Greeting in Islam – The Beauty of Saying “Assalamu Alaikum”
In Islam, greeting others with peace is not just a form of politeness — it is an act of worship and a means of spreading love among Muslims. The greeting “Assalamu Alaikum” (السلام عليكم) means “Peace be upon you.” It is a powerful phrase that carries blessings, brotherhood, and a reminder of unity in faith.
🌿 The Sunnah of Greeting
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of greeting others with peace. He ﷺ said:
“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among you.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 54)
This shows that greeting others with Assalamu Alaikum is a key to strengthening bonds of love and faith among Muslims.
🌸 How to Greet Properly
The proper Islamic way to greet another Muslim is by saying:
“Assalamu Alaikum” – Peace be upon you.
The reply should be:
“Wa Alaikum Assalam” – And peace be upon you too.
If someone says:
“Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh”
(Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you)
Then it is recommended to reply with:
“Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.”
Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an:
“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.”
(Surah An-Nisa, 4:86)
🌷 Stories from the Sunnah
One beautiful example from the life of the Prophet ﷺ is when a man came and said, “Assalamu Alaikum,” and the Prophet ﷺ replied and said:
“Ten good deeds (rewards).”
Another man came and said, “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,” and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Twenty good deeds.”
Then another man came and said, “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,” and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Thirty good deeds.”
(Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 5195)
This shows that even in greeting, Allah rewards us abundantly depending on how much peace and blessing we wish for others.
🌺 Greeting Brings Barakah (Blessings)
Greeting others with Assalamu Alaikum removes hatred, brings hearts together, and earns Allah’s pleasure. Whether it’s someone you know or a stranger, greeting them is a Sunnah that revives love and unity in the Ummah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The one who is riding should greet the one who is walking; the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting; and the smaller group should greet the larger group.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6234; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2160)
🎧 Listen to Molana Umar Faruq (Leicester)
To gain a deeper understanding of the importance of greetings in Islam, listen to Molana Umar Faruq from Leicester.
He beautifully explains how a simple “Assalamu Alaikum” can change hearts, bring rewards, and build unity among Muslims.
🎥 Watch or listen to the attached audio/video below.
🤲 Final Message
Let us make it a habit to greet every Muslim with a warm and sincere “Assalamu Alaikum”.
It is not just a word — it’s a du‘a for peace, mercy, and blessings upon one another.
“Spread peace, feed the poor, pray at night when others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3251)
Islam Media Central
Topic: Greeting in Islam
Speaker: Molana Umar Faruq (Leicester)
Tags: Islam, Sunnah, Greetings, Assalamu Alaikum, Brotherhood, Molana Umar Faruq
