The Method of Asking Questions and the Ruling on Recording Lectures and Writing in Mosques

Question:
Regarding this question, I say to the brothers: pay attention to it and understand that we have come here to learn knowledge from the Honorable Shaykh and to purify our intentions.
Some of the youth—this is actually a questioner. When some questions came to me, this question came and caught my attention, as if there is precision in it. He said: Some youth put questions to the shaykhs and say, for example, "What is your opinion of the one who does such-and-such?" without naming him. Then, after the Shaykh answers by criticizing this action, or declaring it an innovation, or declaring it ignorance, they publish the fatwa saying, "Shaykh So-and-So is an innovator, and Shaykh So-and-So is ignorant." In addition to that, many questions came to me. In fact, some people inquire about video camera recording or photographic recording and the like, but what is the ruling on recording lectures? Then some people ask a question as if they are saying to the Shaykh, "Say it is forbidden so that I can say something and we can have good hopes." But some of them asked me a question here in writing: "What is the ruling on writing the words of Allah the Exalted in the mihrab located here in the mihrab: 'We will turn you toward a qiblah that you will be pleased with'?" As if he is saying, "O Shaykh, give the fatwa so that they know."
We want our Shaykh to teach us the Shari'ah methodology and what is required of us in the method of asking and in having a good intention. May Allah grant you success.

Answer:
As for the one who is asked answering the question generally without specifying anyone, and saying, "This action is forbidden" or "This action is lawful," this is obligatory for the one who is asked to clarify what is lawful and what is forbidden. As for the one who takes the words of the answerer and attributes them to a specific person, this is lying. This is lying to the answerer. This is a lie. The answerer did not name a person, but he says, "What is the matter with a group of people who say such-and-such?" The answer regarding things, actions, and behaviors requires clarification so that the matter does not remain ambiguous for people.
As for the individuals, those who attribute this answer to them and say that the answerer meant them have lied to him, and their reckoning is with Allah the Mighty and Majestic. We do not want the individuals; we only want the clarification of the Shari'ah ruling on actions and statements only.
This is one aspect. The second aspect is the issue of recording. Answers have been issued on this by individual shaykhs and by groups of shaykhs, and they are available. They are available, printed, and circulated. So the one who asks should refer to them, refer to them, and know the truth in that, if Allah wills.
As for the issue of writing in mosques in general, in the mihrab and elsewhere, it is disliked. The scholars have stated that writings that distract the worshippers should not be written in the mosque, and mosques should not be decorated. Rather, mosques should be built with appropriate construction that has no decoration, no exaggeration, no engravings, and no writings. Mosques should be stripped of these things. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.