Giving Salaam to One Person (As-Salaamu Alayk)

Giving Salaam to One Person (As-Salaamu Alayk)


By Shaykh AL-Uthaymeen (may Allah rest him in Jannah)


Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen was asked about the description of Salaam.


He (may Allah have mercy upon him) answered by saying,” Say As-salaamu

Alayk if you are greeting one person and As-Salaamu- Alaykum if you

are greeting a group of people. The proof for this is found in the

hadeeth about the man who came to the masjid and didn’t pray

correctly. After finishing he went to Allah’s messenger (peace and

blessings be upon him) and said, “As-Salaamu Alayk ya Rasulallah”-

Peace be on to you oh Messenger of Allah. The Prophet (peace and

blessings be upon him) returned the greetings. Then he(peace and

blessings be upon him)said,” Redo your prayer; as you didn’t pray

correctly.”[1]


Now if you are giving the greetings to two people then say,”

As-salaamu Alaykum. It is permissible to greet two people using the

plural tense. And if you are greeting your mother how would you greet

her? Say As-salaamu Alaykee ya ummi-peace be on you mommy. Why?

Because whenever you talk to a female the Kaf (كِ ) takes a kasra.


If you entered in a room and greeted your aunts and there were four or

five of them, how would you greet them? You would say,” As-salaamu

Alaykunna wa Rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu.” The Kaf (ك ) follows suit

to the person being addressed .i.e (ك, كم, كن )


How does a Muslim reply to someone who says to him “ As-salaamu

Alaykum wa Rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu, or Salaamu Alayk. The person

responds by saying,” As-salaamu Alayk wa Rahmahtullahi wa

barakatahu.” as well. There is no harm in doing this. It is important

to say As-Salaamu Alayk. Is it wrong to say,” Alaykumus Salaam wa

rahmahtullahi wa barakatahu? Does a person say it with the wa ( و ) or

without it? To say it either way is fine, but it is better to say “Wa

alaykum As-salaam.”


What do we say about the person who replies to our greeting with

greetings like; “Welcome, May Allah preserve you come in, Today is a

happy day, This is one of the best days, or May Allah grant you

success, increase your knowledge, piety and guidance etc. Are these

legitimate replies to the greeting-As-salaamu alaykum? Even though he

extended a reply; I say (Shaykh Uthaymeen) if a person filled up the

earth with every reply possible it could never take the place of

“Alaykus salaam”. And while replying without this word he is a sinner.

To reply with Salaam or one better is an obligation for the Muslim.

This is taken from Allah’s verse,


وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا


“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is

better than it, or (at least) return it equally.” [ an-Nisa’I 86 ]


Taken from Darus wa Fatawa Al-Haram Al- Madanee by Uthaymeen (1/81)


Translated by Abu Aaliayh Abdullah ibn Dwight Lamont Battle



Doha, Qatar