Responding to the greeting directed from a writer, broadcaster, or others
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Q: The brother A. S. Z. from al-Bahah says in his question: If a writer in his article in a newspaper or magazine, or an author in his book, or a broadcaster on the radio or television says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings), is it obligatory for the listener to respond to him on the basis that responding to the greeting is obligatory? Please advise us, may you be rewarded.
A: Responding to the greeting in such a case is a collective obligation (fard kifayah); because he greets a large number of people, it is sufficient for some of them to respond, and it is better for every Muslim who hears it to respond; due to the generality of the evidence, such as His saying, the Exalted: [Surat al-Nisa: 86] and such as his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 1240 which includes responding to the greeting, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 5193Sahih (Al-Albani) which Muslim also narrated in his Sahih, and in the Sahih of Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Mishkat al-Masabih 1525 And the hadiths regarding the virtue of the greeting, both initiating it and responding to it, are numerous. And success is from Allah.
A: Responding to the greeting in such a case is a collective obligation (fard kifayah); because he greets a large number of people, it is sufficient for some of them to respond, and it is better for every Muslim who hears it to respond; due to the generality of the evidence, such as His saying, the Exalted:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاThe rights of a Muslim on the Muslims are five
حق المسلم على المسلم خمس خصالBy him in whose hand my soul is, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another: should I not guide you to something doing which you will love one another: spread out salutation among you.
والذي نفسي بيده لا تدخلوا الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا، أفلا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم، أفشوا السلام بينكمA Muslim has six duties towards another Muslim.” When asked what they were he replied, “When you meet him salute him ; when he issues an invitation to you, accept it; when he asks your advice give it to him ; when he sneezes and praises God say, ‘God have mercy on you’; when he is ill visit him ; and when he dies follow him to the grave.”
للمسلم على المسلم ست خصال: إذا لقيته فسلم عليه، وإذا دعاك فأجبه، وإذا استنصحك فانصح له، وإذا عطس فحمد الله فشمته، وإذا مرض فعده، وإذا مات فاتبعه
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.