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السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

English translation: Greetings


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase:السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
English translation:Greetings
Entered by: Firas Allouzi
Options:
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18:05 Jan 6, 2012
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Legal document
Arabic term or phrase: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
What is the best translation when the term is mentioned in official government documents and the audience is legal bodies and native speakers of english. Would it be simply 'Greetings' , or any other simplified and more english native term. I seek the advice of professionals in this area. Thank you
Firas Allouzi
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:22
Greetings
Explanation:
I was recently asked to translate an official letter from the office of a high official in the Gulf area. They requested that
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Would be translated as "Greetings."
We don't have to translate this term word by word. We have to go by how people start their official letters in the West.
I know that many don't agree but we are here to contextualize and not force our terms.
Selected response from:

Lamis Maalouf
Local time: 19:22
Grading comment
thank you Lamis
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2Greetings
Lamis Maalouf
4 +1Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you
hassan zekry
4 +1May the Peace, the Mercy and the Blessings of Allah be bestowed upon you
Taghreed Mahmoud
4Peace and blessings of God be upon you
Lucinda Wills
4Greetings, May peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you
Liliane Hatem


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you


Explanation:
.

hassan zekry
Local time: 02:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 47
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Murad AWAD: Agree
1 hr
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Peace and blessings of God be upon you


Explanation:
In these situations, it is better to "play it safe" and stick to the original meaning of the text than going overly idiomatic and simply saying "Greetings". Knowing the source, the native reader of English will recognize that this is a standard greeting in Arabic.
You could simplify it to the more familiar "Peace be upon you", or "Peace and blessings of God be upon you".
Good luck.

Lucinda Wills
Yemen
Local time: 03:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you

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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
May the Peace, the Mercy and the Blessings of Allah be bestowed upon you


Explanation:
.

Taghreed Mahmoud
Egypt
Local time: 02:22
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Murad AWAD: Agree
1 hr
  -> Thanks so much
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Greetings, May peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you


Explanation:
you can use the above as it is mentioned in an official government, thus it will include both EN and AR ways.

Letter to Prime Minister Abdel Salaam al-Majali
www.kinghussein.gov.jo/97_dec4.html
4 Dec 1997 – May peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings. Letter to Prime Minister Abdel Salaam al-Majali. Amman. December 4, 1997. BACK.

Liliane Hatem
Local time: 03:22
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you that was helpful

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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Greetings


Explanation:
I was recently asked to translate an official letter from the office of a high official in the Gulf area. They requested that
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Would be translated as "Greetings."
We don't have to translate this term word by word. We have to go by how people start their official letters in the West.
I know that many don't agree but we are here to contextualize and not force our terms.

Lamis Maalouf
Local time: 19:22
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
thank you Lamis
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you that was very helpful


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Randa F: Absolutely! This is what we first learnt working for government and diplomatic sectors. Official means English style here.
21 mins

agree  Ahmed Badawy: it could be interpreted to different cultures and religions
10 hrs
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