssinia. When we came from Abyssinia, we came to him and greeted him (when he was praying) but he did not return the greeting and I got very distressed and started trying to find out why, until they finished praying. I asked him and he said: "Allah introduces whatever He wants into His matter (i.e., religion) and He has decreed that we should not speak whilst praying.”

I used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) with salam when he was praying and he would return the greeting. Then I greeted him with salam one day and he did not say anything to me in response, and I felt upset. I said: O Messenger of Allah, I used to greet you with salam when you were praying and you would return my greeting. Then I greeted you with salam and you did not say anything to me in response. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Verily Allah introduces into His matter (i.e. religion) whatever He wants."

We used to talk during the prayer and greet one another with salam, and one of us would mention his need. I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him with salam when he was praying, and he did not return my greeting. I became anxious, wondering which of my deeds might have caused this. When he finished praying, he said: “Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, introduces into His matter (religion) whatever He wills, and He has introduced (the ruling) that you should not speak during the prayer.”