Offering greetings electronically (emails,
text messages and the likes) and responding to them is legislated.
Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin Naasir al-Barraak [May Allaah Preserve
him] was asked:
People give the greetings of as-Salaamu 'Alaykum before sending
their messages (electronically). Is sending these supplications something
legislated and likewise is it obligatory for us to respond to them, such as
written letters?
He replied:
All praises are for Allaah. Yes, it is obligatory for us to
respond to the greetings of as-Salaam whether it is oral or written, based on
the generality of the Statement of Allaah, the Most High:
{وإذا
حييتم بتحية فحيوا بأحسن منها أو ردوها}
“When you are greeted
with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least)
return it equally. Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all
things.” [an-Nisaa 4:86]
And the Hadeeth of al-Baraa' bin 'Aazib [May Allaah be Pleased
with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]
commanded us with seven and of them; "To respond to the Salaam."
[Reported by al-Bukharee (5863)]
Shaykh 'Ubayd-Allaah al-Jaabiree [May Allaah Preserve him] was
asked, is it obligatory for a person to reply to the greetings of Salaam sent
via electronic messages such as email and SMS messages?
He replied:
Meaning, are the evidences taken in their generality? This is the
reality of the question being asked.
Or does the questioner meaning, that they are sending a message
and should they start with the Salaam?
If one is sending a message then this falls under one of two
scenarios:
Either the person is responding to a message and the sender
started with the Salaam, in this case is it obligatory to respond to the
Salaam.
The second scenario is that a person is initiating a message, in
which case the person can send the message without sending the Salaam.
In this latter scenario the person has the option of either
beginning with the Salaam, which is better, or he may leave it out.
Note, if a person receives a general message and it was not
directly addressing the reader, then the matter is broad (i.e. they don’t need
to respond to the Salaam). However, if one responded to the Salaam then we hope
that there is reward in it for them, If Allaah Wills.
Shaykh 'Abdullah bin 'Abdur-Rahmaan al-Jibreen [May Allaah have
Mercy on him] said:
The meaning of the word "Ameen" means, "Oh Allaah,
Respond to us!" This is Sunnah whether the supplication is live or an
electronic recording.
Responding to supplications, Athaan and the likes is not legislated.
They argue that supplicating and greetings are acts of worship, and there needs to exist evidence for all acts of worship[1]:
They argue that supplicating and greetings are acts of worship, and there needs to exist evidence for all acts of worship[1]:
The Standing Committee of Permanent
Scholars of Saudi Arabia were asked:
If one hears a Shaykh supplicating to
Allaah in an electronic recording and the recording maybe a year or two years
old, does one say "Ameen" to his supplications?
They answered:
Supplicating (Dua'a) and responding with
"Ameen" are acts of worship. It is legislated for a person to respond
with "Ameen" to a supplication they hear within their presence but as
for recorded supplications then it is not legislated for one to respond to
them, because there isn’t anyone physically supplicating.
And Allaah is the Source of all Strength.
May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
[Fatwaa No. 21675]
Signed by:
President: 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah aal
ash-Shaykh
Member: Shaykh 'Abdulah bin Ghudayaan
Member: Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan
Member: Bakr Aboo Zayd
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen
[May Allaah have Mercy on him and Purify his soul] explained:
Can we say that the pre-recorded voice is
the actual live voice of a human?
Meaning, that it takes the same ruling of
the voice of a live oral transmission?
The answer is no, it doesn’t. Based on
this, if a person played a pre-recorded Athaan and placed it under the
microphone when the time for prayer begins, then we say this doesn’t take the
place of an Athaan proclaimed by an actual human. This is because Athaan (like
greetings and supplications) is an act of worship, and acts of worship can only
be done by an actual human being in real physical action.
[Sharh Mukhtasar at-Tahreer (Pg. 108)]
Also see: The Manners and Characteristics When Talking on the Phone: http://ahledhikr.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-book-rendition-into-english-of.html
Also see: The Manners and Characteristics When Talking on the Phone: http://ahledhikr.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-book-rendition-into-english-of.html
[1] Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn
Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said: There is no doubt that Dhikr and
Du'a' are from the most virtuous acts of worship, but both of these are based
on at-Tawqeef (i.e. not to worship except with evidence) and al-Itibaa' (i.e.
following the Sunnah of the Prophet) and is not governed by ones desires or
innovating…It is not permitted for anyone to declare something as being
legislated or being a Sunnah from the acts of Dhikr and Dua'a or to make them connected
to a particular situation for people to follow, such as at the end of the five
daily prayers, these fall under innovations which is not part of the religion
of Allaah. [Majmoo' al-Fataawaa (22/510)]
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