Sayyiduna Abu Umaamah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, (from the people who make salaam,) the most deserving of people by Allah (for His special mercy) is the one who makes salaam first to others.” (Sunan Abi Dawood #5197 and Bazlul Majhood)

From the hadeeth above, we understand that when two Muslims meet one another and greet one another with salaam, then from the two, the one who makes salaam first is more deserving of the special mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, and his salaam is more rewarding, compared to the salaam of the one who responds to his salaam.

However, in other ahaadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has mentioned that the one who is young should make salaam to one who is old, the one who is riding a conveyance should make salaam to the one who is on foot, the one who is on foot should make salaam to the one who is seated, and the group who are less in number should make salaam to the group who are more in number. (Saheeh Bukhaari #6232 & #6234)

The Muhadditheen explain that in these ahaadeeth, the aadaab and rights of salaam are explained. The one who is young should make salaam first to the one who is older than him as the young are commanded to respect their elders and adopt humility before them. The small group is commanded to make salaam first to the big group as the rights of the big group are more. The one who is passing on foot should make salaam first to the one who is seated, as it is as though he is entering upon a household, and the one entering should make salaam first. Finally, the one who is riding a conveyance should make salaam first to the one on foot to prevent him from being carried away by pride, on account of being higher while mounted on an animal, compared to the person on foot. (Fat-hul Baari vol. 11, pg. 20)

Nevertheless, though these are the aadaab of salaam, each person should nevertheless still try to be the first to make salaam – even if it is the senior making salaam to his junior – as this will cause him to receive more reward, as understood from the above hadeeth. (Al-Kowkabud Durri vol.3 pg. 378 [footnotes]) Furthermore, being the first to make salaam to others is a sign of a person possessing humility and being free of pride. Hence, in another hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that the one who precedes in making salaam (to others) is free from pride. (Shu‘abul Imaan #8407)

In essence, when meeting another Muslim, each person should try to be the first to make salaam, as this quality, of being the first to make salaam, is a means of one acquiring humility, drawing closer to Allah Ta‘ala and attaining His special mercy.

Sayyiduna Agharr Muzani (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explains that on one occasion he was walking with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and whenever any person saw Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) from afar, that person would greet him first. Hence, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to Sayyiduna Agharr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Do you not see the great virtue which these people are acquiring over you (by them greeting you first)? No person should precede you in making salaam.” Sayyiduna Agharr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “Thereafter, whenever any man appeared, we greeted him with salaam first, before he could greet us with salaam.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #12779)

The great ‘Aalim, Abul ‘Ainaa (rahimahullah), had lost his eyesight at the age of forty. He lived for many years thereafter, passing away when he was in his nineties. (Siyaru Aa’laamin Nubalaa vol. 13 pg. 308) Ibnu Abi Dawood (rahimahullah) once asked him, “What is the worst calamity to afflict you in regard to losing your eyesight?” In response, Abul ‘Ainaa (rahimahullah) mentioned two calamities, one of which was, “My people make salaam to me first (as I cannot see them), whereas I love that I should make salaam to them first.” (Taareekh Baghdaad vol. 4. pg. 289)

In other words, more than his pain over losing the ability to see the beauty of this world was his pain over the fact that since he could no longer see the people, it was difficult for him to precede others in making salaam. From this grief in his heart, we can gauge the great value he showed to this virtue of trying to precede others in salaam and his deep attachment to it.

May Allah Ta‘ala bless us with the value of the sunnah as well, aameen.