The Preferred Wording of the Greeting of Peace

The Shaykh : The preferred wording is for a person to say: "As-salamu alayk" (Peace be upon you), which is better than saying "Salamun alayk" (Peace be upon you). This is because "As-salam" is a definite noun, marked with the article "al," whereas "Salam" is an indefinite noun. The definite form is more complete than the indefinite form. For this reason, the scholars said: Defining the greeting of peace is better than making it indefinite; that is, saying "As-salamu alayk" is better than saying "Salamun alayk." Then, should you say "alayk" (upon you, singular) or "alaykum" (upon you, plural)? You say "alayk" in the singular if you are greeting one person, and if you are greeting a group, you say "alaykum." However, some scholars say that you should say "As-salamu alaykum" even if it is only one person, because no person is without two angels, one on the right and one on the left. So if you say "As-salamu alaykum," you intend by this plural form both the human being you are greeting and the angels with him on the right and on the left, who are stationed there. But the singular form is what the Sunnah established: "As-salamu alayk" if it is one person, and "As-salamu alaykum" if they are a group.