The Meaning Behind Salaam and Peace
By Waleed Basyouni | 2026-01-10T11:51:50.775149+00:00 | Topic: Purification
The Meaning Behind Salaam and Peace
Opening Dua and Introduction
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَهْدِيهِ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]."
"O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer."
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment."
أَمَّا بَعْدُ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْكَلَامِ كَلَامُ اللَّهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلَّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ
Amma ba'd, All praise is due to Allah and His praise and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his family, his companions, and his followers until the Day of Judgment, and all the prophets and the messengers and their followers.
The Testimony of Faith and Common Islamic Expressions
We bear witness that Allah is the only one worthy of worship and Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his final and last messenger. My dear brothers and sisters, if we look at the most common words that we use every day in our daily life, if you will ask any non-Muslim even about what is the words that usually they hear from Muslims, usually the top three in most of the statistics is mentioning these three words: الشهادتان، لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله.
It is the most common word that Muslims always use and refer to themselves or connected to them. But they keep repeating it. The second one would be (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ - bismillah). It's a very common word that we use it in every day. And the third word will be (السلام علیکم - Assalamu alaikum). Even non-Muslims, when they come to address Muslims in masjids and conventions (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum).
Focus on the Greeting of Peace
The first thing that you hear, that they copy that. My talk today about the third one, the word (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum). This greeting, which we use it so often, it's one of the most common word that we use in our day, every day and every night.
And I have noticed that so many of us have not yet come to learn much about the nature of this greeting, what this greeting really means, what the meaning, the message behind it. Something al-Islam order you to say it every time, that you meet somebody, and you enter to meet your family in the house after you finish your salah. And I will come to mention when you should say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum).
But it's something you're repeating it every day so many times. It must be a message behind this greeting. It must be a lesson that Allah and His Messenger, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, want the Muslim ummah to learn from this greeting.
The Divine Nature of the Greeting
(السلام علیکم شعار أهل الإسلام وديثار أهل الإيمان - Assalamu alaikum shi'aru ahlil islam wa ditharu ahlil iman) became like a sign for Muslims. It is something so common to hear from every mu'min and Muslim, male or female. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala referred to this greeting by saying: (تَحِيَّةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُبَارَكَةً - tahiyyatum min 'indillahi mubaarakah) (Quran 24:61).
This greeting that you use (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), it is from Allah. And listen carefully. He said, this greeting you've been giving from Allah, (مباركة - mubaarakah), a blessed greeting. Blessings, it means a lot of good in it. So, let's explore in this khutbah what is so blessings about this greeting. What is so special about this word, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), because unfortunately we found that a lot of Muslims in recent days started replacing this greeting with other greetings other than (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), which will never ever give any meanings close to the meanings that we learn from the word (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum).
The Meaning of As-Salam as Allah's Name
Why do we say that (السلام عليكم؟ - Assalamu alaikum?) When you say to somebody (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), when I start my speech before the brother called the adhan I said, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum). I greeted you. Why do we do that? Why do we say that? What's the meaning of this? First, when you say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), As-Salam is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's name.
(Abu Dawood)
As the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: Allah, one of his names is As-Salam. So when I say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), I'm saying Allah's names be upon you. Or I greet you with Allah's name. So Allah's names be upon you. (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum).
And look carefully to the word (عليكم - alaikum). It's not to you. It is upon you. (السلام لكم، السلام عليكم - Assalamu lakum, Assalamu alaikum). Because in Arabic language, as well as in English, when you say (علی - ala), it means for all of you, cover you all. It will cover all your body. And it will basically go to every single part of your body.
The Comprehensive Meaning of As-Salam
What that means when I said Allah's names should be upon you as a person? What that means? What the word As-Salam means? It means that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala as a name, that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is complete. Free from anything evil, free from anything harmful, free from anything would be considered less than being perfect.
Because (السليم من كل نقص - as-saleemu min kulli naqs). The one who is free from any disaffect, the one who is free from anything negative. So when I say Allah's names be upon you, that means that since Allah is the complete, I ask Him to also complete you, and to make you perfect, and to make you free, and protected from whatever could be considered negative or evil.
So I ask Allah to make you under the protection of His name, which is As-Salam. So you will be protected by His name subhanahu wa ta'ala. Since Allah is the perfect, He is the one who can make others perfect. Since As-Salam means the one who has been protected from any negative, protecting from any kind of disaffect, He also will protect you because of this name from whatever can be considered negative or bad.
