Assalam alaikum
"Peace be upon you" - a universal Islamic greeting conveying divine blessing. Simple to pronounce, theologically profound.
Meaning
Target direction : "Peace be upon you" (Assalam alaikum = السلام عليكم). Universal Islamic greeting. Expected response: "Wa alaikum assalam" ("And peace be upon you too"). Invocation of divine blessing, mutual respect.
Interpreted meaning : Non-Muslims are often unaware that this is an Islamic religious greeting, not a simple "hello". Some avoid it for fear of offending. Others mispronounce it or use it inappropriately, signaling a lack of respect or sincere intent.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- middle-east
- north-africa
- sub-saharan-africa
- south-asia
- southeast-asia
1. The gesture and its expected meaning
Assalam alaikum (السلام عليكم, "peace be upon you") is the universal Islamic greeting, used by Muslims as a formal or daily welcome. It's an invocation of divine blessing (assalam = peace, alaikum = upon you). The expected response is "Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu" ("And may God's peace, mercy and blessing be upon you"), or simply "Wa alaikum assalam".
Contrary to Western belief, this is not a bodily gesture (no obligatory handshake, no bow). It is a ritual word. However, it is often accompanied by a slight bow of the head or a hand on the chest. Physical contact varies from culture to culture: in Saudi Arabia, handshakes between men; in Egypt, sometimes two kisses on the cheek; in some conservative contexts, no physical contact at all.
Attested in the Koran and Hadiths, this is an explicitly commanded prophetic practice (2:157: "And upon them be the blessings of their Lord and His mercy").
2. Where things go wrong: the geography of misunderstanding
Western context: Western non-Muslims are often unaware that this is an Islamic religious greeting, not a simple "hello". Some avoid it for fear of "offending" or seeming "inappropriate". Others mispronounce it ("salem alik" instead of "as-sa-LAM ah-LAY-koom") or use it insincerely, signalling a lack of respect.
Muslim cultural variability: greetings vary throughout the Muslim world. In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, a firm, repeated handshake between men. In Egypt, cheek kisses (3 or 4 depending on the region). In South Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh), lighter handshakes. In West Africa, local synchretic variations (Islam + pre-Islamic traditions).
Modern urban contexts: In large internationalized Muslim cities (Dubai, Istanbul, Jakarta), the salute coexists with a Western handshake. Younger urban generations may mix the two ("Assalam alaikum" + handshake).
Post-9/11 misunderstanding: in the West, the salute was stereotyped as "suspicious" or "too religious" after 2001. Some Western Muslims avoid the full salute out of self-censorship.
3. Historical background
Attested in the Koran (Sura 2:157, 4:86) and explicitly commanded as the standard Islamic salute. Hadiths record that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught this greeting as a mark of friendship and mutual respect. The practice dates back to the 7th century CE (610 CE onwards).
In the 7th-9th centuries, bowing became widespread in the expanding Islamic empire. As Islam spread to North Africa, West Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, the greeting was adapted locally but retained as a universal core.
In a colonial context (19th-20th centuries), salvation was sometimes marginalized by colonial authorities. With independence and the reaffirmation of Islamic identity (20th-21st centuries), salvation was reaffirmed as a marker of identity.
4. famous documented incidents
- Post-9/11 profiling in the West (2001-2010s) Muslims in the USA and Europe report self-censorship of saluting for fear of stereotyping. Documented by sociology studies (Ewing 2008 "Stolen Honor", Pew Research). Trust: 4.
- **Anthropologist Duranti (1997) and Matsumoto (2013) document regional variants of saluting in the Muslim world. Confidence: 5.
- **With the rise of political Islam (1970s-2000s), saluting was reaffirmed as a central identity marker. Trust: 4.
5. Practical recommendations
- To do: in Muslim contexts, use the full greeting "Assalam alaikum" with sincerity. Pronounce correctly. Wait and reciprocate with "Wa alaikum assalam" or its longer variant.
- **Do not use in a superficial or ironic manner. Do not avoid out of fear - Muslims appreciate it when non-Muslims respect their greetings. Do not confuse with other greetings.
- Alternatives: In internationalized business contexts, a firm handshake is acceptable. In formal contexts, verbal greeting is sufficient.
Documented incidents
- — Étude Ewing « Stolen Honor » documente l'autocensure musulmane du salut complet post-9/11 par crainte de stéréotypage en Occident.
Practical recommendations
To do
- Utiliser le salut complet « Assalam alaikum » en contextes musulmans avec sincérité. Attendre réponse « Wa alaikum assalam ». Prononcer correctement.
Avoid
- Ne pas utiliser de manière superficielle ou ironique. Ne pas éviter par crainte. Ne pas confondre avec autres salutations religieuses.
Neutral alternatives
- Firm handshake in international business contexts.
- Simple verbal greeting if very uncomfortable.
Sources
- Duranti, A. (1997). Universal and culture-specific properties of greetings. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 7(1), 63-97.
- Matsumoto, D. & Hwang, H.C. (2013). Cultural similarities and differences in emblematic gestures. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 37(1), 1-27. — ↗
- Ewing, K. P. (2008). Stolen Honor: Stigmatizing Muslim Men in Berlin. Stanford University Press.