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Question of greeting a Muslim.

Spirit of Light

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
For those of you who are a Muslim.

If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
 
Heyo

Heyo

Veteran Member
Not a Muslim but would you find it strange to be greeted with "Peace", "Pax vobiscum" or "Shalom"? All these greetings are secular on the basis of the words used as they all are just saying "peace (be with you)" in different languages. It shouldn't offend anyone of any or no religion.
I wouldn't use them (except "peace") because it would send the wrong impression that I speak Arabic, Latin or Hebrew.
 
Dawnofhope

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
Amanaki said:
For those of you who are a Muslim.

If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
Click to expand...
My experience meeting Muslims is they often respect non-Muslim efforts to better connect with Islamic culture.
 
stvdv

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Amanaki said:
For those of you who are a Muslim.

If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
Click to expand...
It would be a good start to just accept each others choice in faith without thinking it's weird or mine is better.

People don't like to eat everyday the same. They don't watch the same movie over and over again.

Just relax and enjoy each other's drama
 
Pastek

Pastek

Sunni muslim
It's not strange at all.
Some may think you are a muslim but in general people will just appreciate your effort.
 
Audie

Audie

Veteran Member
A sure way to make things awkward is emphasize
that you have noticed that someone is (gasp)
different, racially or culturally, by trying to concoct
some special greeting.

Good freaking grief.

Oh and dont try to show off your mastery of their
language.

Just the other day I was with a filipina friend, and
this guy, on hearing where she was from, said
"salamat po", thinking that meant "hello".

She was very gracious about it. :D
 
Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I use 'Salaam alekum' as my greeting and 'Bismillah' to begin something (I was once a history student with interest in early Islam). Many people find it strange and amusing. However, internet tells me that some Muslims do not like that.

"It is not permissible firstly to initiate the greeting of salaam to a non-Muslim. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Do not initiate the greeting of salaam to a Jew or a Christian." More here ..
How should we return the greeting of salaam from a non-Muslim? - Islam Question & Answer

I am even worse, a kuffar, headed for Jahannam. At least they are Ahle-Kitab. :(
 
W

Wasp

Active Member
I would automatically assume you're a Muslim. Otherwise why would one say that, unless one is in an Arabic speaking country. If not, it just feels pretentious to me.

Then the longer you make the greeting adding words to it according to the Sunnah, the more religious it becomes to the point where there's hardly sense in saying it if you're not a Muslim or for a Muslim to say it to someone who is not a Muslim.

But no one cares what non-Muslims say, they don't have rules for it and Muslims know that.

If a Muslim knows you're not a Muslim they might not return the greeting.
 
BSM1

BSM1

What? Me worry?
Wasp said:
I would automatically assume you're a Muslim. Otherwise why would one say that, unless one is in an Arabic speaking country. If not, it just feels pretentious to me.

Then the longer you make the greeting adding words to it according to the Sunnah, the more religious it becomes to the point where there's hardly sense in saying it if you're not a Muslim or for a Muslim to say it to someone who is not a Muslim.

But no one cares what non-Muslims say, they don't have rules for it and Muslims know that.

If a Muslim knows you're not a Muslim they might not return the greeting.
Click to expand...


Kinda like approaching an African-American and greeting him with an open palm and a very descriptive ghetto greeting...
 
sooda

sooda

Veteran Member
Aupmanyav said:
I use 'Salaam alekum' as my greeting and 'Bismillah' to begin something (I was once a history student with interest in early Islam). Many people find it strange and amusing. However, internet tells me that some Muslims do not like that.

"It is not permissible firstly to initiate the greeting of salaam to a non-Muslim. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Do not initiate the greeting of salaam to a Jew or a Christian." More here ..
How should we return the greeting of salaam from a non-Muslim? - Islam Question & Answer

I am even worse, a kuffar, headed for Jahannam. At least they are Ahle-Kitab. :(
Click to expand...

Salaam alekum is the common every day greeting between Muslims and non muslims
 
sooda

sooda

Veteran Member
Amanaki said:
For those of you who are a Muslim.

If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
Click to expand...

Are you trying to conjure up some offence?
 
arthra

arthra

Baha'i
Amanaki said:
For those of you who are a Muslim.
If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
Click to expand...

I first met Muslims when I attended Cal Poly Pomona years ago... and I had a Syrian Muslim roommate in the Dorm. I met several friends of his at the time and learned their greeting. I'm not a Muslim but would reply to them with their greeting.... The short "Salaam" greeting was used by Persian Shiah Muslims and I had no trouble exchanging greetings with them.

“Assalamu alaikum” is the Islamic greeting which literally means “salam (peace) be upon you.”. There are various opinions about the meaning of “salam”. It is narrated in a hadith that “Salam” is one of the beautiful names of Allah (swt) meaning “peace, the source of peace and safety”.

I have no problems with living in peace with Muslims.

Baha'is have a greeting "Allah'u'Abha!" - God is glorius!
 
wizanda

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Amanaki said:
For those of you who are a Muslim.

If a none Muslim person greets you with As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Do you see this as a good/respectful way of greeting, or do you find it strange?
Click to expand...
When we're in Arabic countries, like been in Morocco (Casa Blanca, Tangier), everyone greets with it...

When we're speaking to religious types there is debate over this topic, as the Quran says:

4:86 And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better than it or return it; surely Allah takes account of all things.

Yet this has later been implied to mean only greet Muslims with the full greeting...

So the normal reply of Waleykum Salam will be shortened to, Waleykum... Like only full Muslims get greeted with Peace at the end.

For someone who questions all religion, I will greet with the best of greetings I'm aware of for each religion, and in the past it was a mandate, as people were far more violent.

In my opinion. :innocent:
 
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