The Greeting as Dua (Prayer)
Not only that. Also, when you say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), you're making dua. It's not only greeting, it is you asking Allah, you're praying to the Lord of the world by saying, Oh Allah, I ask you to make him (سليم - saleem). I ask you to make him protected from whatever can harm him or her. So when you say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), I ask Allah to protect you from whatever can harm you in this dunya and in the hereafter.
So when you say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), it means, Oh Allah, I ask you to protect such person from whatever can harm him or her in the dunya and in the hereafter. Can you think of how many things can harm you in this dunya? Can you think of how many things can harm you in your grave or in the hereafter? And I'm asking Allah every time I meet you, that Allah protect you from these things. I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make sure that you will be perfect, so you will not ever be affected by any kind of diseases, so you will be sick, because (السليم - as-saleem), the one who will be healthy, in good conditions, and this is the prayer that I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for you every time I see you.
Historical Context and Poetry
It's been said in the old days, (السلام عليك يا مطر سلام - Assalamu alayki ya matar salam). He's far away from his wife, so it was raining. So he said, he looked at the rain, and he said this very famous poet, which is a line, he said, Oh rain, carry as much as drops, talking to the cloud, as much as water in this cloud and drop of rain in this cloud, I ask salam to my beloved wife, who far away from me, because this cloud will travel.
He said, I want her to be protected from anything can harm her, as much as the number of the drops of rain in this cloud. And I don't intend to make dua for the rain or for the cloud, I intend that this dua will be carried by cloud to my wife. So (السلام - as-salam), it's a form of dua that you'd say.
Greeting the Deceased and the Contract of Peace
That's why when you go to the graveyard, you don't greet the dead, because they don't reply to you. But when you say (السلام عليكم أهل الديار - Assalamu alaikum ahlad-diyar), you're praying for them to be protected. You're praying for them to be in a good shape. You're praying for them, so whatever is harming or bothering them, or any kind of punishment that they are, or suffering that they are in in their grave, this dua, you're asking Allah to protect them from it. It's not to greet them.
Also, when you say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), the ulama said, (هذا عقد أمان - hatha 'aqdu aman). If a person who is in a status of war between you and him, let's say there is two armies, and one of the enemy came and said, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), or you told him (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), you have given him your word that he will be protected from you. And you cannot betray him, you cannot kill him, you cannot abuse him, you cannot do anything to harm him. It's like a contract, even the word.
That's why he became under your dhimma, under your protections. Every time I meet you, and I said, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), I made a promise that I will not harm you. I made a promise that you will not see anything from me except what is good. I will not treat you. I will not talk to you. I will not deal with you with any kind of evilness.
The Promise of Good Character
You will not see from me anything but what is good. No plotting, no jealous, no envy, no betraying, nothing like that. What you're going to see is As-Salam, is peace, is purity. What you're going to see is a very clear clarity and my intention towards you. The Arab in the old days, they used to say, whenever somebody approached them, they said, (نعوذ بالله من شر كل قادم - na'udhu billahi min sharri kulli qadim). So it was a common practice that always, and I see until today, some brothers, I see them doing that.
Every time the phone rings or somebody comes, say, (أعوذ بالله، إن شاء الله - a'udhu billahi, in sha'a Allah), good. Scared from any stranger coming. Islam replaced that fear by giving a positive attitude to the society. Then when you approach (السلام عليكم - alaikum, Assalamu alaikum) and you're always expecting good. You should not expect bad from anybody when you meet that person. That's why we said (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum).
Proper Way of Giving Salam
We don't say (إن السلام، عليك السلام - in as-salam, alayka as-salam). That's why the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, as reported by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi (من حديث أبي جحيفة - min hadithi abi juhaifa) (Abu Dawood 5209, Tirmidhi 2722), that he said that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when I met him first time I said (عليك السلام يا رسول الله - alayka as-salam ya rasul Allah). Then the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, don't say (عليك السلام - alayka as-salam). Say (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), or (السلام عليك يا رسول الله - as-salamu alayka ya rasul Allah). (السلام عليك يا رسول الله - as-salamu alayka ya rasul Allah). That's what Abu Bakr, radiallahu anhu, used to say.
The Security and Safety in Salam
(السلام، أمان الله في الأرض - As-salamu, amanullahi fil ard). As-Salam, it is a security that Allah, subhana, it is basically declaring that the person that you meet is in secure position, that you will not harm him. It is basically giving your word to the other person that he will be safe, he will be secure.
