Saying Salam is not valid

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

No, it is not acceptable to say Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum according to the Hanafi Madhab. Although this has become widespread, even amongst Hanafi teachers, it is contrary to what Hanafi Imams said. Rather only two phrases for greetings are accepted. Namely, Asalamu Aleykum and Salamun Aleykum.

Explanation

عَنْ أَبِي جُرَيٍّ الْهُجَيْمِيِّ، قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ: عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: لَا تَقُلْ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ، فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ تَحِيَّةُ الْمَوْتَى

Abu Juray al-Hujaimi (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, ‘Aleyka As-salamu Ya Rasulallah.’ He ﷺ said: Do not say, Alaikas-Salam. Indeed, Alaikas-Salam is the greeting of the dead. (Sunan Abi Dawood, 5209).

The above Hadith makes it clear that we do not focus upon the meaning when presenting greetings. Since the meaning of what the Sahabi said to the Mubarak Prophet ﷺ was fine. Yet the Prophet ﷺ insisted on particular wording. That is why the Hanafi Madhab does not accept the word Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum.  

Authenticity

وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ الْمُبْتَدِي عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ فَإِنْ قَالَهُ اسْتَحَقَّ الجواب على الصحيح المشهور وقيل لايستحقه وَقَدْ صَحَّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لاتقل عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ تَحِيَّةُ الْمَوْتَى وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. (المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج)

It is disliked for the one initiating to say, Alaikumu As-salam (عَلَيْكم السَّلَام). If he says it, he deserves a response according to the correct and well-known opinion. And it is said that he does not deserve it. It has been authenticated that the Prophet ﷺ said: Do not say, Alaikas-Salam. Indeed, Alaikas-Salam is the greeting of the dead. And Allah knows best. (Imam Abu Zakariyah al-Nawawi 676H, Sharh Sahih Muslim).

In the Nass above, Imam al-Nawawi clarified that the narration cited is authentic. The Imam also explained that it is disliked to initiate the greeting with Alaikumu As-salam (عَلَيْكم السَّلَام). However, he differed with the Hanafis slightly in saying that the person still deserves a response to the greeting.

The meaning

وَيُؤْخَذُ مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَجِبُ الرَّدُّ عَلَى الْمُبْتَدِئِ بِهَذِهِ الصِّيغَةِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَا ذُكِرَ فِيهِ أَنَّهُ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ – رَدَّ السَّلَامَ عَلَيْهِ بَلْ نَهَاهُ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

It can be deduced from this that it is not obligatory (Wajib) to respond to the one who initiates with this wording. As it was not mentioned that he ﷺ responded to the greeting. Rather he forbade it. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

Some people focus on the meaning when it comes to the issue of saying Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum. This is an error according to the Hanafi Madhab. Imam Ibn Abideen quoted the above Hadith and explained that the blessed Prophet ﷺ did not reply to Alaikas-Salam. That was despite the fact that the meaning is sound. Since it means upon you be peace.  

Therefore, a person claiming that Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum is fine due to the meaning is clearly mistaken. Rather there are specific words that constitute the valid Islamic greeting. One must adhere to them. Otherwise, he or she do not have the reward of the Islamic greeting. Nor do they deserve a reply.

No need to respond

لَا يَجِبُ رَدُّ سَلَام عَلَيْكُمْ بِجَزْمِ الْمِيمِ

لَوْ نَوَّنَ الْمُجَرَّدَ مِنْ أَلْ كَمَا هُوَ تَحِيَّةُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَجِبُ الرَّدُّ فَيَكُونُ لَهُ صِيغَتَانِ، وَهُوَ ظَاهِرُ مَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ سَابِقًا عَنْ التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة، ثُمَّ رَأَيْت فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ وَلَفْظُ السَّلَامِ فِي الْمَوَاضِعِ كُلِّهَا: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَوْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّنْوِينِ، وَبِدُونِ هَذَيْنِ كَمَا يَقُولُ الْجُهَّالُ لَا يَكُونُ سَلَامًا اهـ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

Imam al-Haskafi: It is not necessary to return the greeting of Salam ‘Alaykum (سَلَامْ عَلَيْكُمْ) with the Jazm of the Meem.

Imam Ibn Abideen: If he placed a Nun (ن) on it without أَلْ (the), as is the greeting of the angels to the people of Paradise, then responding is obligatory (Wajib). Therefore, it has two forms. This is apparent from what we previously mentioned from al-Tataarkhaniyah. Then I saw in al-Dhaheeriyah: The wording for Salam in all the places is: As-salamu ‘Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ), or Salamun ‘Alaykum (سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ) with the Tanween. (Radd al-Muhtaar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar).

Imam al-Haskafi explained that it is not required to respond to a person saying Salam ‘Alaykum (سَلَامْ عَلَيْكُمْ). That is with a Sukoon on the Meem, instead of a Dammah (Pesh). If this subtle difference essentially nullifies the greeting, then undoubtedly saying Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum will nullify it.

