# Can Muslims Say Vanakkam? Tamil Tradition and Religious Views

- Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2115493061803597864
- Source account: [@Saffron_Anil\_](https://x.com/Saffron_Anil_)
- Source language: Tamil
- Target language: English
- Duration: 1:42
- Published: 2026-10-30
- Machine translated. Check the original before quoting.
- Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views
- Original-language version: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/ta/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D.md

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views) Can Muslims say “vanakkam”? Vanakkam means, “I too, to you…”

[0:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=3) bow my head I bow. That is, I prostrate.

[0:06](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=6) Muslims must not prostrate before anyone but Allah.

[0:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=9) So, saying “vanakkam” in any situation is not permitted.

[0:12](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=12) Vanakkam is a Tamil tradition of basic respect, it can even be called basic civility.

[0:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=18) Tolkappiyam, Sangam literature, and even the Thirukkural clearly explain vanakkam.

[0:22](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=22) If they say something like this should not be said at that time, then, regarding that, we should not enter into the debate. That is their choice.

[0:29](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=29) What I am saying is that this is a basic Tamil cultural practice.

[0:33](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=33) One may be Christian by religion, one may be Muslim, one may be Hindu, Or it could be religion. But something we can all do together if you ask what it is, we wouldn't say Tamils, Telugus, or Kannadigas.

[0:43](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/3KIeJaewRI0D/en/can-muslims-say-vanakkam-tamil-tradition-and-religious-views?t=43) This greeting is, at the very least, a Tamil tradition