(Bukhari 11, Muslim 40)
As the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: The real Muslim is the people, the Muslims will be safe from his hand or his tongue, that he will not harm them with anything.
The Purity and Clarity of Intention
As-Salam, as I said, means purity, means clarity, means that you're telling that person, you said, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), you're telling him, my heart is clean. My heart is pure. My intention is pure. And as if you're telling him that everything, no matter what happened between us in the past, it's already erased just by saying, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum)
One of the early Muslim generations used to say, sometimes I will have something in my heart against my brother. The moment he would say to me, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), it will erase everything in my heart. Because I know now, this means that our relationship has to be based in clarity, have to be based in purity, based on purity.
The Collective Meaning and Divine Connection
My brothers and sisters, all these meanings come together. I attach Allah's names to you. So the barakah, the blessings of this name, As-Salam, will be upon you. I make dua for you. I make that declaration the moment I see you by saying, you should not expect anything from me, but peace and good. And also, I'm telling you, my heart is free from anything evil against you.
What these meanings means to our society as a community. One, whenever you say, As-Salam, (السلام عليكم - Assalamu alaikum), remember that you mention Allah's name. And that should make you respect this greeting. You should not just say it without realizing the status of it. That's Allah's name that you mention. It's not just any name.
The Addition of Rahmatullah (Allah's Mercy)
Also, it means that there is no doubt great lessons and meanings behind this greeting. And before even I go further, I would like to extend my talk to include the word (رحمة الله - rahmatullah). Because we say (السلام عليكم ورحمة الله - Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah).
Imagine, not only As-Salam, now you're saying, (ورحمة الله - wa rahmatullah). Allah's mercy, one of the best quality that He has. He said that, my mercy have taken over my anger. Dominate most of the other, actually, most of the
The Qualities of Mercy
Mercy indicate, the quality of mercy, the rahima, it indicate that you are gentle, that you are gentle, رقيق, that you are forgiver. Merciful people are forgiver. Also mercy, it means that you are kind.
That's why Allah's mercy, was referred to in the Quran as Jannah, because this is out of kindness, that He reward you. المطر، the rain, referred in the Quran as Allah's mercy, because it's out of His kindness subhanahu wa ta'ala. Mercy, it means also safe. You cannot be merciful of people don't safe around you. Merciful people, a people that you can feel safe around them. Also, it means compassion.
That's why the Prophet ﷺ said:
(Bukhari 5999)
That the mercy that Allah created in the heart of the mothers for their children. He called it mercy, that love, compassion, that you have in your heart, it is a mercy. So when you greet somebody with that, you're asking for him to be loved by Allah, to be rewarded by Allah, that Allah will be kind to him, that Allah will treat him with kindness, and forgiveness, and gentleness, and the same from me.
The Meaning of Barakah (Blessings)
Not only that. You say, بركاته Barakat, the single of Barakat is Barakah, which is originally comes in Arabic language from the word بركة. بركة، it means pool, where all the rain gather in one place in the desert, and basically became a place with a lot of water in it.
What do you expect when a lot of water gather in one place in the desert? What would you expect this place looks like? Full of life, full of green, people will move and live around it. And Barakah, it means a lot of good gathered in one place. Then not only that, Barakah means and a lot of good come out of the same place.
So two things, when you say Barakah, it means a lot of good comes together in one spot, and a lot of good comes out of that spot. So when you say Allah'sBarakah on you, a lot of good will come on you, and a lot of good will comes out of you as a person, which is totally changing the attitude, the characteristic of the person.
The Complete Greeting and Its Permanence
When you say السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، not only that, Barakah, it means something will remain. Al-Ulama said, Ibn Al-Qayyim rahimahullah said, this greeting indicate three things, that you're asking for this person that a lot of good happened to him when you say رحمة الله، Allah's mercy upon you, whatever you think kindness, goodness, reward, gentleness from Allah will come to you. Then not only that, then you say السلام before that, which is to be protected from anything evil or can prevent you from taking advantage of this mercy. Is that all? No.
You're also asking Allah that this situation will remain in this status. It will never change. In order for you to enjoy anything in life the most, you make sure that you have access to it, to have it, and you make sure there is nothing else will appear to prevent you from enjoying it.
