Is it permissible to respond with "Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" to greetings such as "Samu Alaikum," "Azzayak," or "Sabah Al-khair"?
Responding with "Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh" to any greeting other than "Assalam" is permissible, and there appears to be no religious impediment to it, as it is, in reality, a form of greeting. Responding to someone who conveys a greeting with "Alaikassalam" is also permissible. However, a greeting that does not use the word "Assalam" does not necessitate a response. As for the phrase "Samu Alaiku," it is a severe linguistic distortion that should be avoided. It appears not to be part of the legitimate Islamic greeting, and therefore, one is not obligated to respond to someone who greets with it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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