The reward of initiating greetings, offering salaam while rising and sitting, and shaking hands in the light of authentic hadiths

This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahi Fazail-e-Amaal.

The Reward of Saying Salaam When Sitting and Standing​

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عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إذا انتهى أحدكم إلى المجلس فليسلم ، فإذا أراد أن يقوم فليسلم ، فليست الأولى بأحق من الآخرة
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any one of you enters a gathering, let him say Salaam, and when he rises to leave, let him also say Salaam, for the first Salaam is not superior to the second."

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Manners, Chapter on Salaam when leaving the gathering, No: 5205 - Sunan Tirmidhi, Chapters on Seeking Permission, Chapter on what has been narrated about greeting when standing and sitting, No: 2706 - Al-Silsilah Al-Saheehah, No: 183.

The Reward of Initiating Salaam​

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Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
إن أولى الناس بالله من بدأهم بالسلام
"Indeed, the person closest to Allah among the people is the one who initiates Salaam."

Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manners, No: 5197 - Sunan Tirmidhi, No: 2694 -

Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it "Sahih."

The Reward of Shaking Hands​

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Sayyiduna Bara bin Azib رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said:
When two Muslims meet and shake hands, Allah forgives both of them before they separate.

Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Isti'dhan, Bab Ma Ja'a fi al-Musafaha, No: 2727 -

Al-Albani رحمه الله has declared it "Sahih".