Non-Muslim greeting Muslims with As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم)

**johnyork** · 12-18-2012

When I encounter Muslims in public, I sometimes greet them with As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم). Almost 100% of the time, I get a positive reply back. Worse case is a kind of grunt (like to say oh okay) and then silence. However, most the time, they smile back or say something nice back.

So the questions are...

Is it okay to say As-salamu alaykum to them? (or could it be perceived as me making fun of them in some way?)

Is it okay for me to say this to a Muslim woman? (or is it not appropriate for me, as a single man, to speak with a Muslim woman in public?)

**Muslim Woman** · 12-18-2012

Salaam/ Peace

Originally Posted by johnyork

...Is it okay to say As-salamu alaykum to them? (or could it be perceived as me making fun of them in some way?)

If u greet them sincerely , they must not take it as u are making fun of them .

“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally”
[al-Nisa’ 4:86]

Is it okay for me to say this to a Muslim woman? (or is it not appropriate for me, as a single man, to speak with a Muslim woman in public?)

to avoid the temptation from devil , it's better not to talk to opposite gender unnecessarily.

**johnyork** · 12-19-2012

Good answers, Muslim woman.

**Futuwwa** · 12-19-2012

If someone would greet me with salaams, I'd presume the other person is a Muslim and answer in kind.

Unless I know it's a Christian, in which case I usually go with pax vobiscum

**sister herb** · 12-20-2012

Peace with you, anyone who is my fellow human.

**johnyork** · 12-20-2012

Okay, so unless I receive a reply telling me otherwise. I think, for the most part, as long as I am sincere (which I am), then there should be no harm in saying As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم).