The Prophet ﷺ said you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Then he gave the way there: spread salam between you Muslim 54. Two words, and love starts.
From the Quran
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا
From the Prophet ﷺ
«أَوَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ»
Seen in the prophets
Strangers walked in on Ibrahim and said "Salam". He answered "Salam", though he did not know who they were 51:25. Then he went to bring them food.
A man asked which part of Islam is best. He ﷺ said: feed people, and give salam to those you know and to those you don't know Bukhari 12.
Anas passed some children, gave them salam, and said that the Prophet ﷺ used to do the same Bukhari 6247. Children are owed a greeting too.
What it is not
Salam is not a password for your friends only. The Prophet ﷺ said to give it to strangers as well Bukhari 12. And it is not a mumble with your eyes on your phone.
Today, in practice
Be the first to say salam: at home, in the lift, at work.
Greet the children in the room, not only the adults Bukhari 6247.
Answer with more than you were given: "wa 'alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah" 4:86.
Small, practical steps. This is friendly advice, not a ruling.
Your manner for the week
إِفْشَاءُ السَّلَام Spreading salam
Choose one manner and carry it for seven days. It is saved on this device only, nobody else sees it.
Their moments
Sources on this page
Quran 4:86Quran 51:25Sahih al-Bukhari 12Sahih Muslim 54Sahih al-Bukhari 6247
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.