He would smarten himself for (meeting with) his companions...
📌He would smarten himself for (meeting with) his companions, aside from grooming himself for his family; and he said: “Allah loves from his servant that he should smarten and groom himself when he goes out to meet his brothers.”[^4] From al-Saduq in al-’Ilal and ‘Uyun al-Akhbar: Narrated from al-Rid’a from his fathers (as) who said: The Holy Prophet (S) said: “There are five things that I will never leave until my death: Eating on the ground with the slaves, riding on an unsaddled mount, milking the goat with my hands, wearing coarse woolen clothing and greeting the children – so that these (actions) may become a sunnah after me.” Note: This has also been narrated in al-Majalis.[^5] From al-Qutb in Lub al-Lubab: The Prophet (S) would salute the young and old.[^6] From al-Saduq in al-Faqih: Amir al-Mu’minin (as) said to a man from Bani Sa’d: Should I not tell you about myself and Fatimah?
... The Holy Prophet (S) came to us in the morning while we were still in bed and said: ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaykum’ (Peace be upon you). We were silent out of shyness for where we were. Then he said: ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaykum’ (again) and we remained silent. Then he said again: ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaykum’ so we feared that if we remained silent (a third time) then he would leave. This was his practice – he would salute thrice and if he were permitted to enter he would do so otherwise he would leave.
So we said: ‘Alaykas-Salam Ya RasulAllah’ (Upon you be peace O Prophet of Allah!) Please enter! So he entered.[^7] In al-Kafi: Narrated from Rab’i ibn ‘Abdillah from Abi ‘Abdillah (as) who said: The Holy Prophet (S) used to salute the women and they would reply his salutation.
📌Amir al-Mu’minin (as) used to salute the women, but he disliked saluting the young saying: I fear that her voice should impress me resulting in my receiving more than what I want in the form of reward (for the salutation).[^8] Note: And al-Saduq narrated this with an incomplete chain of narrators.[^9] Similarly, the grandson of al-Tabarsi narrates it in al-Mishkat quoting from al-Mahasin.[^10] Also: Narrated from ‘Abd al-’Adhim ibn ‘Abdillah ibn al-Hasan al-’Alawi ascribing it to an infallible, he said: The Holy Prophet (S) used to sit in three postures: ‘ al-Qurfusa’ – this is where the shanks are straight, in a standing position, with the arms placed around them with his hand clasping his forearm.