Salaam is derived from the word ‘salaamat’ which means pure or safe. Thus, two meanings have been narrated,

1. Hafez  Ibn Katheer Rahumahullaah has stated,
   

   “As-Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo) is that Being (Jalla Jalaalahoo), Who is Pure from all faults and deficiencies, due to His being Perfect in His Being (Jalla Jalaalahoo), His Qualities (Jalla Jalaalahoo), and His Actions (Jalla Jalaalahoo).”

   Here the question may arise, that in this instance, there is no difference between this Name (Jalla Jalaalahoo) and Al-Quddoos (Jalla Jalaalahoo). The answer is that Al-Quddoos (Jalla Jalaalahoo) refers to being Pure from faults in the past and present, whilst As Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo) refers to Purity from faults in the future.

   Others have stated that Al-Quddoos means that Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) is Pure in His Qualities (Jalla Jalaalahoo),  whilst As-Salaam refers to His Purity (Jalla Jalaalahoo) in His Actions (Jalla Jalaalahoo).

2. “He is that Being (Jalla Jalaalahoo) from whom Protection and Safety is desired.”

   Hadhrat Sufyaan ibn Uyainah Rahumahullaah said, “Man is most terrified at three junctures:
    

   i) the day he is born, since he finds himself emerging from the secure place where he was (i.e. the womb wherein he resided for nine months)

   ii) the day he passes away, since he sees such beings (angels) whom he had never seen before

   iii) the day he is resurrected, since he will find himself on the huge massive plains of Resurrection
    

Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Honoured Sayyiduna Yahyaa Alayhis Salaam on these three occasions, and Bestowed Protection to him. Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) States in Surah Maryam :

“And Salaam (Peace, Protection) be unto him, the day he was born, the day he will pass away, and the day he will be resurrected.”

In this verse, Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) has indicated that He (Jalla Jalaalahoo) will Grant Sayyiduna Yahyaa Alayhis Salaam, Safety from the difficulties of these three occasions, and will Remove his fear of them. Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Deals in a similar manner with His (Jalla Jalaalahoo) believing slaves, since the angels convey salaams, reassure and pacify the pious believers, at the time of extracting their souls.

Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) says:

“Those whom the angels take their souls in a pure state,  saying to them, ‘Salaams (Peace be) upon you, enter paradise in exchange for those actions which you used to do.’” 
(Nahl)

From this verse, we learn of the Love As-Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Possesses for the pious; In this world, He (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Makes them happy, and Creates Means to Grant them support in frightening conditions.

Peace and Safety are only Granted by As-Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo), otherwise the means which we use to protect ourselves are of no avail. If He (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Removes His (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Protection, then all our organization and arrangements come to nought. When a person leaves his home, there are innumerable enemies in the skies and on the earth, whom we pass by with safety and comfort. The causes for our death are at all places e.g. alleys, general roads, however we remain safe and unscathed. Never mind this, even while eating, there are so many causes that can lead to choking.

However, we continue eating with relish. How many people there are who, whilst eating choked on their food which caused their death? Similarly, there have been many who whilst drinking water, the water became a cause of their death. This is because the protection afforded by As-Salaam had been lifted.

The falling of one brick in our homes is sufficient to destroy us. All people are watched upon by the angels of death who await the Command of As-Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo). Never mind wild animals, many human beings thirst after our blood. It is only due to the Protection Accorded to us by As-Salaam (Jalla Jalaalahoo), that we remain safe.

Thus, we must have firm conviction that we are being Protected, due to the Kindness and Security of this Being (Jalla Jalaalahoo), whilst all the outward means and forms of our death and destruction, are right before. In this era, electricity has been the means of the death of many people. Gas, which we are always using for our convenience, is also extremely dangerous but we remain safe. This is only due to the Protection of As-Salaam  (Jalla Jalaalahoo). 

If Help was not forthcoming from Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo), then no house would ever be occupied till Qiyaamah. If this Protection was not Afforded to us, houses would be destroyed in minutes or seconds. Fire is our servant. If it gets out of control, much can be scorched, and reduced to ashes.

In this temporary life, Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) has Protected us, and Kept us Safe, by Granting us different forms of Protection from difficulties and problems. After this temporary life, in the everlasting life of the hereafter, Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) has also Prepared for His (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Pious Slaves, a place of Protection.

Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) says:

“And Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) invites to Daarus-Salaam.”

This means that He (Jalla Jalaalahoo) Invites to such a place, in which there is only safety and protection. There will neither be difficulties, worries, sadness nor the fear of sickness, the worry of life coming to any end, or of one’s condition changing for the worse.

By Daarus-Salaam is meant Jannah (Paradise). One reason for referring to it as Daarus-Salaam is due to what has just been mentioned i.e. every person will have complete peace, serenity and protection there. Another reason for naming it Daarus-Salaam, which has been mentioned in some narrations, is that the angels will continue to convey salaams on behalf of Allaah (Jalla Jalaalahoo) to the inhabitants of Jannah. The word ‘Salaam’ will also be a phrase used by the inhabitants of Jannah, by which they will indicate their desires, which will then be fulfilled by the angels.