The Islamic greeting – Assalam Alekum or Salam, carries significant importance for Muslims. Salam is the greeting Muslims greet one another with immediately upon meeting, before talking or socializing. Salam is also one of Allah's names, and its literal meaning translates to "May the blessing of Allah's name descend upon you."
The Prophet (ï·º) said: "You shall not enter Paradise until you believe, and you have not believed until you love one another. Shall I tell you of something you can do to make you love one another? Spread the greetings of Salam (peace) amongst yourselves (i.e., between each other). – Hisn al-Muslim 224.
Moreover, Al-Bara Ibn Azib had also reported the Prophet (ï·º) saying: "The Prophet (ï·º) said: Two Muslims will not meet and shake hands having their sins forgiven them before they separate." – Sunan Abi Dawud 5212.
Good Etiquette (IT) Duas (IT)
You should greet your elders, children, or any other believer you come across by saying Salam. Moreover, there are also etiquettes to be considered when one is responding to another's greeting. It is encouraged to greet another person with a better greeting than they greet you with or the same greeting.
Allah says in the Quran: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant." (Al Nisa - 4:86).
Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (ï·º) to have said: Allah's Messenger (ï·º) said, "The riding one should greet the walking one, and the walking one should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons." Greeting and saying your salam to someone is a way of praying for them to be blessed with the countable blessings of Allah. Therefore, make sure to mean it when you greet someone and not just say the words.
Salam plays a vital role in promoting social harmony by spreading brotherhood and love among Muslims. It is also a way to shed our sins, as the Hadith of our beloved Prophet (ï·º) has taught us. Moreover, sending your salam upon someone invites the same prayer to be made for you.