Salam is one of the first Islamic habits children learn, and it carries great reward.
The greetings and rewards
| Greeting | Reward |
|---|---|
| السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ | 10 |
| السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ | 20 |
| السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ | 30 |
Reported in Sunan Abi Dawud 5195.
The reply
وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. Allah says: “When you are greeted, reply with a better greeting or at least the same” (Quran 4:86).
Who greets first
The young greet the old, the walker greets the one sitting, the few greet the many (Sahih al-Bukhari 6231).
When to say it
- Entering the home (even if empty).
- Meeting family and Muslim friends.
- Starting and ending a Quran lesson.
- Leaving a gathering.
A fun challenge
Count the salams your child gives in a day and “add up” the rewards. Children love going for the 30-reward version.
Teacher’s tip: start every online lesson with a full salam. It sets a respectful tone and practises the habit twice a week or more.
Related: Islamic phrases and respecting elders.
