Laws of Answering Salaam in Social Media

There are many discussions about the obligation to answer the greetings that have been widely and widely studied by Islamic scholars. Greetings, according to Hadith Rasulullah SAW is one of the rights of Muslims to another Muslims. Read also about the virtues of Salaam in Islam, how to respond to Praise in Islam, and How to Deal With False Accusation in Islam.

In the Muslim Shohih Chapter “Among the Obligations of a Muslim” An-Nawawi delivered one of them answered the greeting. Then narrated also by Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu Anhu, Rasulullah SAW said :

« حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ ». قِيلَ مَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ « إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ ».

“The right of Muslims to another Muslim is six.” Then there is the question, “What are the six things?” Then He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “(1) When you meet, say hello to him, (2) (4) When he sneezes and then praises Allah (pronouncing ‘alhamdulillah’), pray for him (by saying ‘yarhamukallah’), (5) When he is sick ,visit him, and (6) When he dies, go to his funeral (to the cemetery). “(Narrated by Muslim No. 2162)

The Law of Answering Salaam in Social Media

Here will be explained how the law we give or answer greetings through social media. The first is about the law answering greetings as well as the way.

How to answer greetings via social media

With the rapid growth of social media as well as chat apps, many study groups are using the online facility. Therefore, also the quantity of greetings spoken every day is also increasing.

Then, for the law to answer the greetings even through social media is mandatory kifayah, or fardhu kifayah. And if within a chat group, or an online community already exists who responds to a greeting, then the other duties fall to reply to the greeting. Also read Important of Good Character in Islam, and The Law of Women Wearing White Gold in Islam.

Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallah ever issued a hadith about greeting. He said in his hadith :

يُجْزِئُ عَنِ الْجَمَاعَةِ إِذَا مَرُّوا أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ أَحَدُهُمْ وَيُجْزِئُ عَنِ الْجُلُوسِ أَنْ يَرُدَّ أَحَدُهُمْ

“It is sufficient for the jama’ah (a group of people), if they pass by, then one of them greets and is enough one of a group of people who sit reply the greeting.” [Abu Dawud 5210]

Based on the above hadith, there are some scholars who say this hadith is dhaif. But there are some differences of opinion among scholars. One of them is Sheikh Al-Albani Rohimanullah who said the hadith is saheeh. Read also about The Important of Hadith in Islam, Law of Helping Dogs in Islam

In addition, Imam Nawawi Rohimahulloh argued related answers greetings, as follows:

فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمُسْلِم عَلَيْهِ وَاحِدًا تَعَيَّنَ عَلَيْهِ الرَّدّ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا جَمَاعَة كَانَ الرَّدّ فَرْض كِفَايَة فِي حَقّهمْ، فَإِذَا رَدّ وَاحِد مِنْهُمْ سَقَطَ الْحَرَج عَنْ الْبَاقِينَ، وَالْأَفْضَل أَنْ يَبْتَدِئ الْجَمِيع بِالسَّلَامِ، وَأَنْ يَرُدّ الْجَمِيع. ( مسلم بشرح النووي جـ7 صـ394 )

“When the greeting is spoken to a Muslim, it is obligatory upon him to answer the greeting. If they are one entourage, then answer their greetings, the law fardu is kifayah. This means that if there is one of them who answered greetings, then the other is not burdened with the obligation to answer greetings. But the main thing is that every person in the group begins to greet and every one of them answers the greetings.“(Syarh Muslim, 7/394)  [AdSense-B]

The next problem, how the rules answer the greetings? Many of us are confused whether the greetings should be made in oral or in the heart, or need to be written down?
Shaikh Sholeh Fauzan with rohimahullah replied:

يجب رد السلام إذا سمعه الإنسان مباشرة ، أو بواسطة كتاب موجه إليه ، أو بواسطة وسائل الإعلام الموجهة إلى المستمعين ؛ لعموم الأدلة في وجوب رد السلام

“It is a must to answer greetings if someone hears directly or through the writings directed to him. Or through the media presented to the listeners. Considering the arguments about the obligation of greeting has general characteristic.”(al-Muntaqa min Fatawa al-Fauzan, 8/63).

Based on the above opinion, answering a good greeting is by utterance or deed. Which in this case is written down and replied to the greeting. But if there are others who answer, then we are not obliged to reply greetings, but if we answer it, would be better.

Also read about How to Help Possessed Person in Islam, Punishment for Insulting the Prophet Muhammad SAW, and Ways of Prophet Deal with Wife Anger.

Wallahu ‘Alam