Is maintaining family ties via telephone sufficient?

Question:
What is the ruling on not visiting relatives if they are far away, but maintaining ties via telephone due to the distance?

Answer:
It is sufficient, and praise be to Allah. Maintaining family ties is sufficient via telephone, via correspondence, via sending greetings to some relatives, and inquiring after a second relative. If visiting on foot is facilitated, that is more complete. If maintaining ties on foot, visiting, giving money, and making good intercessions are facilitated, that is more complete. But if that is not facilitated, maintaining ties via telephone call, correspondence, and helping him pay off his debt or meet his need is sufficient, even if done by sending it via post or with some messengers who carry charity or assistance.
The point is: that he should fear Allah as much as he can in maintaining family ties according to what is facilitated; because Allah made it general, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made it general according to what is facilitated. He maintains ties with his relatives on foot, or via correspondence, or via telephone, or via a message from Zayd to 'Amr. All of this, praise be to Allah, contains much good. The most complete is maintaining ties on foot if it is possible without any religious prohibition. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, may the Shaykh be honored.