How to Greet Elders in Islam 
The etiquette of greeting the elders is an important aspect of Islam. Everyone in Islamic society is expected to greet the elders. The younger is supposed to greet the elder, but it is also important for the elder to greet the younger even if he hesitates. This is because the greeting has a good upbringing effect on the younger. In fact, the Prophet of Islam used to greet the children in order to draw attention to the effect of upbringing.
Greeting with as-Salam-u-‘Alaikum
In Islam, greeting elders with as-Salam-u-Alaikum is a must. This greeting is a wish for good health from Allah. It is also a form of worship that shows respect and goodwill.
The Prophet Muhammad commanded Muslims to greet one another in public and to respond to a Muslim’s salutation. The salutation is a sign of respect, and a handshake is customary. Muslims greet each other in public places by saying “salam” and shaking hands. While it is customary to greet elders first, younger Muslims greet pedestrians and riders first. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also made it a point to greet his children first.
The words as-Salam-u-‘al-Alaikum have many variants. One form is ‘Um-salam’, while another is “Wa aleikum as-salam.”
The Qur’an encourages Muslims to greet other believers with the same words. The length and pronunciation of the greeting depend on the person’s faith. For example, it is appropriate to say “Va-aleikum as-salam” when greeting a Muslim, and it is also acceptable to say “Aleikum” if a non-Muslim is greeting you.
The Prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to greet each other with as-Salam-u ‘Alaikum’ as a form of greeting. It is an integral part of Islam’s Islamic practices and is a must for Muslims.
Saluting with the word of as-Salam-u-‘Alaikum
In Islam, it is proper to salute elders with the word “As-Salam-u-Alaikum.” It is also a good practice to greet children and other close relatives. This greeting should be expressed with sincerity and respect.
Whenever a Muslim enters or exits a gathering, he or she should greet the elders first. If the elder is sitting, the younger person should greet the elder. It is also good etiquette to return the greeting to a sitting elder. This is a way to reestablish contact with an elder and receive the blessings of Allah.
The word as-Salam-u-‘alaikum is the standard Muslim greeting. It is an Arabic expression and is widely used among Muslims from all countries. Muslims in every language use it to greet their fellow Muslims.
Although some scholars consider initiating a salaam with a non-Muslim as impermissible, others say that it is permissible. In addition, some scholars maintain that initiating a salaam with neophytes is not proper. This view was affirmed by the Shafii Madhhab.
The word “salaam” is a general greeting that must be extended to all believers. In Islam, it is obligatory for men to greet male mahrams and female non-mahrams. If a man greets a woman who is not a mahram, this is considered fitnah.
Saluting with the word of ‘Alaikum
In Islam, saluting elders with the word of ‘Alaikum’ is a Sunnah, or religious obligation. Responding to this greeting absolves us of all our responsibility for any offense or wrongdoing. In contrast, not responding to the greeting holds us responsible for the actions of the whole group.
In Islam, this salutation is common. The long form is ‘Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabaraktuh’, and the short form is ‘Salam’. The recipient of this salutation must acknowledge the greeting by saying ‘Alaikum’ back.
During the time of Prophet Muhammad, he often greeted people with ‘Assalamu ‘Alaikum,’ meaning, ‘Peace be with you.’ This is a traditional Muslim greeting that has been adopted around the world and is used by Muslims regardless of language.
Saluting elders in Islam is common in Muslim communities. It has its roots in the Quran and the Hadith. In Surah an-Nisa (chapter 86), Muslims are instructed to return such greetings in a courteous manner. Hadith books have a number of examples of the word’s use in Muslim society.
Several Muslim scholars have commented on the issue of how to greet elders in Islam. According to Ibn Uthaimeen, ‘Alaikum’ (the word ‘A’ in Islam) is considered a greeting of honor. However, the act of initiating the salutation with non-Muslims is prohibited.