Fiqh of Salam: Responding on WhatsApp, Etiquette & Rulings (Shafi’i Guide)

Have you ever felt conflicted when the WhatsApp notification sound goes “ !”, and then a message appears saying “Assalamualaikum”? Your heart wonders, should you reply with text, a voice note, or is it enough to answer in your heart? Or perhaps you’ve been in an awkward situation: a friend asks you to convey greetings, but you’re confused about how to respond correctly according to religious teachings.

Greetings in Islam are more than a casual “hi” or “hello”; al-salam is a prayer and a pledge of safety. They are a prayer, a promise of security, and a bond of brotherhood. However, we often get caught in routines without truly understanding the rules. Is it obligatory to give greetings? What if we don’t respond to them?

This article examines the fiqh of salam through classical sources such as Asna al-Matalib (explained by Zakariyya al-Ansari) and the ḥāshiyah of Tuḥfat al-Ḥabīb (al-Bujairimi). We will discuss everything from the rulling of responding to greetings, etiquette on social media, to the rules regarding forwarding greetings, which are often misunderstood. Let’s begin.

The Ruling of Saying Greetings: A Sunnah Often Neglected

First of all, let’s clarify the basics. What is the ruling on greeting a fellow Muslim?

The Shāfiʿī manual Asna al-Matalib presents saying salam as a sunnah; the text then distinguishes sunnah ʿayn (individual) and sunnah kifāyah (collective). However, the status of this Sunnah has interesting details:

1. Sunnah ‘Ain (Individual): If you are walking alone and meet a Muslim friend, then for you, saying salam is sunnah ‘ain. You can get a great reward if you greet, but it is not sinful if you remain silent (though it is very regrettable).
2. Kifayah Sunnah (Representative): Imagine you are walking with five friends (a group). When passing by others, not all five need to shout “Assalamualaikum”. It is enough for just one person to represent, and the sunnah is fulfilled for the entire group.

The basis is the command of Allah in the Quran, Surah An-Nur, verse 61, and many hadiths that encourage us to spread peace by saying greetings. One of the Prophet SAW’s sayings is:

“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something that, if you do it, will make you love one another? Spread peace amongst yourselves.” (Reported by Muslim)

Therefore, the law of saying greetings is a strong recommendation. This is a gateway to sustenance and intimacy.

The Legal Ruling of Responding to Greetings: Beware, Don’t Fall into Sin!

Responding to a greeting carries greater weight in the classical texts: many Shāfiʿī jurists (see Asna al-Matalib) treat returning salam as wājib (obligatory) for the addressee—especially in private.

Like its beginning, this obligation is divided into two:

• Fardh ʿAyn: when greeted directly (face-to-face or via private message), the addressee is required to reply; intentional silence without excuse is blameworthy according to the dominant Shāfiʿī view. It is obligatory to answer with sound or writing. If you intentionally remain silent, you will be sinful.
• Fardhu Kifayah: If the greeting is directed to a crowd or group, and one person has already responded, then your obligation is fulfilled. But out of courtesy and for reward, it is better for everyone to participate in responding.

So, what is the ruling on answering a greeting if the one who greets is a small child? The book Asna al-Matalib affirms: even if the one uttering the greeting is a small child (not yet baligh), we as adults (mukallaf) are still obligated to answer it. Why? Because a greeting is a symbol (syiar) and a prayer. Ignoring a child’s greeting could extinguish their enthusiasm for worship.

The Consequences of Ignoring Greetings

Whoever does not return a greeting when they hear it and there is no legitimate excuse, bears a sin. The ruling for someone who does not return a greeting intentionally without a reason can fall into haram (forbidden), because a greeting is a covenant of safety (a guarantee of security).

The Ruling on Answering Salam on WhatsApp and Social Media

This is a million people’s questions: What is the ruling on answering greetings on WhatsApp or in the comment sections of Instagram/Facebook?

