السلام عليكم
as-salāmu ʿalaykumIslamic greeting
Muslims greet each other with السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum), "peace be upon you". The reply is وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykumu s-salām), and the longest form adds ورحمة الله وبركاته (wa raḥmatu llāhi wa barakātuh). It is also called السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته (as-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu llāhi wa barakātuh).
Meaning: Islamic greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| السلام عليكم | as-salāmu ʿalaykum | Islamic greeting |
| السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته | as-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu llāhi wa barakātuh | full form |
| وعليكم السلام | wa ʿalaykumu s-salām | reply |
Muslims use it with family, friends and strangers, in person and in writing. The person who arrives or passes usually greets first.
When do people say it?
The greeting is shared by Muslims of every language, so it works in Indonesia, Nigeria and Morocco as well as in Arab countries. Many Arabs also say it to people of other faiths as a general hello.
Did you know?
- The greeting is part of the Islamic tradition of spreading peace, and the reply is expected to match or be longer than the greeting.
Examples in context
- السلام عليكم يا أخيas-salāmu ʿalaykum yā akhīPeace be upon you, my brother
Example conversation
Yusuf enters the mosque in Dubai and greets the imam, Sheikh Hassan.
- Yusufالسلام عليكم يا شيخ.As-salāmu ʿalaykum yā shaykh.Peace be upon you, Sheikh.
- Hassanوعليكم السلام ورحمة الله.Wa ʿalaykumu s-salām wa raḥmatu llāh.And upon you peace and God's mercy.
- Yusufكيف حالك؟Kayfa ḥāluk?How are you?
