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wa-ʾidhā ḥuyyītum bi-taḥiyyatin fa-ḥayyū bi-ʾaḥsana minhā ʾaw ruddūhā ʾinna llāha kāna ʿalā kulli shayʾin ḥasīban-i
When you are greeted with a salute, greet with a better one than it, or return it; indeed Allah takes account of all things.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nisa', Verse 86
86 . "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better one than it, or (at least) return it. Verily Allah takes account of all things."
The objective meaning of the Qur'anic word / tahiyyat/ is greeting or any other welcoming done by anyone who desires the life, health, and pleasure of other party, whether by speech or by action. And, the respond of a present should be given better than it, even if the present is a greeting and then responding to it.
In the educational system of Islam, greeting is not only expected from a younger or lower person to an older or higher one. In this system, Allah, the Prophet, (S) and the angels greet, too.
1. The example of the greeting of Allah is:
(Surah As-Saffat, No.37, verse 79).
2. The example of the greeting of the Prophet (S) is:
(Surah Al-'An'am, No.6, verse 54)
3. The example of the greeting of the angels is:
(Surah An-Nahl, No.16, verse 32). Once it happened that a maid offered Imam Hassan (as) a bundle of flowers. In respond to it, Imam Hassan (as) emancipated her. Then, when he was asked about it, he recited the above verse. In Islam (Islamic custom), greeting to others has been encouraged, whether we know them or not. So, the person who restrains to greet is counted a miser. The Prophet (S) used to greet everyone he met, even the children. In order that people know that the manner of greetings and their answers, and the superiorities and equalities that they have and in whatever stage they may be, are not concealed to Allah, the holy verse says: