DIVINE REWARD FOR GREETING

Imraan Ibne Husayn radhiyallahu anhu  relates that once a person came to the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam and said, 'Assalaamu' Alaykum." The Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam  returned the greeting, and when the man had sat down, he said, "Ten." (i.e. ten good deeds have been written in his name owing to this salaam.) After him, another person came and said, "Assalaamu'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi." The Apostle of
Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam returned the greeting, and when the man sat down, he said, "Twenty." Then, another man came and said, "Assalaamu'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh." The Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam returned his greeting and when the man had sat down, said, "Thirty."

Tirmizi, Aboo Daawood

COMMENTARY:
The Almighty, through His Infinite Benevolence, prescribed for the Believers ten good deeds for every good action performed by them. It is stated in the Qur'aan,
"Who so brings a good deed will receive tenfold the like thereof." (6:160)
It was for this reason that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam  remarked about the person who had said Assalaamu’alaykum , alone, that he was going to get the reward of ten good deeds, and about the person who had added the words, wa Rahmatullahi, that he was going to get the reward of twenty good deeds, and about the third one who had added wa Barakaatuhu, that he was going to get the reward of thirty good deeds. He who replied to the greeting will be entitled to the reward in the same order.

Imaam Maalik Rahmatullahi Alayh has narrated from Tufayl, son of Ubayi Ibne Ka'b, that, "I used to visit Abdullah Ibne Umar radhiyallahu anhumaa (often). His habit was that he took me with him to the market and offered salaam to every shopkeeper, second hand dealer and poor person he met in the way (and, then, returned home without buying anything). One day, as I went with him, he, as usual, wanted me to accompany him to the market. I said, 'What will you do there You neither stop at a shop nor buy anything nor even enquire about its price nor sit with anyone (What is the use of going to the market)? Let us sit here and talk. It will be more beneficial to me. Abdullah Ibne Umar radhiyallahu anhumaa replied, 'I go to the market solely for the purpose of making salaam to whomsoever I see."

It is related by Aboo Umaamah radhiyallahu anhu  that the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam  said,

"He is more deserving of the Mercy and Nearness of Allah  among the people who is the first to initiate the salaam."

Ahmad, Tirmizi, Aboo Daawood

Abdullah Ibne Mas'ood radhiyallahu anhu  relates that he heard the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam  say,

"He who is the first to greet is free from pride."

Bayhaqi

COMMENTARY:
It shows that to take precedence in making salaam is a sign of being free from vanity. It can, also, mean that it is a cure for pride which is a great sin