I have some Muslim friends and they use different forms of greeting, so I am a little confused.
What would be a proper response to "salaam"?
When should I use the full "as-salamu alaikum"?
When should I reply with "wa-alaikum-salaam"?
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Sign up to join this communitySaying:
Salaam
is an incomplete greeting.
And Allah the almighty taught us how to respond:
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. (4:86)
so the minimum would be to return it (but that would be incomplete as gthe correct greetg is:
As-Salamu 'Alaikum
, however it is certainly better to replay:
(wa) Alaikum as-Salam
As-Salamu alaikum
and much better to say:
(Wa) 'alaikum as-Salamu wa rahmatu-(A)Llah
As-Salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatu-(A)Llah
or
(Wa) 'alaikum as-Salamu wa rahmatu-(A)Llah wa barakatuhu
As-Salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatu-(A)Llah wa barakatuhu
See also How should I reply to "Assalamu Alaikum"? and What is the meaning and the usage of "Assalamu alaikum"?