one I am saying Salam to are all are under my protection, and I consider it Haraam [unlawful] to interfere with any of these things.’

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 16, pp. 102)

  *It is rewardable to say Salam to Islamic sisters no matter how many times you meet in a day, even if one leaves and enters a room frequently.

  *It is Sunnah to be the first in saying Salaam.

  *The one who says Salaam first, is closer to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

  *The one who says Salaam first is free from pride, as the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘The one who says Salaam first is free from pride.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 6, pp. 433)

  *Ninety mercies descend upon the one who says Salaam first and ten mercies descend upon the one who replies. (Kimiya-e-Sa’adat)

  *One gets 10 virtues for saying اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْـكُمْ, 20 virtues if وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ is further added, 30 if وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ is also added. Some people add جَنَّتُ الۡمَقامand دَوۡزَخُ الۡحَرام which is wrong.

A’la Hadrat, Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن has stated on page 409, volume 22 of Fatawa Razawiyyah: One should at least say the words اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْـكُمْ, it is better to add وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ and the best to add وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ but nothing more. Then the one replying must say at least the same words; however it is better to add more in reply. For example, if one says اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْـكُمْ, then the replier should reply with وَ عَلَيْـكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ. If he says اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْـكُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ, then the replier should reply وَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ. If he says till وَ بَرَكَاتُهٗ, then the replier should say the same words at least but nothing more. وَاللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى اَعۡلَم