When one of you arrives at a gathering, let him greet with peace. When he wants to leave, let him greet with peace, for the first is not more deserving than the last
Hasanعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا انْتَهَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى الْمَجْلِسِ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقُومَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ، فَلَيْسَتِ الْأُولَى بِأَحَقَّ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you arrives at a gathering, let him greet with peace. When he wants to leave, let him greet with peace, for the first is not more deserving than the last."
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) guided whoever comes to a gathering, where people are sitting, to greet the people with peace. Likewise, if he wants to leave, he should bid farewell to the people with peace as well, for the greeting upon arrival is not more deserving than the greeting upon departure.
Benefits
- Encouraging spreading the greeting of peace.
- Encouraging greeting the people in a gathering with peace both upon arrival and departure.
- As-Sindi said: His statement (when he wants to leave), i.e., the gathering, (for the first is not more deserving), i.e., both greetings are Sunnah and worthy of being practiced, so there is no justification for neglecting the second while observing the first.
Source · Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasā’i in Al-Kubra and by Ahmad
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).