As-salamu alaykum facts for kids

As-salamu alaykum written beautifully in Arabic calligraphy.

As-salamu alaykum (Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ) is a common greeting in Arabic that means 'Peace be upon you'. It's often shortened to salam alaykum in English. The word salām (Arabic: سَلَام), which means 'peace', has become a special way for Muslims all over the world to greet each other.

Even though Muslims use it a lot, this greeting was used even before Islam began. People who speak Arabic but follow other religions, like Arab Christians and Mizrahi Jews, also use it.

In everyday talk, people often just say salām ('peace') to greet someone. The usual way to reply to this greeting is wa ʿalaykumu s-salām (Arabic: وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ), which means 'and peace be upon you'.

The full greeting is as-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatu -llāhi wa-barakātuh^ū (Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ). This longer phrase means 'Peace be upon you, as well as the mercy of God and his blessings'.

The shorter form, salām, is now used as a general greeting in many other languages too. You can find similar greetings in other Semitic languages like Aramaic (šlāmā ʿalḵōn) and Hebrew (shalom aleichem). In some Christian church services, the priest and people might also say "peace be with you."

How to Say It

The way As-salamu alaykum is said can change depending on where the speaker is from and their local dialect. It's also often shortened.

For example, in Egypt, it might sound like "sæˈlæːmu ʕæˈleːku".

Changing the Greeting for Different People

The greeting usually uses a form that means "you all" (plural masculine), even when you're talking to just one person. However, you can change the ending of the greeting to match who you are talking to. This depends on if you're talking to a boy, a girl, two people, or a group of girls.

Here are some ways the greeting can change:

• To one boy: Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ (as-salāmu ʿalayk^a)
• To one girl: Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكِ (as-salāmu ʿalaykⁱ)
• To two people (boys or girls): Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمَا (as-salāmu ʿalaykumā)
• To a group of boys or mixed group: Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ (as-salāmu ʿalaykum)
• To a group of girls: Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُنَّ (as-salāmu ʿalaykunn^a)

Muslims also often use a third-person version, ʿalayhi as-salām, which means "peace be upon him." This is used when talking about prophets other than Muhammad, and other important holy people or angels.

In Islam

In Islamic tradition, the greeting "Peace be upon you" goes back to the very first human, Adam.

It is said that Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet Muhammad said that God told Adam to go and greet a group of angels. God said, "Listen to how they greet you, because this will be the greeting for your children." So, Adam said, "Peace be upon you." The angels replied, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah." This means the angels added "the mercy of Allah" to the greeting.

The Prophet Muhammad also said, "None of you will enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves." This shows how important spreading peace is in Islam.

It is also taught that you should give the Salam greeting when you enter a house. This idea comes from a verse in the Quran (An-Nur 24:61), which says: "However, when you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting ˹of peace˺ from Allah, blessed and good."

The phrase salamun ʿalaykum (Arabic: سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ) appears 7 times in the Quran. It is used in different situations, for example:

• When angels greet people who are going to paradise.
• When people in paradise greet each other.
• When prophets speak to others.

Other forms, like salamun ʿalā or just the word salam, are also mentioned in the Quran.

How Non-Arabic Speakers Use It

The greeting As-salamu alaykum and its shorter forms are used by many people around the world, not just those who speak Arabic.

• In Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, people often just say Salâm (Persian: سلام).
• In Albania and Kosovo, a shorter form, Selamun Alejkem, is sometimes used.
• In Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, many religious people use "Äs-sälamwaleykum" or "Turkish: selamun aleyküm" and shake hands. More casual people might just say "Selam".
• In Pakistan and India, the greeting is often used with a handshake, and sometimes a hug between people of the same gender when they haven't met in a while. The full greeting is preferred. For saying goodbye, people often say "Khuda Hafiz" or "Allah Hafiz," meaning "May God protect you."
• In Bangladesh, Assalamu alaikum (Bengali: আসসালামু আলাইকুম) is very common. Some people raise their right hand to their forehead when greeting elders.
• In Indonesia, the greeting is sometimes mixed with greetings from other religions.
• On the internet, people sometimes shorten the greeting to "A.S." or "As'kum" (in Malaysia) in chats and texts.
• In Chechnya and other parts of the Caucasus, Salamun Alaykum (Chechen: Саламун алайкум) is used to say hello.
• In Senegal, where most people are Muslim, the greeting is "a-sala māleykum" in Wolof, and the reply is "må-lekum salām."
• In Xinjiang, China, the Uyghurs use "Essalam eleykum," and the reply is "We-eleykum essalam."
• In Portugal, the word Salamaleque has a different meaning. It refers to exaggerated movements or actions meant to seem formal or fancy, because of how Arabs in the past would bow and wave their hands when greeting.
• In Italy, Salamelecco has a similar meaning, referring to being overly polite.
• In France, salamalec also means excessive flattery.
• In Malta, "Is-sliem għalikom" is often used in Catholic Church masses by the priest, meaning "peace be upon you." This is because the Maltese language comes from Arabic.
• In the Maldives, "އައްސަލާމް ޢަލައިކުމް" (assalaam 'alaikum) is a common formal greeting, like "hello."
• In Nigeria, "assalamu alaikum" is a formal greeting for Muslims.
• In Kurdish languages|Kurdish, "selam eleykum" is a formal greeting, often shortened to just "selam."
• In Russia, Muslims use variations like "салам алейкум" (Russian) and "салам алайкум" (Tatar).

See Also

In Spanish: Salam para niños