Contemporary scholars who refer to classical fiqh principles agree: “Writing has the same status as spoken speech” (al-kitabah kal-khitab).

1. Private Chat: If a message comes in saying “Assalamualaikum”, then intentionally not replying to the greeting on WhatsApp is haram (forbidden) and a sin. It is a Fardhu ‘Ayn (individual obligation). You must reply to it.
   • Tips: If you are busy driving or in a meeting, it is permissible to respond in your heart first, but try to reply via text or a greeting sticker when you have free time to fulfill the obligation perfectly.
2. WhatsApp Group: If a greeting is sent to a reunion group or work group, the ruling on responding to the greeting in a WhatsApp group is Fardhu Kifayah. As long as one person has already responded (usually the admin or an active member), you are not sinful if you just read it. But, of course, it’s warmer if you join in responding.
3. Social Media Comment: If a content creator greets “Assalamualaikum friends” in a video or caption, it is considered a greeting to the general public. Replying to it in the comment section is a good deed, but it is not an individual obligation (fardhu ‘ayn) for every follower.

The Polemic of Forwarded Greetings: “Please convey my greetings to Budi!”

This section is often misunderstood. Many people feel that giving greetings is obligatory, and the recipient is also obliged to respond. Is that true?

Let’s dissect based on the second reference, Hasyiah Al-Bujairimi. It turns out, not all greetings conveyed through another person are obligatory to respond to according to Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). There are conditions.

A forwarded greeting becomes obligatory to answer for the recipient only if the messenger conveys the explicit formula (“Assalamualaikum”) in a way that directs the greeting to you; mere statements like “Zaid sends his regards” generally do not constitute a sharʿī salam (per al-Bujayrīmī). This can occur in two scenarios:

1. Sender says: “Please convey to Budi: Assalamualaikum.”
2. The courier said: “Budi, Zaid sends his Assalamualaikum to you.”

If the statement is like that, you (Budi) are obligated to respond: “Alaika wa’alaihis salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh” (May peace be upon you [the courier] and upon him [the sender]).

When is a Returned Greeting (Salam Titipan) NOT Obligatory to Answer? If the wording is lost. For example:

• The sender only said: “Say hello to Budi.” (This is a normal statement/command).
• The courier only said: “Brother, Zaid sends his greetings.” or “Zaid sends his regards.”

In the second case, according to the mu’tamad (strong) opinion of Imam Ar-Ramli, the greeting is not considered a valid Islamic greeting (salam syar’i) that must be returned. It is merely information. Therefore, the ruling on returning a greeting of this type is only sunnah (recommended) or good manners, not a religious obligation for which one would be sinful if omitted.

3 Groups Who Are Not Obligated to Answer a Greeting

Should we always respond to “Assalamualaikum” when we hear it? No. There are specific conditions where not responding to the greeting is actually recommended to maintain proper etiquette.

Here are 3 groups who are not obligated to answer a greeting (and it is disliked to answer verbally) according to Asna al-Matalib:

1. Someone Relieving Themselves: If in the bathroom, toilet, or relieving themselves, according to fiqh, it is permissible not to verbally respond to a greeting. Responding internally is sufficient. Verbally responding in a dirty place is disliked (makruh).
2. Someone Who is Eating (Mouth Full): Imagine a mouth full of rice and being forced to say “Waalaikumussalam”. You could choke or food could splatter. Islam is a religion that preserves aesthetics and safety. If your mouth is full of chewing, do not respond verbally. Swallow first, or simply give a hand gesture.
3. Someone Who is Praying or Giving the Adhan: A person performing prayer is forbidden from speaking except for the recitations of the prayer. If greeted, simply gesture with the hand/finger. A mu’adhin should also finish his call to prayer (adhan) first.

Furthermore, a person who is in deep sleep or very drowsy is also not obligated to fulfill this requirement.

Pillars and Correct Way to Answer Salam

To avoid being careless, observe the following etiquette so that the Islamic greetings we offer are fully rewarded.

