Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Sha'bi narrates that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would ascend the pulpit on the day of Jumu'ah, he would face the people and say, "Assalamu Alaikum." Then he would praise and glorify Allah, and recite a Surah. Then he would sit down, and then stand up and deliver the sermon. Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar also used to do the same.

Hazrat Abu Nadrah states that Hazrat Usman used to ascend the pulpit and offer greetings. He would deliver a sermon for as long as it takes a person to recite Surah Al-Fatiha.

Hazrat Amr bin Muhajir says that Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz used to ascend the pulpit and greet the people with salam, and the people used to reply to his salam.