3.1 Saying hello

Objective: to be able to use appropriate greetings in formal and informal meetings and settings.

Sample of conversation 1

Salim :	Good evening.
Security guard :	Good evening. Can I help you?
Salim :	I have an appointment with Mr. Musa, a Senior Lecturer in the English Department.
Security guard :	Your name, sir?
Salim :	I'm Salim.
Security guard :	Would you please wait here, sir? I will call Mr. Musa.
Salim :	Thank you.

3.1 Saying hello

Greeting Expressions

"Good Morning", "Good Afternoon" and "Good Evening" are greetings used for morning, afternoon and evening respectively. Normally, these expressions are used as wishing someone above us in ranks (positions) at workplace, students wishing their teachers, lecturers etc. or used as a conversation 'starter' in formal meetings.

Note: The above dialogue is formal because Salim and the security guard do not know each other. "Good evening" is used as a formal greeting as well as a communication starter.

"Good night" is only used for expressing farewells. If a person wants to leave a place in late evenings or at night, "Good night" is used. We also say "Good night" before we go to bed.

Other Everyday Greetings

	Hello, Hi, Hi There!
	Hi, good day to you!
	Hi! How are you?

3.1 Saying hello

Meeting People at Different Time Settings

	When we meet people in the morning, we say "Good morning".
	"Good afternoon" from about 12.00 till around 17.00 and "Good evening" from then on.
	"Hello" or "Hi" are more informal but can be used at any time.

Greetings in Islam:

Interaction and communication is important in any society. In Islam, proper relationships are stressed at all phases of interaction and common greetings hold a special place in Islamic manners.

As all Muslims should know, the Islamic greeting is 'Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu' (peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you). For short, most Muslims say 'Assalamu Alaikum' (peace be upon you), then the Muslim replies 'Wa Alaikum Salam' (and peace upon you too). In fact the phrase 'Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu' is not only a greeting but contains the doa' (prayer) as Allah mercy and blessings are bestowed on the speaker and receiver as well. That's the difference between conventional and Islamic greeting.

3.1 Saying hello

Muslims are to reply with better greeting if greeted by a Muslim and an equal greeting if greeted by a non-Muslim. Sheikh Mahmood Ghaith of Ajman, UAE states that Muslims could greet non-Muslims first but not with Islamic greeting, he could say e.g. (Hello), (Good morning) etc.

In Islam the salutation of Salaam is used on all occasions, on meeting and for farewell. There are also other additional farewell doa (prayer recital) which can be used with Salaam. Examples are: "Fee Iman Allah" (May Allah keeps you safe) and "Astowda Okomallah" (May Allah guards you). The term "Khuda hafiz" (God keep you safe) is used in Persian and Urdu.

Muslim Festival Greetings:

Eid ul-Adha is an auspicious occasion in the Islamic calendar. It is a day to remember Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to Allah as an act of obedience to Him. Wish your family / relatives / friends on this holy day with our warm Eid ul-Adha greetings. In Persian, Arabic and Urdu, we say "Eid ul-Adha Mubarak".

Eid ul-Fitr signifies the end of Ramadan or the period of month long fasting for all. In Persian, Arabic and Urdu, we say "Eid ul-Fitr Mubarak". In both examples, Mubarak means 'blessed festival' or 'may you enjoy this blessed festival'.

3.1 Saying hello

Other Greetings in Islam:

Below is a short list of Arabic greetings and English translation:

	Marhaba – Hello
	Markhabtain – Hello (reply)
	Ma'a Salama – Goodbye
	Ahlan wa sahlan – Welcome
	Ahlan feekum – Welcome (reply)
	Sabah al-khir – Good morning
	Sabah innor – Good morning (reply)

These are all original purely Arabic greetings. In Islam the common greeting still widely used is Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you).

Note: Throughout the Arab world English is widely spoken in business, and it is important for English-speakers to learn Arabic. However, trying to say even a few words and phrases in Arabic are very much appreciated.

3.1 Saying hello

Greeting Gestures in Islam:

Greeting gestures in Islam differs from place. For e.g. in Egypt it is common practice of greeting each other (among Muslim brothers) of touching the cheek to cheek on the right side, then left side ten right side. It is just a form of greeting.

However, there is a Hadith (the life-styles of the Prophet) that states that a believer asked the Prophet about how to greet others, then asked whether one should kiss the other person, the Prophet said (No), then asked whether one should embrace the other person, the Prophet said (No), then finally he asked whether one should shake hands with the person, the Prophet said (Yes).

Greeting Expressions:

The most common way of greeting someone at an informal level is: (Hello! How are you?) The standard reply is: (Very well, thank you.) or (Fine, thank you.)

(Note that the question is not usually meant or interpreted as asking the person's health.) After we have given this reply, we often repeat: [And] (How are you?) or [And] (What about you?) the response is still the same: (Fine, thank you.)

3.1 Saying hello

Among friends and young people, the most common greeting would be: (Hi!) The response is: (Hi!) This might then be followed by one of the following: (How are things?), (How's things), (How's it going?) or [Are} (You OK?) To which answer is probably: (Yeah, fine!) Or with typical British style: (Yeah, not so bad!)

Read and understand the short of conversation below

A conversation between a student and a lecturer at about 8 o'clock at night along the college corridor.

Ali :	Good evening Miss Alima.
Miss Alima :	Good evening.
Ali :	Miss Alima, can I see you in the office at about 8.30pm?
Miss Alima :	Of course you can.
Ali :	Very nice of you, Miss Alima.
Miss Alima :	Okay, see you at 8.30pm.

Think about this: Can Ali wish Miss Alima goodnight. Why are there times when you don't wish someone goodnight in English although you're leaving?

3.1 Saying hello

Sample of conversation 2

Mr Aziz :	Good morning, Mr. Yusof.
Mr. Yusof :	Good morning, Mr Aziz. How are you?
Mr Aziz :	I'm fine thanks, and you?
Mr. Yusof :	Not too bad. Mr Aziz, this is my friend, Mehran. This is Mr Aziz, my English teacher.
Mr Mehran :	Pleased to meet you.
Mr Aziz :	Pleased to meet you too. Are you from Iran, Mr Mehran?
Mr Mehran :	Yes, And what about you?
Mr Aziz :	I'm from Syria.
Mr. Yusof :	Well, goodbye Mr Aziz, it was nice to see you.
Mr Aziz :	Yes, goodbye.