Assalamu’alaikum

The greeting "assalamu’alaikum - السلام عليكم" (peace be upon you) is used quite often in the Middle East and would be replied with "wa ’alaikum salam" (and upon you peace). Such greetings are used by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. However, I recalled that a Malay friend of mine in Malaysia told me once that a Muslim is not supposed to reply to such a greeting from a non-Muslim. Now to think of it, I find that rather weird since there seems to be nothing wrong about such greetings here in the Middle East - and I'm sure the Arabs would be more authoritative on such matters!

Apparently in the days of the Prophet, non-Muslims who are hostile to Muslims greeted them slightly differently by "assamu ‘alaikum" (destruction upon you). Therefore, a Muslim in those days was asked to reply with "wa ’alaika" (and upon you). So you see... such confusion (slight difference in pronunciation) has led to some cynical people in Malaysia to say that a Muslim cannot reply to the perfectly friendly "assalamu’alaikum". So you see, some misunderstanding and ignorance among some people in Malaysia!