Back to search

Is it permissible to greet with 'peace' in a language other than Arabic – such as Albanian – to include non-Muslims, or does Islam command greeting with 'peace' in the Arabic language?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Giving greetings (Salam) is permissible in Arabic and other languages. There is no need to object to someone who gives greetings in a language other than Arabic, for the matter is broad. It may even be preferable to give greetings in a non-Arabic language if there is a benefit in doing so. The preponderant view is that giving greetings in a non-Arabic language (al-ajamiyyah) is valid, and responding to it is obligatory if the addressee understands it, because it is considered a greeting and an act of peace. This applies to greetings outside of prayer. If giving greetings in a non-Arabic language fosters affection and prevents aversion, then it might be better. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave greetings to an assembly that included a mixture of Muslims, polytheists, and Jews.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy