Narrated Abu Umamah: "They said: 'O Messenger of Allah! When two men meet, which of them initiates the Salam?' He said: 'The nearest of them to Allah'."
The Prophet Muhammad also taught us that by initiating salams first, we are showing respect towards those around us as well as demonstrating our faith in God's presence in all aspects of life. This hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims everywhere of how important it is for them to remain close with their Creator and practice good manners when interacting with others.