Wa Alaikum Assalam (translation: and upon you be peace) is the Islamic reply to anyone who greets you first with Salam: Asalam-u-Alaikum or Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. The complete term to return Salam is Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmat-Ullah-I Wa Barakata-hu, which means, "May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you too."
Let's make the pronunciation of Wa Alaikum Assalam Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatauh easy for you:
1. Wa
2. A-lai-kum
3. As-saa-lam
Read it all together with a smooth flow connecting one to another like this: Waa-ali-kum As-saalam Waa-rah-maa-tu-Allah-I Waa-ba-ra-ka-tu-h
Repeat the term several times slowly and then gradually speed up.
Islam has taught us to greet people with the best words, and what can be better than saying Asalam Alaikum WarahmatuAllahi Wa Barakatuh, which means "May the peace, mercy, and Blessings be upon you." The best and fairest reply to such a beautiful dua that one sends our way is taught by our beloved Rasool Allah (S.A.W) as Walaikum 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." (Surah An Nisa 4:86)
The Quran verse tells us to return the greeting either by repeating the same word or doing even better. So if someone greets us with Asalam Alaikum, we can always return the greeting with a better one, saying the complete form Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) led by example. His life and his behavior are a burning beacon for Muslims. We must emulate his behavior to follow the deen as Allah intended. There are many ahadith that prove that the Prophet Muhammad responded to salam with the phrase Wa Alaikum Assalam.
In a Sahih Hadith narrated by Abdullah b. Samit reported by Abu Dharr (R.A): "… I came to Prophet (S.A.W), and I was the first amongst persons to greet him (S.A.W) with Assalam-o-Alaikum, and I said to Allah's Messenger (S.A.W), Let there be peace upon you. And he said: Let there be peace upon you too…" (Sahih Muslim 2473c, Book 44, Hadith 191).
Salam term came from the name of Allah as As-Salam is one of the 99 names of Allah. In a Sahih Hadith, praising Allah, Prophet (S.A.W) said, and Aisha (R.A) narrated:
"When the Prophet (S.A.W) uttered taslim, he used to say: "O Allah, You are As-Salam, and from you is As-Salam. You are blessed, O One of Magnificence and Generosity." (Sunan Abi Dawud 1512, Book 8, Hadith 97).
When we say Salam and return greeting with Salam, we are praising Allah and sending Allah's mercy and blessing upon the person we just met. In a Hadith narrated by Aisha (R.A):
That the Prophet (S.A.W) said to her, "Gabriel sends Salam (greeting) to you." She replied, "Wa'alaihi-s-Salam Wa Rahmatu-l-lah" (Peace and Allah's mercy be on him). (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6253, Book 79, Hadith 27)
In another Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (R.A):
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: "When any of the People of the Book greet you with Salam (peace), then say, Wa'alaikum (and also upon you)." (Sunan Ibn Majah 3697, Book 33, Hadith 41).
In this Hadith, we can say that Salam not only belongs to Muslims but the People of the Book, like Christians and Jews also greet with Salam (peace). Returning their Salam with Wa'Alaikum, which means 'and also upon you,' is justified.
We learned from the Hadith discussed above that Walaikum Asalam is used in reply to the greetings of Asalam Alaikum from our beloved Muslim brothers and sisters. It is stated in Sahih Hadith that Rasool Allah (S.A.W) himself used to reply with Walaikum Asalam Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh to his companions. A very similar term, As-Sam-u-Alaikum, was used by some of the Jews in the times of Rasool Allah (S.A.W). This term means 'death be upon you,' so Allah Messenger ordered Muslims to greet them back by saying Walaikum, which means 'and upon you.'
Ibn Umar (R.A) reported Allah Messenger (S.A.W) as saying: "When the Jews offer you salutations, some of them say as-Sam-u-Alaikum (death be upon you). You should say (in response to it): Let it be upon you." (Sahih Muslim 2164a, Book 39, Hadith 9)
For Muslims, it's best to greet with Asalam Alaikum, and the reply can be Walaikum Asalam or, even better version, saying Walaikum Asalam Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. This exchange of dua of peace and mercy makes you two united and safe from one another. Saying salaam means you do not intend to harm the person, and they are safe from you, and in return, saying Walaikum Asaalam means the same. In a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (R.A);
"The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one from whom the people's lives and wealth are safe." (Sunan an-Nasai 4995, Book 47, Hadith 11).
Muslims greet one another by saying Asaalm-o-Alaikum and the other person returns the greeting saying Walaikum Asalam.
When someone greets you with Asaalamu alaikum (And upon you peace), it's best to reply with Walaikum Asalam (and upon you be peace).
According to a Sahih Hadith in Bukhari, the younger should greet the elders, the smaller group should greet the larger group and someone who enters the house should greet the one already inside the house.
Both forms have the same meaning, it's just a matter of region. Some say Walikum As-Salam while others prefer saying Wa Alaikum Salam.
It means "and upon you be peace."
