You should generally avoid saying Salam when someone is busy with acts of worship (like praying, reciting Quran, making Adhan, listening to a sermon), in private/unclean situations (toilet, bathing), or focused on a task like eating or studying, though replying is often required if greeted. It's also discouraged to initiate Salam with non-Muslims, but you may reply if they start, and be cautious with opposite genders to avoid fitnah (temptation).
Islamic rules related to the use of salam
The greeting should be used both when arriving and when leaving. It was reported by Abu Hurayrah: "When one of you comes to an assembly, he should give a salam and if he feels inclined to get up, he should give a salam, for the former is not more of a duty than the latter."
Yes. Replying to a Salam is compulsory. You need to reply with the same greeting or better. Note they have to be Muslim in order for you to reply properly.
It's a simple but profound greeting of Peace that defines a Muslim but is often not given much attention. In fact, sometimes, we substitute this beautiful greeting with other forms – 'hey', 'hello', 'hi'…but when we explore the richness of the greeting of salam, we realise we are really missing out if we don't use it.
There is nothing wrong with saying salam Alaikum to a non muslim or responding to their salam. While some scholars advised against initiating the greetings, it is generally acceptable and even encouraged to respond positively to non muslim if they greet you.
Yes, the crescent moon and star (☪️) is widely recognized as the symbol of Islam, featured on many Muslim country flags and used to represent the faith, but it has no official religious origin in the Quran or Hadith; it was adopted from pre-Islamic cultures, notably by the Ottoman Empire, and is sometimes seen as a cultural rather than purely religious symbol, with some Muslims preferring other symbols like Arabic calligraphy or the Kaaba.
The word salām (سَلَام, meaning 'peace') has become a religious salutation for Muslims worldwide when greeting each other, though its use as a greeting predates Islam, and is also common among Arabic speakers of other religions (such as Arab Christians and Mizrahi Jews), and speakers of languages with Arabic loanwords, ...
Yes, and any other typical Arabic greeting such as sabah el-kheir, masa l-kheir, ahlan, etc.
It's interesting to note that both Muslims and Jews have the same religious greeting based on the concept of peace; Muslims say “Assalamu alaikum” (ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ) and Jews say “Shalom aleichem” (שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם). Both mean the same thing: “Peace be upon you”.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer Salam to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart.
Replying To Salaam Is A Duty Of A Muslim
replied, "When you meet him, give him salaam, when he invites you, (to a meal) accept it, when he seeks counselling from you give him counselling and when he sneezes and says Alhamdulillah, bless him, when he falls ill visit him and when he dies accompany his funeral."
Is greeting with Salamun `Alaykum Correct? This and other evidence indicates that there is nothing wrong with saying Salam to a person by saying “Salamun `alaykum.” He will be rewarded for that, and he deserves a response to his Salam.
It is also commonly used by non-Muslim speakers of the Arabic language. A similar variation used in Christianity is the phrase "Hallelujah".
Therefore, a Muslim should honor the Names of Allah as it is not suitable to mention them in the bathroom and the like. This is the viewpoint of the scholars so if a person greets you with Salaam while you are in the bathroom, then do not reply to him (with Salaam).
Replying to the salam
It is the right of every Muslim to be greeted and if when you are greeted it is incumbent to reply. To say salam is sunnah, to reply is wajib.
Shabbat Shalom is standard and not offensive for anyone to use.
Yeshua said to them again, “Shalom aleichem! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And after He said this, He breathed on them. And He said to them, “Receive the Ruach ha-Kodesh! If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; but if you hold back, they are held back.”
7 Ways to Say Goodbye in Arabic
Summary of answer
If a non-Muslim says As-Sam 'alaykum, you should respond by saying Wa 'alaykum. If a non-Muslim greets you saying As-salamu 'alaykum, the majority of scholars said that we have to return the greeting, and this is the correct view.
The Quran explicitly promises salvation for all those righteous Christians who were there before the arrival of Muhammad: Indeed, the believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabians—whoever ˹truly˺ believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good will have their reward with their Lord.
A traditional Islamic term for Christians (literally "Nazarene"). Arab Christians prefer Masīḥī (مَسِيحِيّ).
However, more generally the phrase is commonly used by Muslims, Arab Christians and Arabic speakers of other religions to refer to events that one hopes will happen in the future, having the same meaning as the English word "hopefully".
Is it offensive to use “salam alaikum”? It's not offensive unless it's being mocked or culturally appropriated. The peaceful greeting is highly encouraged by Islam as a means of spreading peace, one of the major tenets of the religion.
Regional variants of the word Allah occur in both pagan and Christian pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions.