Assalamualaikum,
Is it mandatory to reply loudly to Salaam from Muslim brother? Is it Fard to reply loudly or can that be silently or through gesture and if I replly to the Salaam through thought, is it sinful? Even for Masnoon Azkaar can we recite them silently in thought or is it mandatory again to recite loudly? Can you please present any Hadith for replying loudly or else it is sinful.
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
1) It’s Wajib to respond to the Salaam in such a voice that the person making Salaam hears it. If for some reason it’s not possible that he could hear it, e.g., the person is at a distance or is deaf then such a signal is necessary that the person making Salaam finds out that the other person has responded because the Sahaabah Kiraam R.A. used to make Salaam and respond in a loud voice. Further, in the Ahaadith there is command to spread Salaam. And Hafiz Ibne Hajr R.A. has written in Fathul Baari that spreading means to express and the purpose is to spread Salaam among the people so the people revive the Sunnat of Nabi S.A.W. If the responding would be in low voice then there will be no spreading, and the purpose of Salaam will not be achieved. Furthermore, there is also apprehension of bad expectation in responding to the Salaam in low voice, therefore, it is necessary to respond to the Salaam also in loud voice, however, this loud voice should be moderate, neither the voice be so sharp that the person hearing it feels difficulty and ill-feeling not the voice be so low that the person making Salaam or the persons listening can’t hear it.
Allaamah ‘Aini R.A. has written with reference to Imaam Nawwawi R.A. that the minimum level in making and responding to the Salaam is that the related person hears it and the Salaam short of this is not enough. (عمدۃ القاری: ۱۵؍۳۴۶)
Allaamah Qurtubi R.A. writes that if someone responds and doesn’t make it heard by others then it’s not the response to the Salaam. (الجامع لأحکام القرآن:۵؍۳۰۳)
2) It’s clear that when you respond to the Salaam in such a low voice that it’s not heard by the person making Salaam then you will be sinner due to leaving the Wajib.
Please see the references:
عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم :لا تدخلون الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم ؟ أفشوا السلام بينكم (صحیح مسلم : کتاب الایمان،۹۳)
عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ. فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَقَالَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « عَشْرٌ ». ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ. فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَجَلَسَ فَقَالَ « عِشْرُونَ ». ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَجَلَسَ فَقَالَ « ثَلاَثُونَ ».(سنن ابی داؤد:باب کیف السلام ،۵۱۹۷)
الإفشاء، الإظہار والمراد نَشْرُ السلام بین ا لناس؛ لیُحْیُوا سنتہ۔(فتح الباری: ۱۱؍۲۰)
وأقل السلام ابتداء ً ورداًّ أن یُسمِعَ صاحبہ، ولا یجزئہ دون ذلک۔ (عمدۃ القاری: ۱۵؍۳۴۶)
فکذلک إذا أجاب بجوابٍ لم یُسمَعْ منہ، فلیس بجوابٍ۔ (الجامع لأحکام القرآن:۵؍۳۰۳)
قال في شرح الشرعۃ: واعلم أنہم قالوا: إن السلام سنۃ، وإسماعہ مستحب وجوابہ: أي ردہ فرض کفایۃ وإسماع ردہ واجب، بحیث لو لم یسمعہ لا یسقط ہٰذا الفرض عن السامع حتی قیل: لو کان المسلم أصم یجب علی الراد أن یحرک شفتیہ ویریہ بحیث لو لم یکن أصم لسمعہ۔ (شامي، کتاب الحظر والإباحۃ / باب الاستبراء ۹؍۵۹۳ زکریا)
3) Please clarify what do you mean by the Masnoon Du’aas and ask again.
واللہ اعلم بالصواب