Chapter: The Etiquette of Salām

857 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The rider should greet the one who is walking, the walker should greet the one who is sitting, and the smaller group should greet the larger.” Agreed upon. An additional wording recorded by al-Bukhārī states: “and the younger should greet the elder.”

858 – Abu Umāmah Ṣudayy ibn ʿAjlān al-Bāhilī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, declared, “Those who stand nearest to Allah are the ones who initiate the greeting of salām.” Reported by Abū Dāwūd with a reliable chain. Al-Tirmidhī likewise transmitted it from Abu Umāmah: it was asked, “Messenger of Allah, when two men meet, which of them should begin the salām?” He replied, “The one who is closer to Allah, Exalted be He.” Al-Tirmidhī graded the report ḥasan.

[Commentary] These narrations address certain aspects of the etiquette of salām. Imām al-Nawawī—may Allah have mercy on him—cited them in Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn under that very heading. We have already spoken about