Salaam alykum —Peace be upon you
Take it easy…Calm down…Relax…
We often hear these words when troubles start. Indeed, nobody wants trouble.
Life is Short. We use this phrase to remind each other to defuse a situation filled with pressure and discord, to achieve peace, salaam, and harmony. As a matter of fact, if we think that we spend one third of our life sleeping and another third working and a considerable time for eating and other activities in our life, then what is left? There is really not too much time left to enjoy our life. So, it is better not to engage ourselves in quarrels and unnecessary disputes and arguments. It is much wiser to live in peace, salaam, and harmony.
Muslims believe that the limited life in our world serves as a transition to another life hereafter. So, Islam encourages people to achieve peace, salaam, with the creator, with oneself and with other people.
“Repel evil with what is better; then the one, who there was hatred between him and yourself, becomes as he were your good friend.” (41: 34)
Islam also encourages people not to take a hostile attitude, to refrain from causing harm or injury of any sort to another person and thus living a peaceful life.
“If they (the other party) inclined to peace, you do also incline to it.”
“Praise those who restrain their anger and pardon the faults of others.”(3: 134)
Muslims accept hospitality and good fellowship in each other’s houses. It is the spirit of good will to use the daily salutation of salaam alykum, peace be upon you where and when they see or meet each other. The answer of this greeting is also salaam alykum or the other way around, alykum salaam, upon you be peace. The greetings people give and the greeting they receive promote a sense of peace.
“…But if you enter houses, salute each other…” (24: 61)
Muslims should not disregard those who salute them and wish them peace, even if the salutes are from Non-Muslims.
Salaam alykum, peace be upon you, has many significant meanings. The sense of security, the greeting to be in harmony with those around us, the feeling that we are satisfied and not discontented and the freedom from any ill feeling or any dispute, are some of the significant meaning of salaam alykum.
“Those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying to them: Salaam alykum, enter the Garden because of the good which you did in the world.” (16: 32)
“And peace be upon the apostles.” (37: 181)
Authors Details: Fathy Fares C/O Spiritual.com.au
