Salaam a'laikum, I would like to know if one is required to return the greeting to another Muslim if he is reading Qu'ran. Also, I am reluctant to greet Muslims in the Masjid when they are reading Qu'ran for fear that I may distract them. What is the ruling on this matter? Jazakallah kayarun
AAWW
Initiating Salam is Sunnah as you know. However, if someone is involved in prayer or Quran recitation, it is better not to interrupt him. You can greet him with your hand, without verbalizing the Salam, so as not to require him to respond.
But if you choose to say Salam to him while he is alone, he has to respond and if you do the same with a group of people, receiving a response from only one of them will be sufficient. This is because responding to the Salam is a collective obligation, when fulfilled by one person, others do not have to.
