So, the next time you log onto Instagram and see a post captioned "7 Salam," don't scroll past confused. Smile, appreciate the cleverness of Arabizi, and respond with a warm "Wa alaykum 7 Salam."

In the vast ocean of Islamic terminology and digital shorthand, few phrases are as intriguing and misunderstood as "7 Salam."

During the Hajj, pilgrims perform the "Stoning of the Devil" ( Ramy al-Jamarat ), where they throw at three stone pillars. While this ritual involves the number 7, it is technically unrelated to the verbal greeting "Salam."