Usage
- Islam is a religion with limits, and cultures mix with the religion, therefore Salam Alaykum is generally accompanied with another gesture. In Arabia, it is associated with shaking right hands and then possibly two or three light cheek to cheek kisses, alternating sides.
- 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 Iran and Afghanistan, Salām is a simple greeting. This means Peace and Health, and is used similarly to "Peace be upon you" in English-speaking cultures.
- In India and Bangladesh, the greeting is accompanied by raising the right hand to the chest (arz hai "regards"; adaab "respect").
- 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 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 Turkey, many Turkish use this statement and hug each other; more 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 Turks on social networking websites.
- In Malaysia, the term is used in the "localized" form assalamualaikum.
- In Tanzania, and other Swahili speaking countries on the coast of East Africa the term is pronounced "assalamualaikum" followed by a reply of "waleikum-salam", people usually shake hands, hug, and sometimes wave. Typically this greeting remains mainly Islam related while Christians have modified it to "Salam".
- 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 Kazakhstan, many Kazakh use this statement and hug each other; more secular and non-religious people say "Salem" as an equivalent to "Hello" or "Hi". With regards to older people only Kazakh men use "As-Salamu Alaykum".
- In 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 "Salam" as an equivalent to "Hello" or "Hi".
Read more about this topic: As-salamu Alaykum
Famous quotes containing the word usage:
“Pythagoras, Locke, Socrates—but pages
Might be filled up, as vainly as before,
With the sad usage of all sorts of sages,
Who in his life-time, each was deemed a bore!
The loftiest minds outrun their tardy ages.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“I am using it [the word ‘perceive’] here in such a way that to say of an object that it is perceived does not entail saying that it exists in any sense at all. And this is a perfectly correct and familiar usage of the word.”
—A.J. (Alfred Jules)
“...Often the accurate answer to a usage question begins, “It depends.” And what it depends on most often is where you are, who you are, who your listeners or readers are, and what your purpose in speaking or writing is.”
—Kenneth G. Wilson (b. 1923)