The core table in one breath: as-salaamu alaikum is "peace be upon you"; inshallah, "God willing," goes with future plans; mashallah, "God has willed it," with admiration; alhamdulillah, "praise be to God," with gratitude. Harvard's Pluralism Project expressly welcomes non-Muslims exchanging the salaam greeting with mosque hosts, and Islamic Relief calls offering the Ramadan greetings "a polite and considerate way to show respect"; the rest are documented everyday speech you'll hear constantly. The meanings, the moments, and the handshake protocol, below.
Sourced to Harvard's Pluralism Project, Cambridge linguistics scholarship, and Muslim institutions, including the places where scholars differ on interfaith greetings.
'Peace be upon you', a common Muslim greeting, answered with wa alaikum as-salaam, 'and peace be upon you.' Can you, a non-Muslim, use it? Yes: Harvard's Pluralism Project's visitor guidance says non-Muslims 'are welcome to exchange this greeting with their hosts.' And 'hello' remains fully fine: no cited institution requires an Arabic greeting from a non-Muslim; the Arabic is an option, never a test.
'God willing', attached to any statement about the future: 'see you Tuesday, inshallah.' It expresses hope while acknowledging nothing future is guaranteed. Yes, you'll hear jokes about it meaning a soft no ('Dad, can we get ice cream?' 'Inshallah'), and context does the work; Cambridge linguistics research pins its core to future hope. If you use it, use it sincerely for future plans; it wears thin as a punchline from outsiders.
Literally 'God has willed it', said when appreciating or praising something good, per the Cambridge dictionary's definition: a new baby, a friend's promotion, a beautiful house. Culturally it's admiration that credits God: appreciation is the documented use, not a magic word with a guaranteed reaction.
Alhamdulillah, 'praise and thanks be to God', expresses gratitude; as Transparent Language's Arabic guide puts it, 'It is also used when we are grateful for something.' Subhanallah, 'Glory be to God', marks glorification and wonder: a sunset, a coincidence, a mountain view. Hear them as the punctuation of a God-aware day.
When Muslims say or write the Prophet Muhammad's name, they traditionally add 'peace be upon him' (abbreviated PBUH, or SAW for the Arabic salla llahu alayhi wa sallam) as reverence, as Harvard's Pluralism Project explains. It's respect for a messenger, not worship of him. Non-Muslim writers aren't obligated to add it; no institution requires that, and respectful plain usage of the name is normal in outside writing.
Because it's the greeting question people actually stress over: some observant Muslims don't shake hands across genders, a genuine matter of scholarly difference, practiced person by person. The Islamic Center of Cleveland's visitor advice is the whole protocol: 'Unless he/she extends his/her hand first, it is better to not extend yours.' No hand offered? Smile, nod, or place a hand over your heart (what A Common Word Canada's toolkit calls 'a common substitute gesture'). Warmth transmits fine through all of them.
It means 'peace be upon you', the standard Muslim greeting, and the response is wa alaikum as-salaam, 'and peace be upon you.' If a Muslim greets you with it, wa alaikum as-salaam is the documented ordinary response. Harvard's Pluralism Project's visitor guidance explicitly welcomes non-Muslims exchanging the greeting.
Yes, Harvard's Pluralism Project's guidance says non-Muslims are welcome to exchange the greeting. (Some Muslims, following stricter juristic positions, may answer a non-Muslim with a shortened response, that's their observance, not a rebuke.) 'Hello' is always equally fine; the Arabic is a bonus, never a requirement.
'God willing', said about future plans and hopes: 'the project ships Friday, inshallah.' Its core function is hope for the future while acknowledging that outcomes rest with God. Context determines whether a given 'inshallah' is a confident yes, a genuine maybe, or a parent's gentle deferral, exactly like English's 'we'll see,' but with theology.
Mashallah ('God has willed it') expresses appreciation or praise for something good, a baby, an achievement, a house. Alhamdulillah ('praise be to God') expresses gratitude. Rough map: mashallah admires, alhamdulillah thanks.
'Peace be upon him', a phrase of reverence Muslims traditionally add when mentioning the Prophet Muhammad, abbreviated PBUH in English or SAW from the Arabic. It expresses respect for a prophet, not worship of him, and non-Muslim writers aren't required to use it, respectful plain usage of the name is standard outside Muslim writing.
'Ramadan Mubarak' (blessed Ramadan) or 'Ramadan Kareem' during the fasting month, and 'Eid Mubarak' on either Eid, all documented by Islamic Relief as greetings non-Muslims can offer too, with 'Happy Ramadan' and 'Happy Eid' as accepted English forms. Islamic Relief calls offering such a greeting 'a polite and considerate way to show respect.'