ASSALAMU ALAIKUM

Peace be upon you

ISLAM teaches Muslims to greet people when they meet them, by saying ‘Assalamu alaikum’ that is, peace be upon you. According to the Islamic code of behaviour, when a Muslim meets another person, he should greet him with these words: ‘Peace be upon you’, and the other person must say in return, ‘Peace be upon you too.’

The greeting ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ is a sacred covenant by which one leads a principled life.

We find a number of verses in the Quran and a great number of traditions or Hadith of the Prophet which enjoin believers to be generous in extending greetings to others. One verse which is quite specific about this says:

If a man greets you, let your greeting be better than his, or at least return his greeting. Surely God takes account of all things.

(THE QURAN 4: 86)

This is further elaborated upon in the Quran in the following verse:

You who believe, do not enter houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and saluted their inmates. This is better for you, so that you may be mindful.

(THE QURAN 24: 27)

Many traditions of the Prophet attach great importance to greetings. Here are some traditions on this subject:

According to one Hadith, the Prophet said: “The best of men to God is he who begins with a greeting.” (MUSNAD AHMAD)

In the greeting ‘Assalamu Alaikum’, Salam means peace. This term thus signifies, “Be sure that your life, property, and honour are safe in my hands.” The reply ‘Walaikumus Salaam’ also means the same, that is, you are also secure in my hands as regards your life, property and honour.

The greeting is completed by handshaking. Handshaking, a sign of love and affection, is also one of the ways (sunnat) of the Prophet.

The Prophet has also said: ‘Greet those whom you know as well as those who you do not know.’ (SAHIH BUKHARI)

The Prophet encouraged all to greet one another saying that it is a way of increasing love and affection amongst each other. (SAHIH MUSLIM)

This greeting is a form of prayer, for the true believer; having good feelings in his heart for others being their genuine well-wisher. He even keeps praying for them in his hours of privacy. As such—on meeting them, this inner feeling of well-wishing finds expression in the form of these words of greeting: “Peace be upon you.”

The phrase ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ is an indicator of the kind of life that an individual ought to lead in society, i.e. everyone must live in this world as the well-wisher of others, desiring peace and security for all. By greeting others with this phrase, one introduces oneself as just such a well-wisher, one from whom no harm may be expected. This greeting truly symbolizes an attitude of peace and goodwill towards all human beings.

The greeting ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ is not a mere ritual repetition of certain set words. It is, in fact, a sacred covenant by which one leads a principled life. Its utterance is an indication that the speaker means to observe the spirit of this phrase—the spirit of peace and goodwill towards all.