بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ
رُدُّوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا
"And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better (greeting) than it or return it; surely Allah takes account of all things". (Sūratun Nisā’, Āyat 86)
The greeting of salām is actually a Du‘a for the person, meaning may the peace of Allah be on you
It is a sign of affection and bonding and brings down blessings from Allah.
The meaning of salaam (literally, peace) is harmlessness, safety, and protection from evil and from faults.
The name al-Salaam is a Name of Allaah, may He be exalted, so the meaning of the greeting of salaam which is required among Muslims is, May the blessing of His Name descend upon you.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made spreading salaam a part of faith
A man asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): What is the best thing in Islam? , He said: "Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know".
salaam is the greeting between people, which sows seeds of love and friendship in their hearts, as does giving food. There may be some weakness in the heart of one of them, which is dispelled when he is greeted, or there may be some hostility, which is turned to friendship by the greeting.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged the Muslims to foster love between one another by exchanging gifts and food and by spreading salaam and he forbade the opposite, namely forsaking one another, turning away from one another, spying on one another, seeking out information about one another, stirring up trouble and being two-faced.
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves.
Allah has commanded us to greet in return with something better than what we are greeted with or to greet back with the same greeting.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also explained the reward earned by the one who says salaam.
from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was sitting with some others, and said Salaam alaykum (peace be upon you). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, [He will have] ten hasanaat (rewards).
Another man passed by and said Salaam alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, [He will have] twenty hasanaat.
Another man passed by and said Salaam alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, [He will have] thirty hasanaat.
