slm
« May peace be upon you » ( السلام عليكم) must be one of my favorite expressions in our everyday spoken arabic. Although I am sure it had a different interpretation through history (as in, “oy, let’s have a nice chat without putting our swords out, thx”). Today, it is more of a “Hello fellow human, I acknowledge your existence, you matter”. In a world where individuals, ignored and neglected by society, blend in the huge cattle, meeting a stranger’s eye and exchanging these simple words remind you that you are just as important as anyone. In the same way, a “come on, let’s have a cup of tea” is the human unspoken version of “Hey, everything is alright, we are together, and nothing bad can happen while we are savoring our drinks.” Language is so beautiful!