Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When any of you reaches a gathering, he should say salam. If he intends to sit, he may sit down, and if he stands up to leave while the people are still sitting, then he should say salam when leaving as well. The salam at the time of arrival is not more important than the salam at the time of departure (i.e., one should say salam both when arriving and when leaving; both are equally important).