FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
AL-KAFI #1380: HUKUM MENJAWAB KIRIMAN SALAM
What is the ruling on replying to a greeting sent through someone else, and how should it be answered?
Short answer
Replying to a sent greeting of salam is obligatory and should be done promptly.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Replying to a sent greeting of salam is obligatory and should be done promptly. This also applies when the greeting arrives by letter or messenger, in which case it is answered verbally upon reading or receiving it. It is also recommended to return the greeting to the person who delivered it, using a wording such as "wa 'alaika wa 'alaihis salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh".
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Apabila kita menerima salam daripada seseorang, wajib untuk kita menjawabnya dengan segera.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1380: HUKUM MENJAWAB KIRIMAN SALAM”, 1 October 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3708-al-kafi-1380-menjawab-kiriman-salam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-replying-to-sent-salam/