In the olden days, there used to be letters, postmen etc. Now, we have Internet, email and fax, which reach the person almost at that time. The question is when we receive Salaam by email of fax, is it enough if we reply to the Salaam orally (by mouth) or should we send a return mail/fax for that?

Answer:

Greeting somebody with Salaam is Sunnah and replying to a Salaam in Wajib (compulsory), it does not matter whether the Salaam is given personally or through somebody else. In all the cases, it is Wajib to reply to the Salaam. But, it is left to use whether we reply to Salaam orally or send a return email, fax etc. as per convenience. It is not necessary that we reply to the Salaam in the way we receive it. It is given in Radd ul Muhtaar Vol. 5, Pg No: 494: Translation: It is Wajib to reply to the Salaam given in the letter, as the writing of an absent person is like the speech of a present one. Normally, people do not pay attention to this. When somebody sends a Salaam to you in writing, it is Wajib for you to reply to that Salaam when you receive the letter, whether it is orally or in writing.