Hadith 858 Abu Umamah Sudaiy bin `Ajlan Al-Bahili
reported: The Messenger of Allah
said,
"The person nearest to Allah is one who is the first to offer greeting.'' [Abu Dawud].
The narration in At-Tirmidhi is: The Messenger of Allah
was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When two persons meet, who should greet the other first?'' The Messenger of Allah
said,
"The person nearest to Allah (i.e., one who is more obedient and therefore closer to Allah will say: As-Salam first.'' Commentary: The degree of a man's humbleness and modesty will be measured by the degree of his nearness to Allah. One who is nearer to Allah is always the first to offer As-Salam to others, while others stick to their stuck-up behaviour
For an explanation of this Hadith by Dr Muhammad Salah view the video included in Hadith No. 856 of Chapter 132