As Salaam
The Source of Peace
The Most Perfect, the Source of Peace, the Giver of Blessings.
Allah is As-Salaam. He is the One who grants peace and security to all His creation, above and beyond every weakness and infliction. He is the source of peace and of safety for mankind. Breaking from As-Salaam brings disturbance and ruin to a soul. It is because He is free of every defect that the one who is with Him experiences tranquility.
Mentions of As Salaam
From the Quran & Hadith
From the root sin-lam-mim (س ل م), which carries the classical Arabic connotations of being peaceful, quiet, tranquil, content, friendly, reconciled; being free from faults, complete, whole, sound; and being safe, secure, well, healthy, and prosperous.
The Salaam
We know from our greeting of one another with as-salāmu ʿalaykum that we send peace upon the receiver. As-Salaam refers to the attribute of Allah as the source of that peace. The word *Islam* itself shares this root (s-l-m), encompassing the concept of peace which is one of the core principles of the religion.
This Name also implies soundness or wholesomeness: being flawless, free from blemishes. He is complete and whole. Nothing depletes Him; He is self-sufficient. It is because of this nature that the one who is with Him can feel safety and security. In Surah Qaf 50:38 Allah says, 'We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.' In this way As-Salaam parallels Al-Quddus, both negating any imperfection in His qualities.
Huwa-llāhu-lladhī lā ilāha illā huwa-l-Maliku-l-Quddūsu-s-Salāmu-l-Mu'minu-l-Muhayminu-l-ʿAzīzu-l-Jabbāru-l-Mutakabbir.
“He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior.”
Wa salāmun ʿalā-l-mursalīn.
“And peace upon the messengers.”
Salāmun qawlan min rabbin Raḥīm.
“[And] 'Peace' — a word from a Merciful Lord.”
Ibn Mas'ud (RA) reported: When we prayed behind the Prophet ﷺ we would say, 'Peace be upon Allah.' He ﷺ corrected us: 'Allah Himself is As-Salaam (Peace). When any of you prays, let him say: At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalawātu wa-ṭ-ṭayyibāt; as-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha-n-Nabiyyu wa raḥmatu-llāhi wa barakātuh; as-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhi-ṣ-ṣāliḥīn — All the compliments, prayers, and good things are due to Allah; peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings; peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah.'
Thauban (RA) reported: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his prayer, he would seek forgiveness three times, then say: 'Allāhumma anta-s-Salām wa minka-s-Salām, tabārakta yā Dha-l-Jalāli wa-l-Ikrām' — O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe (sālim), and the believer is the one from whom the people's lives and wealth are safe.'
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed: 'You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you? Spread the greeting of as-salāmu ʿalaykum amongst yourselves.'
Knowing As-Salaam moves us to seek peace daily — to free the heart from envy, jealousy, and revenge. As the saying goes, 'resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies.' That is not the way to peace. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Work to minimise your imperfections. A person who learns to love themselves and love others naturally brings peace to the earth. The Prophet ﷺ described the believer as a place of safety — one from whose tongue and hand others are protected, and from whom others' lives and wealth are secure. Strive to be that person. Spread the greeting of *salām* freely; it is one of the Names of Allah He has placed in the earth.
Astaghfirullāh (three times) Allāhumma anta-s-Salām, wa minka-s-Salām, tabārakta yā Dha-l-Jalāli wa-l-Ikrām.
I seek the forgiveness of Allah (three times). O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honour. (Recited by the Prophet ﷺ after the obligatory prayer.)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 831
- Sahih Muslim 591
- Sahih (Darussalam) Sunan an-Nasa'i 4995
- Hasan (al-Albani) Al-Adab al-Mufrad 989
- Sahih Muslim 54a
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