When Muslims meet, the best way to greet each other is to say: 'Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.' Allah ordains it upon us to greet each other with Salam, i.e., saying Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. This greeting is a dua, which means, "[May] Peace, mercy, and the blessings of God be upon you." When you say Salaam, you mean, "I pray for peace and have no intention to harm you." Some Muslims say a brief form of salam, which is: Assalam-u-Alikum, meaning "[May] Peace be upon you." While it is sufficient, it's recommended to say the complete Salam: Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
Saying Assalam Alekum is the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He used Assalam Alekum, Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah, and Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh on different occasions to show that saying Salam is the best way to greet your fellow Muslims. Even Hazrat Adam (A.S) greeted the angels with Salaam for the first time. In Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Al-Muslim, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah (R.A) that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: "When Allah created Adam (A.S), He said to him: 'Go greet the company of angels who are sitting there – and then listen to what they are going to say in reply to your greetings because that will be your greeting and your offspring's.' Adam (A.S) said to the angels: 'As-Salamu Alikum (May peace be upon you).' They replied: 'As-Salalmu Alaikum wa-Rahmatullah (May peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah).' This adds in reply to him: 'wa-Rahmatullah (and the Mercy of Allah)' to his greeting." (Riyad as-Salihin 846, Book 6, Hadith 2).
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
As-sa-la-mu-a-lai-kum Wa-rah-ma-tul-la-hi Wa-ba-ra-ka-tuh
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Phonetic Spelling: Assa-laam-u-alai-kum, Wa-rah-ma-tul-la-hi, Wa-ba-ra-ka-tu-hu
1. Assalamualaikum: Ah-sah-LAH-moo-ah-LAY-koom
2. Warahmatullahi: Wah-RAH-mah-too-LAH-hee
3. Wabarakatuh: Wah-bah-RAH-kah-too
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh is the Islamic greeting. Therefore, the foremost use of this duaic phrase is to greet another Muslim. Just like saying Hi or Hello in the Western world, Assalam Alekum is the common greeting for Muslims. The Prophet of Allah has said that one should always try to say the salam first. Allah enhances the love and respect for each other through salam. In Badai' al-Fawaid, Ibn Al-Qayyim said:
"Allah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be al-Salamu' alaykum, which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas or lies, such as saying, may you live for a thousand years, or things that are accurate, such an An'im Sabahan (Good Morning), or actions that are not right, such as prostrating in greeting. "
Prophet (S.A.W) has also shed light on greeting each other with the best words. A Hadith, narrated by Abu Tamimah Al-Hujaimi, talks about a man among his people when he met RasoolAllah (S.A.W), he said to him (S.A.W):
“Alaikas-Salam (upon you be peace) O Messenger of Allah! Alaikas-Salam O Messenger of Allah! Alaikas-Salam O Messenger of Allah!” He (S.A.W) replied: 'Indeed Alaikas-Salam (upon you be peace) is the greeting for the dead.' Then he (S.A.W) came towards me and said: 'When a man meets his Muslim brother, then he should say: "As-Salamu Alikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh." Then the Prophet (S.A.W) responded to my greeting, and he said: 'And may Allah's mercy be upon you, and may Allah's mercy be upon you. (Jami at Tirmidhi Book 42, Hadith 34).
Salam can also be used in place of goodbye. In fact, it is Afzal to say Assalam Alekum when taking leave from someone. Prophet (S.A.W) has made Salaam an identity for the Muslims. Whenever you greet anyone, known or unknown, it is obligatory to start the conversation with Asalm-u-Alikum.
In a Sahih Al-Bukhari hadith, narrated by Abdullah bin Amr (R.A), a man asked Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), "What Islamic traits are the best?" The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "Feed the people, and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6236, Book 79, Hadith 10).
Apart from a dua for greeting or saying goodbye to fellow Muslims, Assalam Alekum is said when entering or leaving your house, place of work, or any other building you are visiting. If there is no one in the building, it is still best to say Salam upon leaving and entering the premises. Muslims are also advised to say Assalam Alekum when they visit the cemetery to pay regard to their loved ones who have passed on to the next world.
Ibn Abbas narrated that Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Messenger of Allah passed by the graves of Al-Madinah, so he turned his face towards them and said: (As-Salamu alaikum ya ahlul-qubur! Yaghfirul-lahu lana wa lakun, antum salafuna wa nahnu bil-athar.) Peace be upon you O inhabitants of the grave! May Allah forgive us and you; you are our predecessors and we are to follow you.' (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1053, Book 10 Hadith 89). So, when you pass by a cemetery, say As-Salamu alaikum ya ahlul-qubur, and when you visit the grave of a person you know, you may say As-Salamu alaikum ya {name of the person}.
There are 99 names that belong to Allah, and of these, one is As-Salam, which means 'The Giver of peace,' or 'The Source of peace.' Allah is the only One who can grant us peace, safety, and security. He has made it compulsory for Muslims to greet, saying Salaam. In Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Allah says:
"Has the story of Abraham's honored guests come to you? When they came to him, they said: "Peace." He answered: "Peace." They were a people he did not recognize." (Quran 51:25)
Many people in the past used to send Salaam to Allah. Upon hearing this, Rasool Allah (S.A.W) said:
Narrated by Abdullah (R.A): When we prayed with the Prophet (S.A.W) we used to say, "Peace be on Allah from His slaves and peace be on so and so." The Prophet (S.A.W) said, "Don’t say As-Salam be on Allah, for He Himself is As-Salam…” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 835, Book 10, Hadith 228).
Rasool Allah (S.A.W) has always promoted everyone to say Salaam and has taught His companions to greet everyone in the best way.
In a hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (R.A): The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to me, “Dear son, when you enter your house, say As-Salamu Alaikum to your family, for it will be a blessing both to you and to your family.” (Riyad as-Salihin 861, Book 6, Hadith 17).
When a Muslim greets you with Salaam, saying Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, it becomes compulsory for you to return the Salaam.
In a Hadith narrated by 'Ali, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: "The Muslim has six courtesies due from the Muslim: He should greet him with Salam when he meets him; he should accept his invitation if he invites him; he should answer [by Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)] to him if he sneezes (and says Al-Hamdulillah); he should visit him if he falls sick; he should follow his funeral if he dies; and he should love for him what he loves for himself.".” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1433, Book 6, Hadith 1).
It is better and preferred for Muslims to greet their Muslim brethren with Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh upon meeting them. When someone says Assalam-u-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, return him with Walikum Asalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
“When you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with one fairer, or repeat the same greeting. For God takes account of all things.” (Quran 4:86).
Greeting with Salaam instead of non-Islamic greetings like Hello or Hi is far better as Salaam is a dua which you make for the person you met. It also brings rewards and blessings from Allah and cleanses your intentions towards others. So, always greet people with Assalam-u-alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, as it adds immense rewards to your bucket.
It means; “Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.”
You reply saying: Walikum Asalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
You reply saying: Walikum Asalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
It came from Arabic word, Salaam which means peace.
Adam (A.S) was the first person to say Salaam. He said it to the angels to greet them.
Yes, it is compulsory according to Hadith and the Quran. Allama Nawawi said in his commentary of Sahih Muslim that: “To commence salaam is Sunnah and to reply is Wajib.” And Wajib means obligatory.
Yes, saying Assalamualaikum is sufficient.