Is It Sinful to Delay Responding to a Text Message?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
To what extent should I expect people to text back within a few hours or the same day? I see this as a social necessity; however, a scholar told me not to expect replies so quickly. I don’t understand people who don’t reply after days since their excuse is they were busy, while replying could have taken less than 10 mins. These people often have tens of messages that go unread and without reply, which I see as blameworthy since you are causing delay to others if they request information from you and can cause confusion to the person who texted. Please correct any of my wrong views on reply time and those who don’t reply in a timely manner. Is this Islamically permissible? It removes trust from a person and causes delays for others.
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your punctuality and excellence in responding to others’ messages, but I feel that you must make excuses for people who delay their response.
Texting
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Nothing is placed on the Scale that is heavier than good character. Indeed the person with good character will have attained the rank of the person of fasting and prayer.” [Tirmidhi]
Responding to someone’s message in due time is of good character and I remind myself and others to take people’s feelings into consideration. However, not responding quickly is not necessarily sinful. On the receiving end, one should make excuses for them as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us.
He said (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Overlook the slips of respected people.” [Bukhari; Abu Dawud; Nasa’i]
And Hamdun al-Qassar, one of the great early Muslims, said, “If a friend among your friends errs, make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves.” [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
Your Own Faults
I encourage you to take a hard look at yourself, as believers are mirrors of one another. Make a list of your faults and work on eliminating them one by one. Start with the haram and then move on to the makruh (disliked actions). This is what Allah has asked of us. There are more tips here:
Remembering Our Own Faults
Know Your Own Faults
Please see these links as well:
Making 70 Excuses for Others in Islam – A Key Duty of Brotherhood
What Is the Ruling of Purposely Not Replying to Chats for a Valid Reason?
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
