Shin-Lamedh-Mem is a triconsonantal root of many Semitic words (many of which are used as names). The root meaning translates to "whole, safe, intact, unharmed, to go free, without blemish". Its earliest known form is in the name of Shalim, the ancient god of dusk of Ugarit. Derived from this are meanings of "to be safe, secure, at peace", hence "well-being, health" and passively "to be secured, pacified, submitted".
Arabic (), Maltese sliem, Hebrew (), Ge'ez (), Syriac à ¡lama (pronounced Shlama, or Shlomo in the Western Syriac dialect) (), Mandaic à ¡lama () are cognate Semitic terms for 'peace', deriving from a Proto-Semitic *à ¡alÃÂm-.
Given names related to the same root include Solomon (Süleyman), Absalom, Selim, Salem, Salim, Salma, Salmah, Salman, Selimah, Shelimah, Salome, Szlama (Polish) etc.
Arabic (and by extension Maltese), Hebrew, Ge'ez, and Aramaic have cognate expressions meaning 'peace be upon you' used as a greeting:
In the Amarna letters, a few of the 382 letters discuss the exchange of "peace gifts", greeting-gifts (Shulmani) between the Pharaoh and the other ruler involving the letter. Examples are Zita (Hittite prince), and Tushratta of Mitanni. Also, Kadashman-Enlil of Babylon, (Karduniaà ¡ of the letters).
à  alÃÂm (shalamu) is also used in letter introductions to express the authors' health. An example letter EA19, from Tushratta to Pharaoh, states:
In Akkadian:
The Koine Greek New Testament text uses eirÃÂnà() for 'peace', which perhaps represents Jesus saying 'à ¡lama'; this Greek form became the northern feminine name Irene. In the Epistles, it often occurs alongside the usual Greek greeting chairein () in the phrase 'grace and peace'. However, comparison of the Greek Septuagint and Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament texts shows some instances where shalom was translated instead as soteria (, meaning 'salvation').
In Hebrew:
In Aramaic:
The Arabic word salÃÂm is used in a variety of expressions and contexts in Arabic and Islamic speech and writing. "Al-SalÃÂm" is one of the 99 names of God in Islam, and also a male given name in conjunction with . ûAbd al-SalÃÂm translates to 'Servant of [the embodiment of] Peace', i.e. of Allah.
In Maltese:
The word ' is a verbal noun derived from s-l-m, meaning "submission" (i.e. entrusting one's wholeness to a higher force), which may be interpreted as humility. "One who submits" is signified by the participle , ' (fem. , ').
The word is given a number of meanings in the Qur'an. In some verses (), the quality of Islam as an internal conviction is stressed: "Whomsoever God desires to guide, He expands his breast to Islam." Other verses connect islÃÂm and dën (usually translated as "religion"): "Today, I have perfected your religion (') for you; I have completed My blessing upon you; I have approved Islam for your religion." Still others describe Islam as an action of returning to GodâÂÂmore than just a verbal affirmation of faith.