How to Greet a Muslim Man

The Islamic faith runs culturally deep among believers and traditional Muslim greetings may be different from those used by non-Muslims. It is important to know polite and respectful ways of greeting a Muslim man to help increase cultural sensitivity and understanding.

Instructions

1. Greet a Muslim man by saying, "assalam alaikum," which means "peace be upon you." This customary greeting between Muslims is a friendly and peaceful greeting, and is almost universally accepted as a notion of goodwill in the Islamic community. Say "assalam alaikum" and give a warm, friendly smile when greeting an Islamic man.

2. Respond by saying, "valaikum-salam," which means "peace be upon you as well," if a Muslim man greets you with the phrase "assalam alaikum."

3. Shake hands with the person you are greeting if you are a male. Handshakes should be firm and long-lasting. Traditionally, it is not appropriate for a female to shake hands or to have other physical contact with a Muslim man when greeting. A non-Muslim female should shake hands with a Muslim man only if he initiates the contact.

Tips & Warnings

• Throughout the greeting, maintain the same politeness and respect that you would while greeting anyone else. Although Muslim greeting customs may be slightly different from what you are used to, the basics are the same: smile, be polite, and offer a pleasant message of kindness.

• Remember that not all Muslim men will expect these greeting procedures. Although almost all people of the Islamic faith will appreciate awareness of their culture, many Muslims in America use contemporary American styles of greeting. If you are unsure about the appropriate way to greet a Muslim man, just be polite and follow his lead.

References

• Houston Business Journal

Resources

• Some basic things to know about interactions with the Muslim community.