Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Abu Tamimah Hajimi narrates that a man from our tribe said: I searched for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) but was not successful, (eventually) I sat down. Suddenly, my gaze fell upon a group of people, among whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also present, but I did not recognize him. A man was reconciling between them; when he finished, some people walked with him and said: O Messenger of Allah! Upon seeing this, I recognized the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him thus: “«عليك السلام يا رسول الله ، عليك السلام يا رسول الله ، عليك السلام يا رسول الله» Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah... (said three times).” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, «عليكم السلام» is the greeting of the dead.” (The Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] said this sentence three times.) When a Muslim greets his brother, he should say «السلام عليكم ورحمة الله».” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), replying to my greeting, said: “«وعليك ورحمة الله ، وعليك ورحمة الله ، وعليك ورحمة الله» And peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you... (said three times).”