You know what? I love certain food, but if I got diabetes, I cannot eat this food. I will not benefit from it even if I have it. Okay, I'm not diabetic. I have it. I eat it. It's finished. Tomorrow I don't have it. I'm not enjoying it anymore. Here, no.
You will have what you like, and nothing will prevent you from having it, and it will remain with you all the time. I'm asking Allah السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، to bless you with so much good and make sure there is nothing will prevent you from enjoying this good. And I ask Him to keep this good with you all the time.
The Continuous Nature of This Dua
I don't do this one time. I do this all the time when I see you. I say this for you every time I meet you and every time I depart from you.
Barakah. Blessings, a lot of good in and out. Barakah in your body so you will be healthy. Barakah in your body so when you are healthy body, you will use this body to do something good. Barakah in your knowledge so you will be able to learn the beneficial knowledge. Barakah in your knowledge so you will be able to deliver the beneficial knowledge to others.
In and out. Barakah in your wealth so you will have access to so many halal resources. Then, barakah in your wealth that you will be able to use it to help so many others. Barakah in your family. So Allah blessed you with a blessings family, with good wife, good children. Then, they will be good to others and bring another generation which will be very blessed as well.
Barakah in your time. So you learn and you use it in what is beneficial. Then, you will have the ability to also exercise and basically give back so much. Barakah in your whole entire life. Can you compare this with I? Bonjour? Bonsoir? What's up? Can you compare this to this? That's why Allah described it as barakah in this greeting because there is so much in it.
When to Use This Greeting
You've been ordered to say this when you finish your salah. It's a message that you send to the people in the left and the right that as a person, as a musalli, as a one who just finished his prayer, you should not expect anything from me but all these good meanings. To the society that the salah have prepared me to be a person who spread peace and gentleness and mercy and barakah in the society. You say it when you meet your friends and you depart from your friend.
Even when I leave you, don't expect anything from me to harm you in your absence. When I see you, don't expect anything from me but what is good for you. When you enter your house, ask yourself, when I say to my family, (السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته).
Application in Family Life
Do you really, your wife, your husband, your kids, expect السلامة، security, safety, to be free from anything will harm or they would say, Oh, he came. And everybody terrified. And everybody worry that maybe something will come out of your mouth or some physical abuse will happen.
Do really your family, when you go to your family, do you really apply the meaning of rahma, mercy inside our houses with our spouses, with our children, with our parents? Do we really see ourselves blessings and barakah in our homes? Do we bring a lot of good and we receive a lot of good in our homes? If just every couple look at this greeting and take it as a guidelines in their homes, in their societies, I think our society will not be the same.
Community Guidelines Through This Greeting
It's been ordained for us to say it when you enter the masjid. So when you deal with the community, this is the guidelines. Even when you give lectures, when you give a speech, this ummah should reflect upon such messages that we send every day. This every one of us should not just say this greeting every day now or every time you say it. You should think about the great meanings that this greeting carry.
Lessons for Society
One of the lessons to learn from this greeting as a society and a community that we all should always remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and always Allah's names to be mentioned so often. Even our greeting, we remember and mention His name. Also for a society and community, we need to know that it's very important for society to live in peace, in a secure society.
Security is a very important element for any community to be successful. That's why peace and security and mercy are the sign for this ummah شعار هذه الأمة. And Nabi ﷺ said:
(Bukhari 12)
Spread salam among yourselves. That's one of the first words that he said as Abdullah ibn Salam said, I heard it from the Prophet ﷺ. The first thing I heard from
the Prophet ﷺ when he entered Medina. To establish the society in Medina based on these great meanings.
Divine Origin and Connection to the Hereafter
Also, this means to us as a Muslim ummah that even our greeting, but chosen by Allah, was not chosen by somebody individual. Something from Allah تحية من عند الله Greeting from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to you. Not only that, this greeting connect us as a Muslim ummah to the akhira. The Muslim live in this worldly life and his heart attached to the akhira.
Every time you say السلام عليكم، I want you to know that this is the greeting that you will hear when you enter the gates of paradise.
Angels greeting them with a salam.
Allah himself will greet you with this when you enter Jannah. And he would say السلام عليكم يا عبادي. As he said:
Building a Community of Love and Goodness
A salam for us as a ummah. It means it teach us as a society that we love good for others. Every time you see somebody say السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. This is not the, this is against the greed, the jealous, the hate towards others. That's not how Muslim function. That's not how the society build. It teach me to love good for others. I'm happy when you are good. I'm happy when there is a lot of good happening to you.
