Peace be Upon You   

In Lesson 4, we mentioned two roots in the Arabic language: H-m-d and r-s-l. In this lesson, we will discuss another common root: s-l-m.

islaam
muslim
salaam
 

Also in Lesson 4, we saw that “alayhi salaam” is translated as “Peace be upon him” (literally: “Upon him [be] peace”).

Ala(y) = “upon”
-hi = “him”
salaam = “peace”
 

The suffix for “you” is “kum.”

alayhi salaam = “upon him be peace”

alaykum salaam = “upon you be peace”
 

The traditional Muslim greeting is the inverse of this:

salaam(u) = peace
ala(y) = upon
kum = you
salaamu alaykum = “Peace [be] upon you”

[Note: Sometimes the definitive prefix (“al”) is added to the beginning of the phrase, though this doesn’t change the meaning: “assalaamu alaykum” = the peace [be] upon you]
 

And the traditional response:

wa = and
alaykum salaam = upon you be peace
wa alaykum salaam = and upon you be peace (as well)
 

The blessing is, of course, common to other languages and religions:.

[English] peace be with you =
[Arabic] assalaamu alaykum =

[Hebrew] shalom aleichem =

The phrase is commonly seen in works of Arabic calligraphy, particularly in places where a greeting is appropriate:

Sometimes, you will hear or read the greeting extended to include “raHmat Allahi wa barakaatuhu.” “raHma(t)” comes from the same root as “raHeem” (see Lesson 3) and means “compassion.” “barakaa(tu)” means “blessings.” The suffix “hu”means “His.”

assalaamu alaykum wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakaatuhu

[The] Peace [be] upon you and (=as well as) [the] compassion of God and his blessings.

End of Lesson