إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ
“When they entered upon him, they said: ‘Peace’. He said, ‘Peace’, [you are] a people unknown”.
سَلَامًا
Grammatically construed as مَفْعُول مُطْلَق (Maf’ool Mutlaq), an absolute object derived from an implied verb — estimated as “Sallamoo Salaaman” or “Nusallimu Salaaman”, meaning “they offered peace” or “we offer peace.”
سَلَامٌ
Grammatically construed as a Mubtadaʾ (nominal subject); the predicate is understood as “‘Alaikum Salaam” or “Salaamun ‘Alaikum”.
The reply implies an unrestricted form of Salaam, indicating going out of one’s way and making extra du‘aa — thus returning the greeting in a better form.
The utterance “سَلَامًا” functions as an absolute object to emphasize the greeting, aligning with Qur’anic eloquence.
The differing i‘raab (grammatical inflection) between “سَلَامًا” and “سَلَامٌ” arises from their distinct syntactic roles and rhetorical functions.
Ibrahim’s “سَلَامٌ” conveys an expansive, unrestricted peace and extra supplication — a superior return of the greeting.
قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ
The phrase قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ is understood as a separate statement from “قَالَ سَلَامٌ”.
It may be understood as said to himself (self-reflection) or to them (inviting identification): “you are unknown to me.”
“مُنْكَر” can also imply unfamiliarity with a negative sense — something not at ease — illustrating wariness and cautiousness toward the strange guests.
سَلَامًا
Mansoob (ً) — Maf’ool Mutlaq, from an implied verb; emphasizes “offering peace.”
سَلَامٌ
Marfoo’ (ٌ) — Mubtadaʾ; predicate understood: “‘Alaikum Salaam / Salaamun ‘Alaikum”.
The shift from “سَلَامًا” to “سَلَامٌ” is purposeful — reflecting different grammatical roles and rhetorical aims.
Ibrahim (as) responds with an expansive peace and extra supplication — a higher standard of returning greetings.
“قَوْمٌ مُّنكَرُونَ” signals uncertainty and careful discernment toward unfamiliar guests.
Two Fat’hahs (ً) indicate Mansoob; two Dammahs (ٌ) indicate Marfoo’. This subtlety conveys emphasis vs. an unrestricted, nominally anchored reply.