Is it obligatory to return the greeting when a television presenter says it, since he cannot hear or see us?
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The Shaykh : The questioner asks here about the television: when he says "Peace be upon you," are we required to return the greeting or not, since he cannot hear or see us?
As an Islamic principle, it is obligatory to return the greeting, provided that he can hear it. There are those who hear it, such as the jinn and the angels, and perhaps humans sitting nearby. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1039 So, if the Muslim says "And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," this means that he has mentioned the name of Allah. Mentioning the name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), especially in this occasion, is prescribed without doubt or hesitation. Especially since the original rule is that whenever someone offers the greeting, we must return it. A man might offer the greeting from a distance where we see him but do not hear his voice; in this case, it is obligatory to return the greeting and gesture with the hand like this. The gesture that conveys that we have received his greeting.
As for the case mentioned in the question, where it is behind a barrier via the radio, there is no way to convey the greeting to him, even by gesture. In that case, we suffice with returning the greeting, because this is the original rule first, and this is the summary of the answer. And because the greeting is one of the names of Allah, when we return the greeting, we have mentioned Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
As an Islamic principle, it is obligatory to return the greeting, provided that he can hear it. There are those who hear it, such as the jinn and the angels, and perhaps humans sitting nearby. This is from one aspect. From another aspect, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Peace is one of the Names of Allah which Allah has placed on the earth. Extend it among you.
السلام اسم من أسماء الله وضعه في الأرض فأفشوه بينكمAs for the case mentioned in the question, where it is behind a barrier via the radio, there is no way to convey the greeting to him, even by gesture. In that case, we suffice with returning the greeting, because this is the original rule first, and this is the summary of the answer. And because the greeting is one of the names of Allah, when we return the greeting, we have mentioned Allah (Mighty and Majestic).