1. The Sound Must Be Heard (Isma‘)

The requirement for a valid response to a greeting is that it must be heard by the one who offered the greeting. If you respond in a whisper so that the person next to you cannot hear, the obligation is not fulfilled except in the case of sending a greeting or through writing.

2. Immediately (Ittisal)

The response must be immediate. Do not delay. If a friend says “Assalamualaikum”, and you remain silent for 5 minutes before responding, it is not considered a valid reply to the greeting (except through letters/chat with a time delay).

3. Complete Wording

• Minimal: “Wa’alaikumussalam.”
• Perfect: “Wa’alaikumussalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh“. In this case, the hadith about responding to greetings teaches us to reciprocate with something better or at least similar.

4. Interaction with Non-Muslims

What is the ruling on responding to greetings from non-Muslims? If they greet first with “Assalamualaikum”, we respond briefly: “Wa’alaikum” or “Wa’alaika” (And upon you also). We are not forbidden from being kind, but regarding prayers for salvation in the afterlife (mercy & blessings), Islam has its own theological limitations.

Original Book References

As a form of scientific trust, here is the original quote from the reference book we use:

1. Asnā al-Maṭālib (On Fundamental Legal Rulings)

فصل: ابتداء السلام على كل مسلم … سنة عين إن كان المسلم واحدا وسنة كفاية إن كان جماعة

(Regarding Initiating Greetings) It is sunnah ‘ain (obligatory for each individual) for every Muslim to do so when alone, and sunnah kifayah (sufficient for the community) when in a group.

ورده ولو كان المسلم صبيا فرض عين إن كان المسلم عليه واحدا مكلفا وفرض كفاية إن كان جماعة¹

And responding to it—even if the one who greets is a small child—is an individual obligation (Fardhu ‘Ayn) if the recipient is one accountable person (mukallaf), and a collective obligation (Fardhu Kifayah) if the recipient is a group (jamaah).

2. Al-Bujairimi’s Commentary (On Salam by Commission)

وَحَاصِلُهُ: أَنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ فِي الِاعْتِدَادِ بِهِ وَوُجُوبُ الرَّدِّ مِنْ صِيغَةٍ مِنْ الْمُرْسِلِ أَوْ الرَّسُولِ… كَأَنْ قَالَ الْمُرْسِلُ سَلِّمْ لِي عَلَى فُلَانٍ فَقَالَ لِفُلَانٍ زَيْدٌ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْك فَلَا اعْتِدَادَ بِهِ وَلَا يَجِبُ الرَّدُّ²

In conclusion: In order to be considered valid and obligatory to respond to, there must be a shighat (formulation of greeting) from the sender or the one conveying the greeting. If the sender only says “Greetings to so-and-so” and the one conveying the greeting says “Zaid sends greetings,” then it is not considered (a proper Islamic greeting) and is not obligatory to respond to.

Summary Table of Salam Rulings

To make it easier to understand, here’s a summary of the ruling:

Situation	Who Initiates (Ruling)	Who Responds (Ruling)
Meeting Alone	Sunnah ‘Ain	Fardhu ‘Ayn
Meeting in a Group	Sunnah Kifayah	Fardhu Kifayah
Private WA Chat	Sunnah ‘Ain	Fardhu ‘Ayn (Typing/Voice)
WA Group Chat	Sunnah Kifayah	Fardhu Kifayah
While Eating/in the Toilet	Disliked to Initiate	Not Obligatory to Respond Verbally (Sufficient in the Heart)
Passing Something Without “Assalamualaikum”	Permissible (Customary)	Not Obligatory (Just Good Manners)

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully, this review regarding the law of giving and responding to greetings can clarify our doubts. Remember, a simple greeting on WhatsApp or when passing by on the street can be an extraordinary field of reward if we understand the knowledge behind it.

Let’s revive this Sunnah of the Prophet. Don’t let the greeting message on your phone just end with a “blue tick” without a prayer in return. Spread greetings, spread peace!