It is reported about Sayyiduna Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to greet everyone he met. The narrator says: I do not know of anyone who got ahead of him in the greeting, except for a Jew on one occasion. He hid from his view; he had hidden behind a pillar, and when Abu Umamah passed by, he greeted him first. Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Woe to you, O Jew! Why did you do this?" He said to him: "I saw that you greet people a great deal, and I know that there is merit in this deed, so I wanted to gain that merit." Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Woe to you! I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Indeed, Allah Almighty has made the greeting of salam a salutation for our Ummah and a guarantee of safety for our dhimmis (protected non-Muslim citizens).'"
Tabarani recorded it from his teacher Bakr bin Sahl al-Dimyati, whom Nasa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) declared da'if (weak), while others said that he is muqarib al-hadith (fair in hadith).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الأدب / 12747
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (7518) ، أخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 7518، وأخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 3234»