This is the Arabic greeting used by Muslims around the world. It literally means "Peace be upon you".
This past month I was in Malaysia. Before arriving I did not even know that it was a Muslim nation. As I began to get familiar with the country I started to learn a lot about the culture and the beliefs of the Muslims. I felt like I just fit right into the city I was living. With my father being from Iran, and myself being
of middle-eastern descent and even looking Muslim, I fit right in. My beard made many people have common ground and was an easy entrance to making many new friends. Muslims would walk by me staring very intently saying to me " As-salamu alaykum". I would most of time just reply with a warm smile or the greeting in reply to this which is in Arabic, "Wa `alayk s-sal�m".
My time in Malaysia was very rich. Not only was it a Muslim nation, but their are also Chinese religions and the Hindu religion, but the majority being Muslim. God gave me a heart to really reach out to the Muslims while I was there. I have a great desire to understand their beliefs and way of life. The Lord gave me a handful of unique people that I became friends with and began to learn from. I could go on and on about each one.
As it is in most if not every Muslim nation, trying to evangelize to a Muslim is illegal, and could result in prison, being sent out of the country, or even persecution and or death. This was a little intimidating at first
but I was encouraged that month as I read the book The Heavenly Man. Brother Yun in the book is a Chinese man who suffered great persecution and sufferings for the Lord at the hands of his own people in China. If you have not read the book I encourage you to get it. It will challenge you in many ways.
I could write so much about this and maybe at some point I will re-tell it in greater detail. For now I just want to express how much I enjoyed the month we spent in Malaysia and how much I learned about the Muslim brothers and how I have such a longing for them to the know the Truth (John 8:32) that would set them free.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Peace be upon all my Muslim brothers in the name of Jesus the Messiah.
