At a glance
السلام عليكم
- Transliteration
- as-salāmu ʿalaykum, often written assalamualaikum or assalamu alaikum
- Pronunciation
- as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum
- Literal meaning
- peace be upon you
- Everyday sense
- hello, peace be with you
- Reply
- wa alaykum as-salam (وعليكم السلام)
Where the greeting comes from
Assalamualaikum is a joined-up spelling of as-salamu alaykum. As-salam means "the peace" and alaykum means "upon you", so together they read "peace be upon you". The word salam comes from the same root as Islam, which carries the idea of peace and submission.
Alaykum is technically a plural form, but Muslims use it for one person as well as for a group.
When Muslims say assalamualaikum
It is the standard Muslim greeting, said when meeting someone, joining a gathering, entering a room and when leaving. It is used by Muslims in every language and country, so it is the same greeting from Morocco to Malaysia. Muslims also use other greetings for special days, which are covered in our guide to Islamic greetings.
Muslims also finish the daily prayer with this greeting, turning the head to the right and then to the left.
After the greeting, people often ask how the other person is. The usual answer is alhamdulillah, "praise be to God", and thanks are often given with jazakallah khair.
How to reply to assalamualaikum
The standard reply is wa alaykum as-salam, "and upon you be peace". Many people add the longer ending, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
The Qur'an tells believers to answer a greeting with a better one or at least return it, in Surah an-Nisa. Many Muslims see this as the reason the reply is often fuller than the greeting.
The full greeting
The fullest form is as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, "peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings". Rahma means mercy and baraka means blessing. Each added part is a further prayer for the person you greet, and the full form is often used in writing, speeches and when greeting a group.
Why the greeting matters in Islam
A man once asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which part of Islam is best. He replied that it is to feed people and to greet those you know and those you do not know. This is reported by Abdullah ibn Amr in Sahih al-Bukhari.
For this reason many Muslims make a point of greeting people they know and people they have never met.
Assalamualaikum and related greetings
Arabic has several greetings. This table shows how assalamualaikum compares with the ones you are most likely to hear.
| Phrase | Arabic | Meaning | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| As-salamu alaykum | السلام عليكم | Peace be upon you | The standard Muslim greeting |
| Wa alaykum as-salam | وعليكم السلام | And upon you be peace | The standard reply |
| As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh | السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته | Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings | The full greeting |
| Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh | وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته | And upon you be peace, God's mercy and blessings | The full reply |
| Salam | سلام | Peace | A short, informal greeting |
| Marhaba | مرحبا | Hello, welcome | A general Arabic hello used by people of any faith |
| Ahlan wa sahlan | أهلا وسهلا | Welcome | Welcoming a guest |
Examples of assalamualaikum in a sentence
- Assalamualaikum, how are you?
- Peace be upon you, how are you?
- Wa alaykum assalam, I am well, alhamdulillah.
- And upon you be peace, I am well, thank God.
- Assalamualaikum, everyone!
- Peace be upon you, everyone!
Common questions
What does assalamualaikum mean?
Assalamualaikum means "peace be upon you" in Arabic. It is the standard greeting among Muslims worldwide, said when meeting, joining a group, entering a room and parting. It is a prayer for the other person's peace as well as a hello, which is why it carries more meaning than a simple "hi".
How do you reply to assalamualaikum?
Reply with wa alaykum as-salam, which means "and upon you be peace". Many people add wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, meaning "and God's mercy and blessings". The Qur'an advises answering a greeting with a better one or returning it, so a fuller reply is common, but the short form is also widely used.
What does wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh mean?
It means "and God's mercy and blessings". Muslims add it to the end of as-salamu alaykum to give the fullest greeting, which reads "peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings". Each part is a further prayer for the person you are greeting. The full greeting is often used in writing, speeches and when greeting a group.
How do you write and pronounce assalamualaikum?
In Arabic it is written السلام عليكم, from right to left, as two words. Say it as as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum, with the stress on the long a and on the ay. English spellings vary, and you will see assalamualaikum, assalamu alaikum and salam alaykum, all for the same greeting.
Can non-Muslims say assalamualaikum?
Anyone can say it as a friendly greeting, and Muslims usually reply warmly. Salam, which means "peace", is also used as a general hello by many Arabic speakers. If you want to greet a Muslim colleague or neighbour, assalamualaikum is a kind gesture. For questions about specific situations, speak to a qualified scholar.
Explore more Arabic phrases
- Islamic Greetingsالسلام عليكمAssalamualaikum, Eid Mubarak and other greetings, with replies.
- Thank You in ArabicشكراShukran and other ways to say thank you, with how to reply.
- Alhamdulillahالحمد للهPraise be to God. Thanks for a blessing and the usual reply to how are you.
- HabibiحبيبيMy beloved. A warm Arabic word for friends, family and partners.
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This page is a general guide. For your own situation, please consult a qualified scholar.