As-Salamu Alaykum Meaning & Reply
السلام عليكم
as-salamu alaykum
- Meaning
- Peace be upon you
- Literal meaning
- "The peace be upon you" — as-salam (the peace) + alaykum (upon you, plural).
- When to use
- The standard Muslim greeting, used whenever you meet or address someone. The reply is "wa alaykum as-salam".
- Common situations
-
- Meeting someone for the first time or entering a room
- Starting a phone call, message, or letter
- Greeting a group — the -kum ending already addresses everyone
- Formality
- Universal — appropriate in every setting, formal or casual, with elders and friends alike.
- Also spelled
- as-salamu-alaykum · assalamu-alaikum · salam-alaikum · as-salam-alaykum
Example conversation
-
— السلام عليكم
as-salamu alaykum
Peace be upon you.
-
— وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله
wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah
And upon you be peace, and God’s mercy.
Common replies
Related phrases
Notes
Even when greeting one person, the plural alaykum is used. Adding "wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" makes the greeting fuller — and the reply should be at least as complete as the greeting.