Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:
“The best people are those one who initiate the Islamic greeting. Certainly, the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ while he is the most noble of creation, he would initiate the Islamic greeting with the one he met. Therefore strive to be the one who coveys the Islamic greeting before your companion, even if he is younger [in age] than you. The best people are those who initiate the Islamic greeting. The firstmost people with Allāh are those who initiate the Islamic greeting. Therefore would you like to be amongst the firstmost people with Allāh?! We all would love to be so, therefore be people who initiate the Islamic greeting.”
Sharh Riyādh as-Sāliheen 4/408 | Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him]
Translation: Authentic Quotes
TN: The Islamic greeting is saying ‘السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته’ [As-salāmu alaykum wa Rahmat Allāh wa barakātuhu (may you be safe from evil, and the Mercy of Allāh and His Blessings be upon you)].