Etiquette & Sunnahs of Greeting (Salam) in the Quran & Sunnah

1. Reply to a greeting with a better one, or at least with its equal.

Allah says:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا

When you are greeted with a salutation, greet with one better than it, or return the same. Surely, Allah is the One who takes account of everything. (Surah 4:86)

Lesson: The reply to salam is an obligation of courtesy: whoever is greeted should answer with something better, or at minimum return the same words.

2. When you enter houses, greet one another with the greeting from Allah.

Allah says:

لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ ءَابَآئِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ إِخْوَٰنِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخَوَٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَعْمَـٰمِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ عَمَّـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أَخْوَٰلِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكُمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكْتُم مَّفَاتِحَهُۥٓ أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَأْكُلُوا۟ جَمِيعًا أَوْ أَشْتَاتًا ۚ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتًا فَسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَـٰرَكَةً طَيِّبَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

There is no blame on a blind person, nor is there any blame on any lame one, nor is there any blame on a sick person, nor on yourselves in that you eat (something) from your own homes or from the homes of your fathers or the homes of your mothers or the homes of your brothers or the homes of your sisters or the homes of your paternal uncles, or the homes of your paternal aunts or the homes of your maternal uncles or the homes of your maternal aunts or from the places the keys of which you have under your control, or from (the home of) your friend.There is no sin on you if you eat together or separately. So when you enter homes, greet one another with Salām , a greeting prescribed by Allah, which is blessed, pleasant. This is how Allah explains the verses to you, so that you may understand. (Surah 24:61)

Lesson: Entering a house — including your own home and the homes of family — begins with salam, a blessed and pure greeting taught by Allah Himself.

3. Do not enter other people’s houses until you have sought permission and greeted their people.

Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟ وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

O you who believe, do not enter any houses, other than your own houses unless you seek permission and greet their inmates with Salām . That is good for you, so that you may be heedful. (Surah 24:27)

Lesson: Knocking, asking permission and saying salam come before entering anyone’s home; privacy is protected by the greeting.

4. Never dismiss a person who offers you the greeting of peace.

Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَبَيَّنُوا۟ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَنْ أَلْقَىٰٓ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمَ لَسْتَ مُؤْمِنًا تَبْتَغُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَغَانِمُ كَثِيرَةٌ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلُ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

O you who believe, when you go out in the way of Allah, be careful, and do not say to the one who offers you the Salām (salutation), “You are not a believer” to seek stuff of the worldly life. So, with Allah there are spoils in abundance. In the same state you were before; then Allah favored you. So, be careful. Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what you do. (Surah 4:94)

Lesson: Whoever greets you with salam should not be treated with suspicion or rejected; the greeting is taken at face value.

1. Begin with salam — it is among the best deeds of Islam.

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ which deeds of Islam are best. He replied: to feed people, and to greet with salam those you know and those you do not know.

2. Spread the salam abundantly — it plants love and leads to Paradise.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed: spread the salam, feed others, keep family ties and pray at night while people sleep — and you will enter Paradise in peace.

3. The one who starts the salam is the nearest to Allah.

Lesson: Do not wait for the other person to greet first; taking the initiative in salam is the mark of humility and closeness to Allah.

4. Greeting your brother when you meet him is his right over you.

Among the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim is that when you meet him, you greet him with salam.

5. Know who should greet first: the rider greets the one on foot, and the one walking greets the one sitting.

And the smaller group greets the larger group.

6. The young should greet the elder first.

Lesson: Greeting first is not a loss of status; the young honour the old by beginning, and everyone honours the one who begins.

7. Use the complete greeting — it carries the greatest reward.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh — Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

A man greeted with “As-salamu ‘alaykum” and was given ten rewards; another added “wa rahmatullah” and received twenty; a third added “wa barakatuh” and received thirty.

8. Greet children as well — the Prophet ﷺ greeted a group of boys.

Lesson: Greeting children teaches them the Sunnah and fills their hearts with love for it.

9. If your greeting is not heard, repeat it up to three times.

Anas ibn Malik reported that when the Prophet ﷺ spoke a word he would repeat it three times so it was understood, and when he came to a people he would greet them three times.

10. As-Salam is a Name of Allah — so spread it among yourselves.

In the Quran, Allah names Himself “As-Salām” among His perfect Names: “He is Allah, besides whom there is no god, the Sovereign, the Supreme-In-Holiness, the Safe (from all defects), the Giver-Of-Peace...” (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:23). The greeting of Islam carries one of His own Names — spread it among you, and you spread His peace on His earth.

11. Shake hands when you meet — sins fall away before you part.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that when two Muslims meet and shake hands, they are forgiven before they separate.

12. Greet when you arrive at a gathering and when you leave it.

Lesson: The first salam is not more deserving than the last: the greeting opens a meeting and closes it.

13. Pass on the salam of someone who sends it to you.

Jibril sent his salam to Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) through the Prophet ﷺ, and she replied: “And upon him be peace and the mercy of Allah.” Conveying and answering a sent greeting is part of the etiquette.

14. Answer the greeting of the People of the Book with “wa ‘alaykum” (and upon you).

When the People of the Book greet you, the Prophet ﷺ taught the reply: “Wa ‘alaykum.”