Salam; Greetings among muslims...

As all Muslims should know, the Islamic greeting is ‘Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi wa barakato’ (peace and mercy and blessings of God be upon you). For short, most Muslims say ‘Assalamu Alaykum’ (peace be upon you), then the Muslim replies back and says ‘wa alaykum assalam’ (and peace be upon you also). Here is a Quranic verse that talks about greeting…

Surah 4:86

When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things.

Ibn Abbas said: Whoever greeted you from the creation of Allah then return it back even if he was a Magian, for Allah said: When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Muhammad bin Bashar, said that Salim bin Nooh said that Saeed bin Abi Arooba said that Qatada said: That part of Allah’s statement “When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it” is for the Muslims and that part of Allah’s statement “or return it” is for the People of the Book. Bashr Ibn Muath said that Yazid said that Sa’eed said that Qatada said: That part of Allah’s statement “When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it” is for the Muslims and that part of Allah’s statement “or return it” is for the People of the Book. Bashr Ibn Muath said that Yazid said that Sa’eed said that Qatada said: That part of Allah’s statement “When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it” you should greet better than you were greeted and this is only for the Muslims and that part of Allah’s statement “or return it” is for the People of the Book. Yunus told me that Ibn Wahab told him that Ibn Zayd said: That part of Allah’s statement “When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it” my father said: It is a duty on every Muslim who is greeted (by a Muslim) to greet him back with a better greeting, and if he is greeted by other than a Muslim then he should greet back just like what was said to him.

Here are some of the examples of whom should give the greetings first;

Saheeh Bukhari

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 250:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "The young should greet the old, the passer by should greet the sitting one, and the small group of persons should greet the large group of persons. "

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 252:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "The riding person should greet the walking one, and the walking one should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons."

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 252e:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle 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 the large number of persons."

When a non-muslims greet us with Assalamualaikum, we need to answer as Wa'alaikum. This is because of ;

Saheeh Bukhari

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 275:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, "If the people of the Scripture greet you, then you should say (in reply), 'Wa'alaikum (And on you).' "

Volume 8, Book 75, Number 404:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The Jews used to greet the Prophet by saying, "As-Samu 'Alaika (i.e., death be upon you), so I understood what they said, and I said to them, "As-Samu 'alaikum wal-la'na (i.e. Death and Allah's Curse be upon you)." The Prophet said, "Be gentle and calm, O 'Aisha, as Allah likes gentleness in all affairs." I said, "O Allah's Prophet! Didn't you hear what they said?" He said, "Didn't you hear me answering them back by saying, 'Alaikum (i.e., the same be upon you)?"

Non-muslims at that time tend to say bad things about islam, yet prophet Muhammad(pbuh) did'nt want muslims to reply the christians with something worse than what they did, he just oredered us to reply them with Wa'alaika.. However, nowadays people tend to say salam carelessly that it may turned out to be something bad.. instead of saying Assalamualaikum, some people tend to say it quickly that it may somehow turn out to be similar to what the Christians said to Prophet Muhammad(pbuh).. Hence, pronounce salam carefully and clearly or you might end up hearing people answering your greetings as WAALAIKA.... Hopefully everyone take these as points to note. Eventhough it's a kinda simple things, but it is what we did/faced everyday... do everything as Allah's had asked us to, He is the Almighty and He knows everything.. Prophet Muhammad is the example to follow..Wallahu'alam....