When to say it
When you meet a Muslim, enter a home or join a gathering, and when you leave.
Good to know
- A man said "As-salamu 'alaykum" and the Prophet ﷺ said "Ten"; another added "wa rahmatullah" and he said "Twenty"; a third added "wa barakatuh" and he said "Thirty" (Tirmidhi 2689).
- Replying is wajib; starting the salam is sunnah. To a group, reply with "Wa 'alaykumus-salam" (plural); to one person "Wa 'alaykas-salam" is also correct.
- The Qur'an asks you to return a greeting with a better one, or at least the same (Surah an-Nisa 4:86).
- The younger greets the older, the one walking greets the one sitting, and the smaller group greets the larger (Sahih al-Bukhari 6231).
- Spreading salam builds love between Muslims, and love is part of faith (Sahih Muslim 54).
Related duas
Dua for thanking someoneJazakallahu khayranDua after sneezingAlhamdulillah, YarhamukallahDua for leaving the houseBismillahi tawakkaltu 'alallah
More in Greetings and kind words: Dua for visiting the sickDua for a newly married coupleDua for the host after eatingDua for someone travellingJumma Mubarak: what the Sunnah says about FridayDua for condolence (ta'ziyah)