The Universal Islamic Greeting
The foundation of all Arabic greetings is the Islamic peace greeting: "As-salamu 'alaykum" (Peace be upon you). The standard reply is "Wa 'alaykum as-salam" (And upon you be peace). This greeting is used universally, regardless of the time of day.
Asking 'How Are You?'
To ask someone how they are doing, you say "Kayfa haluk?". If you are speaking to a male, it is pronounced "Kayfa haluka?", and for a female, it is "Kayfa haluki?". The most common and polite response is "Alhamdulillah, ana bekhair" (All praise is due to Allah, I am well).
Introducing Yourself
To tell someone your name, simply say "Ismi..." followed by your name. For example, "Ismi Aisha" means "My name is Aisha." If you want to ask someone their name, you ask "Ma ismuka?" (to a male) or "Ma ismuki?" (to a female).
Saying Goodbye
When it is time to part ways, the most common way to say goodbye is "Ma'as salama" (With safety/peace). You can also say "Ila-liqaa" which means "Until we meet again."
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