and the better of the two is the one who initiates the salām. In the same way, the ḥadīth before us states: “Among the finest traits of Islam is that you spread salām to those you know and those you do not.” Allah is the One who grants success.

864 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Allah created Adam, He said to him, ‘Go to that company of angels who are sitting and greet them with salām; then listen to how they reply, for that response will be your greeting and the greeting of your progeny.’ He went and said, ‘As-salāmu ʿalaykum (peace be upon you).’ They replied, ‘As-salāmu ʿalayka wa-raḥmatullāh (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah),’ thereby adding the words ‘and the mercy of Allah.’” Agreed upon.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—records in his Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, in the chapter “The Virtue of Salām and the Command to Spread It,” that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: when Allah created Adam He said to him, “Go to that group of angels who are sitting and greet them with salām, and observe how they answer you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting