Assalaaamu alaikkummmm

As-salamu alaykum (English: al-salmu alaykum, Arabic ) is an Arabic greeting often used
by Muslims around the world and is widely used in the Muslim world even by non-Muslims. It nearly
translates to "peace be upon you", but is often considered the equivalent to "hello", "hi" or "good day" in
English. The standard response to the greeting is Wa alaykumu s-salam.

Assalamu Alaykum is generally accompanied with another gesture. In some parts people put a hand on
their heart as they shake hands and greet. In less formal situations, some will use the shorter greeting of
'Salam' instead of the full phrase.[citation needed]

In Afghanistan and Iran, Salm is a simple greeting. This means Peace and Health, and is used
similarly to "Peace be upon you" in English-speaking cultures.
In Amharic, the term "Selam" is used in place of "Tadias" which is the equivalent of "What's up".
The word "Selam" has the same meaning in Amharic as in Arabic which is "peace".
In Arabia, it is associated with shaking right hands and then possibly two or three light cheek to
cheek kisses, alternating sides.
In Turkey and Azerbaijan, many religious people use this statement and shake hands and it is the
same for saying "goodbye"; more secular and non-religious people say "Selam" as an equivalent
to "Hello" or "Hi". However, many Turks pronounce it differently as "Selamun aleykm". The
change is primarily due to the way Turkish pronounces borrowed words from Arabic.
In Pakistan, the greeting is also associated with shaking right hands and is also often accompanied
with a hug when meeting infrequently (only between the same gender). In some parts people put a
hand on their heart as they shake your hand and greet. Also, it is considered impolite or
uneducated to use the shorter greeting of 'Salam' vs the full greeting of 'As-salam-o-alaikum'.
In India the greeting is accompanied by raising the right hand to the chest (arz hai "regards";
adaab "respect") or a simple handshake or hug, the shorter greeting "Salam" is used in informal
situations. Goodbye is supplanted by a "Khudahafiz hafiz"(secular/less formal or to an
acquaintance) or "Allah hafiz"(less secular/generally to strangers,formal), both of which mean "
May God/GOD keep you safe".
In Bangladesh Salm Aleykum is a simple greeting. This means "Peace be upon you" in Englishspeaking cultures.
In Indonesia, the greeting is usually accompanied with a kind of two-handed "handshake",
whereby the shaker's palms remain closed, and the fingers alone open to admit the other's
proffered hand- which briefly touches the proffered's fingers or fingertips alone. In this way more
adherent males and females may greet though touching- but remain true to the Islamic or cultural
teachings forbidding physical contact between the genders. Occasionally, the right-hand will
touch the left-breast or heart area after this
In Indonesia's Javanese / Sasak culture, a remnant of feudalism is retained, where an elder's
proffered right hand is taken and pressed briefly against the forehead. Some may instead briefly
kiss the hand or the main ring. This is very common for young children to greet older relatives (of
their parents' age, though, on occasion, if very polite children, younger).
In Kazakhstan, many secular and non-religious people say "Selam" as an equivalent to "Hello" or
"Hi". This use has extended to the Internet with the abbreviated "slm" being commonly used
amongst Kazakhs on social networking websites.

In USA, Muslims usually accompany the greeting with a hug, handshake or gesture depending on
the customs of their ancestral home.