Salam aleykoum is a way of greeting whose translation, for many people, is a simple hello. Indeed, this expression, understood as a courtesy formula for Arab Muslims introducing the greeting, actually represents far more than that for Muslims around the world. What is the meaning of this greeting in Islam, and how does one respond to it? That is what we are going to see in this article.
What does salam aleykoum mean ?
This little nominal phrase in Arabic, which Muslims address to one another, has a very high value since it is a supplication from believer to believer that translates as:
May peace be upon you !
Salam meaning peace.
Aleykoum is built with the term "'ala" (which means "on", "upon") and "koum" (which is a suffix representing the people one is addressing and encompasses the pronoun "you"). The grammatical explanation is not necessary here to understand that "alaykoum" means: upon you. In the same way that 'aleyhi would mean "upon him", since it ends with the pronoun "hi" (him).
Thus salam aleykoum in Arabic means that one wishes for peace to cover the person before oneself and to whom one offers this greeting. It is more than a courtesy formula; it is truly a peaceful and pacifist declaration among the members of a community.
Meaning of salam aleykoum
It is even a supplication warmly recommended by our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in a collection of hadiths, and in particular in this prophetic saying reported by Muslim and translated as follows into English:
You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not truly believe as long as you do not truly love one another. Shall I point you to something that would enable you to love one another sincerely? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves.
Afchou as salam means both "spread" and "make widespread". It is an imperative verb which makes it an incitement, a recommendation, a piece of advice for the good of our community, from our beloved Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
This way of offering the greeting was established by Allah in His Holy Book:
"Salam" [peace]! A word from a Most Merciful Lord.
سَلَٰمٌۭ قَوْلًۭا مِّن رَّبٍّۢ رَّحِيمٍۢ " (verse 58 in Surah 36 YA-SIN)
He also recommends it among us :
"O you who believe! Do not enter houses other than your own until you have asked permission [in a courteous manner] and greeted their inhabitants. That is better for you, that perhaps you may remember.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟ وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ " (verse 27 in Surah 24 THE LIGHT / AN-NUR)
In the Quran, He, to Him the Glory and the Majesty, even teaches us that He chose it as the greeting formula for the Day of His Meeting and for the Inhabitants of Paradise:
"Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be: "Salam" [peace], and He has prepared for them a generous reward.
تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ سَلَٰمٌۭ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًۭا كَرِيمًۭا " (verse 44 in Surah 33 THE CONFEDERATES / AL-AHZAB)
"There, their invocation will be: "Glory to You, O Allah", and their greeting: "Salam" [Peace!], and the close of their invocation: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds."
دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌۭ ۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ " (verse 10 in Surah 10 JONAH / YUNUS)
For our community this formula is so important that it is a duty to respond, whether in an identical or an even better manner. Indeed, the Muslim must give a response to the greeting to the believer he knows, as well as the one he does not know, when the latter addresses him with a "salam aleykoum" upon meeting or passing him.
Let us first see how to pronounce it properly.
How to pronounce salam aleykoum ?
There are variants in the pronunciation of this supplication, but as for its spelling there are none in the Arabic language. It is in the phonetic reproduction of "salamalaykoum" that there are divergences depending on culture and local customs.
Even though it can be seen written interchangeably as follows: "salam alaikoum, salam aleykoum, salamalikoum, assalam allikoum", etc. There is nevertheless only one way to write it in Arabic and therefore to pronounce it correctly too:
As salamou aleykoum !
The " As " written at the beginning represents the definite article. This is to express " the " peace and not " a " peace be upon you.
As we have seen, when the one giving the salam aleykoum makes this supplication, he asks the Lord for peace upon his fellow man. He may complete it with a request for mercy but also with a request for the blessings of Allah upon him. This makes the formula richer and more meritorious for the one who pronounces it toward his fellow man:
As salam aleykoum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
Translation : May THE peace be upon you AND the mercy of Allah AND His Blessings !
According to Sahl Ibn Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (may the prayer of Allah and His peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says: -As Salam 'Alaykoum- ten good deeds are recorded for him.
Whoever says: -As Salam 'Alaykoum Wa Rahmatoulah- twenty good deeds are recorded for him.
Whoever says: -As Salam 'Alaykoum Wa Rahmatoulah Wa Barakatouh- thirty good deeds are recorded for him."
It is so rewarded by Allah that the Companions did not hesitate to greet one another again even when they were separated by a tree while walking. This is why it is important to learn to revive the Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, who promised us love among ourselves through this means, by establishing in our daily life the habit of greeting as the Quran and the Sunnah taught us. A multitude of occasions to use it present themselves to us each day. It is up to us to sow the seeds of love for our religion and our community in the hearts of our children, whether in our homes or outside them. Without being systematic or affected, but with the intention of supplicating for one's fellow man.
This peace that we wish one another comes, moreover, from one of the Names of Allah, "As Salam" (The Absolute Peace, the One who is free of any defect), but also one of the names of Paradise, which is also called in the Quran Dar As Salam (the Abode of Peace).
Of course, you must be wondering what one should reply to this, since we are commanded to do so. Here is how to respond to it.
How to respond to salam aleykoum ?
The words that the Muslim pronounces are indeed the expression of a courtesy, but the product of what their heart holds. They are the fruit of intention and also represent a part of our deeds. That is why, when an adult or a young child pronounces this supplication upon meeting us, it becomes our duty to return it to them in an even better manner, with the intention of observing this divine recommendation but also of reaping its merits, as mentioned above.
One should reply as follows :
Wa aleykoumou assalam !
One may add the meritorious words already mentioned above in order to complete one's supplication to perfection:
Aleykoum salam wa rahmatoullah wa barakatouh !
Conclusion
Salam aleykoum therefore has more value than we may grant it in everyday life. Read in Arabic, it is more quickly and better pronounced because each letter is in its place. It is in French and in other languages that the distortions of these words full of wisdom have occurred over time. All the books of the Sunnah are unanimous in demonstrating its great importance and its impact among believers and among people in general, for what is recommended by Allah is so in a universal manner, unless otherwise specified.
May the peace and mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon every reader of this site and upon all of humanity. Amin