some of them. He then quoted the ḥadīth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that explains who should take the initiative in greeting, and we say first of all: the finest of people are those who start others with salām. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—though he is the noblest of creation—would himself offer salām first to everyone he met. Strive, therefore, to be the one who greets before your companion, even if he is younger than you, for the best of people are those who initiate the greeting, and the ones closest to Allah are those who begin with salām. Do you not wish to be among the people nearest to Allah? All of us surely do; then begin by greeting others with salām.

Next, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught that the rider should greet the walker, the walker should greet the one who is seated, the smaller group should greet the larger, and the younger should greet the elder. The reason is that the rider is elevated, so he greets the pedestrian; likewise, the pedestrian is standing over the one who is sitting, so he greets him. The few greet the many because the many have a right over the few, and the young greet the old because the elder has a right over the younger.

Yet, if it happens that the few are inattentive and fail to greet, then the many should greet; and if the young are distracted, then the elder should greet. Never abandon the Sunnah. What the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, described does not mean that it would be unlawful for the elder to greet the younger; rather, the point is simply that it is preferable for the younger to greet first.