This greeting also very clear to forbid us from boycotting one another, turning our back to one another. This greeting is to, it's actually we've been encouraged to start our brothers and sisters with a salam. So whenever you see somebody, and Nabi ﷺ said, if there is two people have a problem with each other, and they don't talk to each other, the best among them, the one who start with a salam:
(Bukhari 6077)
Character Development Through This Greeting
This greeting teach us to leave harshness, and being mean or rigid. This is not what this greeting will lead to. This greeting will lead us to be gentle, merciful, kind, nice, soft with each others. I think I learned from this, it's very important that we contemplate on things what we're getting in for granted. Something we do it every day, but unfortunately we're not starting thinking about it.
What kind of message that Islam want to send through this? We just take it for granted as a culture. We don't even reflect upon it, and this is very important for us as a community, as a society, as an individual, to go back and to check all these words that we commonly use, what kind of messages that they implies.
Teaching Our Children
Also, when we teach our children from now on,السلام عليكم، when your little boy start, or the girl start teaching السلام عليكم، make sure that you teach them not only how to say it, but they learn what it means, but they will learn what it means.
My dear brothers and sisters, any community based on these fundamentals, mercy, safety, security, clarity, pure hearts, love for one another, no doubt, it will be a role model for other communities as well. It will be strong. It will be successful.
Proper Usage and Etiquette
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله. It's a greeting ordained for us by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala or legislated for us to greet humans, not to greet animals. Don't be surprised. I have seen people greet animals. I have seen people greet animals. And not to greet jinn, not to greet angels.
Like some people enter an empty house and say السلام عليكم ورحمة الله. Why you say السلام عليكم? I'm greeting the angels. I'm greeting the jinn, the Muslim jinn in the house. So this is actually have no basis in Islam to enter an empty house and to say السلام عليكم. السلام عليكم is a greeting ordained for you to greet the living Muslims, brothers and sisters that you have them around you. Not to greet angels, not to greet jinn, not to greet animals or anything like that.
Additional Greetings and Proper Response
There is no harm in Islam to add other greetings after السلام عليكم، such as hi, welcome, good morning, bonsoir, whatever you want to say after that. Nabi ﷺ have greeted people other than after السلام عليكم. He said for example, in Sahih al-Bukhari, he said مرحباً. He said مرحبا، welcome.
Also, if somebody greeted you with السلام عليكم، you have to reply to him with similar to what he said. That became wajib, obligatory on you. But it's recommended to do more. So if he said or she said,السلام عليكم you say ، السلام عليكم Said . وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته You say . ورحمة الله الله. Somebody said, وبركاته ، if you want to add.
What if somebody said السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته you really by saying وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته. There is a narration also said that you can say ومغفرته ، only in replying, but you cannot say it in greeting. You cannot say to somebody when you greet him,السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته ومغفرته
No, you cannot add the word مغفرته. Only you can add it in reply. So you will always have something extra to reply with. There is another hadith. Also, the Prophet ﷺ told us, when you say, السلام عليكم ، you take 10 rewards. 30 ،ورحمة الله، 20 وبركاته. And one narration said, and if you add مغفرته in the reply, you take 40, but it's a weak narration. It's a weak narration. It's a weak narration.
Greeting Non-Muslims
What about giving salaam or replying to non-Muslims who greet you? Any Muslim greet you with (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), you greet him with the same by saying, (وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ - wa alaykumus-salamu wa rahmatullahi). He said, and you can say, (وَبَرَكَاتُهُ - wa barakatuhu).
Because if Allah give him, put his mercy and his salaam and his barakah on him, he will guide him. And there is no proof that a person, that a person cannot basically reply with saying that. Actually, Al-Quran said:
"If anyone greet you, very general terms, and you cannot specify this only to Muslim unless you have a proof. As for the hadith that the Prophet ﷺ said, (وَعَلَيْكُمْ، وَعَلَيْكُمْ - wa alaykum, wa alaykum), in Sahih al-Bukhari (Bukhari 6257), when the Jewish basically greet him. The Prophet ﷺ said (وَعَلَيْكُمْ - wa alaykum), because they never greet him.
They were saying, (السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-samu alaykum). Not (السَّلَامُ، السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu, as-samu alaykum). They used to say it very quick, like how in America sometimes, we eat some words when we talk, they eat the (السَّلَامُ - as-salamu). They said (السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-samu alaykum). So they said, (السَّامُ - as-samu), which is death upon you, (يا محمد - ya Muhammad). So since he doesn't know what they're saying, he doesn't want to enter the fight.
