Assalamu alaykum
From Arabic 'السلام عليكم' (as-salāmu ʿalaykum), literally 'peace be upon you'. Derived from the Semitic root س-ل-م (s-l-m) meaning peace, safety, and submission. The phrase appears throughout the Quran and is the standard Islamic greeting.
The universal greeting among Muslims, used regardless of language, nationality, or time of day. The standard response is 'wa alaykumu s-salam' (وعليكم السلام), meaning 'and upon you be peace'. The greeting carries religious significance as a prayer for the well-being of the recipient and is considered a form of worship when exchanged between Muslims.
- Used when entering a home, meeting someone, or beginning a conversation.
- Extended forms include 'assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh' (peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you).
- Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts among Muslims.