Imam Ibn Abideen clarified further, explaining that there are two acceptable forms of greeting. Namely, As-salamu ‘Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ), or Salamun ‘Alaykum (سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ). Nothing else fulfils the requirement of the Islamic greeting. Therefore, it is not obligatory (Wajib) to respond to other greetings.

Practical example 

قُلْت: وَفِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة عَنْ الْفَقِيهِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ: أَنَّ بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي يُوسُفَ كَانَ إذَا مَرَّ بِالسُّوقِ يَقُولُ: سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقِيلَ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ: التَّسْلِيمُ تَحِيَّةٌ وَإِجَابَتُهَا فَرْضٌ، فَإِذَا لَمْ يُجِيبُونِي وَجَبَ الْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، فَأَمَّا سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ فَدُعَاءٌ فَلَا يَلْزَمُهُمْ، وَلَا يَلْزَمُنِي شَيْءٌ فَأَخْتَارُهُ لِهَذَا اهـ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

I say, in al-Tataarkhaniyah from the jurist Abu Ja`far: One of Abu Yusuf’s companions, whenever he passed by the market, would say, ‘Salamullah ‘Alaykum (سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ).’ So, he was asked about that. He replied: Tasleem is a greeting, and responding to it is obligatory. If they do not answer me, then it is obligatory to enjoin the good. As for Salamullah ‘Alaykum (سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ) it is a supplication (Dua), so they are not obligated to respond. Nor am I obligated to do anything. So, I choose it for this reason. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

In the Nass above we find one of the companions of Imam Abu Yusuf using something other than the two acceptable forms of Salam. He was doing that to protect people from falling into sin. Since, replying to a valid Salam is obligatory.

This demonstrates how well known and established this issue was. Thus, people of knowledge should be well aware of the fact that Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum is not valid. This is why Imam Ibn Abideen considered it the practice of ignorant people.

Practice of the ignorant

قَالَ فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ: وَلَفْظُ السَّلَامِ: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَوْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّنْوِينِ، وَبِدُونِ هَذَيْنِ كَمَا يَقُولُ الْجُهَّالُ لَا يَكُونُ سَلَامًا اهـ وَذَكَرَ فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي يُوسُفَ أَنَّ سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ دُعَاءٌ لَا تَحِيَّةَ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

He said in al-Dhahiriyyah: The wording of peace is: As-salamu ‘Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ), or Salamun ‘Alaykum (سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ) with the Tanween. Other than these two, as the ignorant say, is not Salam. He mentioned in al-Tataarkhaniyah from one of the companions of Abu Yusuf that Salamullah ‘Alaykum (سَلَامُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ) is a supplication, not a greeting. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

Imam Ibn Abideen asserted that ignorant or Jahil people use other than the two acceptable forms of Islamic greeting. According to him, it would be ignorance to say Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum.  This is the Hanafi view. Scholars of other Madhabs may well differ regarding this issue. Therefore, we must not rush to condemnation. Rather people who use other than the acceptable forms of Salam can be asked to justify their practice.

Reply is flexible

We must note that the restriction regarding Salam is relevant to initiating the greeting. It is not applicable to responding. Rather there is more flexibility in the response. Imam Ibn Abideen explained this in the following Nass (text).

قُلْت: فَهَذَا مَعَ مَا مَرَّ يُفِيدُ اخْتِصَاصَ وُجُوبِ الرَّدِّ بِمَا إذَا ابْتَدَأَ بِلَفْظِ السَّلَامِ عَلَيْكُمْ أَوْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَقَدَّمْنَا أَنَّ لِلْمُجِيبِ أَنْ يَقُولَ فِي الصُّورَتَيْنِ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَوْ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَمُفَادُهُ أَنَّ مَا صَلُحَ لِلِابْتِدَاءِ صَلُحَ لِلْجَوَابِ وَلَكِنْ عَلِمْت مَا هُوَ الْأَفْضَلُ فِيهِمَا. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

I say: This, along with what has been mentioned, indicates that the obligation to respond is specific to when the person begins with the words ‘As-salamu ‘Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ), or Salamun ‘Alaykum (سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ). We have already stated that the respondent may say, in both cases, Salamun ‘Alaykum (سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ) or As-salamu ‘Alaykum (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ). The upshot is that whatever is suitable for beginning is also suitable for responding. However, you have learned what is preferable in both cases. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

Conclusion

Saying Salam instead of Asalamu Aleykum is not valid. A person doing so has not given Salam. Nor is it Wajib to respond to such a person. Rather Imam Ibn Abideen considered such practices to be based upon Jahl. Therefore, a person should use one of the two valid forms of greeting. Those being, Asalamu Aleykum and Salamun Aleykum. 

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (15.08.25)