Did you say (سَلَامٌ - salam) or (السَّامُ؟ - as-samu?) Very smart. He cut this fight by saying, same to you. So if they said (السَّامُ - as-samu), same to you. If they said death, same to you. Allah accept from us and will not accept from them. But if they say clearly, (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), here the verse that I just mentioned early, take precedence and will be the reply (وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ - wa alaykumus-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu).
Initiating Salam with Non-Muslims
Can you start greeting him with (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ؟ - as-salamu alaykum?) This is an issue of difference of opinions among the companions. For instance, Ibn Mas'ud used to believe that (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ - as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi), also you can start a non-Muslim with it by saying (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum). Initiate that.
And they used the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith Usamah ibn Zayd (Bukhari 1335, Muslim 1798), that the Prophet ﷺ have seen a group of Madinah among the non-Muslim and Muslim, and he approached them by saying, (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum) to all of them. And they said that the hadith don't start someone with saying, (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), it is not a very authentic narration. But it is a sound narration, and that's what led Imam Ibn al-Qayyim ﷺ to come to a conclusion by saying, you don't start them with (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), but you can start them with other than (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum).
Not because discrimination, it is because you want to give your brothers and sisters who are so close to you, who share with you your belief, extra advantage in greeting than any other person who's far away from you.
Salam as Permission to Enter
Also, the Prophet ﷺ teach us that (السَّلَامُ - as-salamu), it's a form of taking permission to enter somebody's house. When you call somebody in the phone, a lot of people think it is must when you answer the phone, you said (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum).
And I think this has no basis in Islam. When you reply, or you think it's a sunnah, when you pick up the phone, you said (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), as you just receiving the phone call. It makes sense fiqh-wise that if you the caller, you start with (السَّلَامُ - as-salamu). But if you are the one who receiving the phone call, it doesn't make sense to say (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), because basically you give (السَّلَامُ - as-salamu) when you approach somebody. Anyway, it is a good habit if you said (الحمد لله، إن شاء الله تعالى - alhamdulillah, in sha'a Allah ta'ala).
Etiquette of Greeting
Also, one of the things that the Prophet ﷺ said, whoever start talking to you before greeting you with (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), don't answer him. It has been narrated, simple narration. People will talk to some of the early generation, they will said, we're not gonna answer until we say (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), to remind him. And it's a good habit to remind people by saying, be gentle and nice to tell him, hey, by the way, you forgot to say (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum).
Verbal vs. Sign Language Greeting
Also, can you greet somebody with hand, with not like with the sign language? You say like this. A lot of people say that. The Prophet ﷺ forbade us to give, greet somebody in a sign language without verbally saying it. So let's say in the car, somebody outside, you say like this. If you say like this, you should say also (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum), even if he doesn't hear you. We are in the khutbah, I cannot ask you a question.
But the reason behind this, because (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ - as-salamu alaykum) you learn now, it is a form of dua. A dua can be in his present or in his absence, in her present or her absence. Also, you can give salam to the people, even if they are praying, and the sunnah to reply by moving your hand and answering them.
Gender Interactions in Greeting
Can you give salam to a brother or a sister, opposite gender, if it is in public place and there is nothing, no bad intention, which it should be because you talk about (السَّلَامُ - as-salamu) free of any evil, it will be allowed and the rule applied to both. Some ulama have put restrictions on young men or young women, they don't greet each other just because of the fitnah, but there is no proof for that as long as it is in public place or basically in group. Alhamdulillah, if somebody don't feel comfortable with starting the salam as sunnah anyway, why starting the salam as sunnah anyway?
The Prohibition of Boycotting
It is not allowed, not to give your brother salam, not to greet him, because of personal problem between you and him or you and her more than three days. After three days, it's forbidden to boycott him or her by not giving them salam.
The Extensive Benefits of This Greeting
My brothers and sisters, this greeting has a lot of meanings. Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah have wrote more than 300 benefits of the word (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ - as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu), I tried to sum up some of his work in this khutbah to you today. And I really want us, all of us after this khutbah, that every time we walk in our home, we greet somebody, we write to somebody, when we say (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ - as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu), that we respect this word, respect the meanings that this word carried.
Closing Dua
May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala