Assalamu Alaikum Meaning
Peace be upon you. The meaning, Arabic, when to say it, and its source in the Quran and Sunnah.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ
- Transliteration
- As-salāmu ʿalaykum
- Meaning
- Peace be upon you
Assalamu alaikum means “peace be upon you”. It is the greeting Muslims use everywhere in the world, and replying to it is a duty.
How to reply to Assalamu alaikum
وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ
The reply is “Wa ʿalaykumu s-salām”: “and upon you be peace”. The Quran says: when you are greeted, greet back with something better, or at least return it (Quran 4:86).
The full greeting and its reward
| Greeting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| As-salāmu ʿalaykum | Peace be upon you |
| … wa raḥmatullāh | … and the mercy of Allah |
| … wa barakātuh | … and His blessings |
A man greeted the Prophet ﷺ with “Assalamu alaikum” and he said “ten”; the next added “wa rahmatullah” and he said “twenty”; the third added “wa barakatuh” and he said “thirty”, meaning rewards (Sunan Abi Dawud 5195).
Spreading salam
The Prophet ﷺ said that you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another, and then pointed to spreading salam among yourselves (Sahih Muslim 54).
Quran and hadith references link to quran.com and sunnah.com, where you can read the full text. Reviewed 19 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the reply to Assalamu alaikum?
“Wa alaikum assalam” (and upon you be peace). You can add “wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh”.
What is the full form of Assalamu alaikum?
“Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh”: peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Is it Assalamu alaikum or Salam alaykum?
Both are used. “As-salamu alaykum” is closest to the Arabic السلام عليكم.