Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Meaning, 5 Benefits, in Arabic & Reply

Assalamualaikum is one of the most heard phrases between Arabic and Muslim communities as it is a greeting phrase that means “Peace be upon you” that is suitable at any time of the day, to anyone, and in all conditions.

It has been encouraged by Quran and Sunnah to spread greetings as it comes with many benefits, also there is a short version and a long one which will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

Pronunciation

The following video we have made will help you learn the proper pronunciation word by word:

YouTube video

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Meaning

Asalam Alikum is an Islamic phrase used for greetings that mean peace to be upon you, and the complete phrase Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh means Peace to be upon you with God’s mercy and blessings.

It is amazing that you can say it anytime and in any condition, compared to other greats such as Hi, Hello, Good Morning, Good Night, and not every time and can be said to all people in all conditions.

Assalamualaikum in Arabic

Assalamualaikum in Arabic is اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ‎ which means in English “Peace be upon you.”. But the whole phrase Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh in Arabic with the Diacritical is:

‏اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ‎

and Without the Diacritical:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Transliteration

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh

which translates to “Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings.” as shown in the following table:

Peace اَلسَّلَامُ Assalamu
upon youعَلَيْكُم alaikum
and mercy وَرَحْمَةُ Wa Rahmatu
Allahاَللهِ llah
and blessingsوَبَرَكاتُهُ‎ Wa Barakatuh

How to reply to Assalamu Alaikum

The shortest reply to someone saying Assalamualaikum is Waalaikum Assalam وعليكم السلام which means “and upon you, peace”. It is sufficient but incomplete. The full response according to Sunnah would be Waalaikumsalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu. It is better to say the second full one because:

  1. The Quran says, “And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner] Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.”
  2.  Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said, “This is Jibril (Gabriel) who is conveying you greetings of peace.” I responded: “Wa ‘Alaihis-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Benefits of Sending Salaam (Greetings)

Entering Jannah

Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said:

‘O people! Spread (the greeting of) Salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

It is a Duty toward the others

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“There are six things due from the believer to another believer: Visiting him when he is ill, attending (his funeral) to him when he dies, accepting his invitation when he invites, giving him Salam when he meets him, replying to him when he sneezes and wishing him well when he is absent and when he is present.”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2737]

Spreads Respecting The Elders

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The younger person should greet the older one, and the walking person should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet a large number of persons.”

Spreading Peace

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,”…..Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread (the greeting of) peace among yourselves”

Get you closer to Allah

“They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! When two men meet, which of them initiates the Salam?’ He said: ‘The nearest of them to Allah.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2694]

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