What is your opinion on the echo that occurs in the loudspeakers in mosques?
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Question:
May Allah reward you with good. This question is actually about the echo in some of the microphones found in mosques. Honorable Shaykh, it causes disturbance to some of the worshippers, so what is your opinion on it?
Answer:
The truth is that loudspeakers have a great benefit, for they convey the takbir to the worshippers and convey the imam's recitation to them, no matter how many rows there are. They are a blessing from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) if used within proper limits. However, some imams (may Allah guide them) exaggerate in their use of the microphone. There is an exaggeration there that is unnecessary. This is because he puts his mouth into the microphone, or he gets very close to it, or some of them even lean over it or turn toward it if it is beside him, and he puts his mouth in it. The sound rises to a level that is beyond what is needed and exceeds what is necessary, which disturbs the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) and makes it difficult for them. This is because when the sound is amplified, it affects their hearing. It also disturbs them. The use of the loudspeaker should be to the extent of the need, and not exceed the need. It should not be a matter of showing off. Some of them also turn on the speakers or horns of the microphones facing the streets and the neighboring houses, which disturbs the people. It disturbs the people with its sound, and perhaps there is a mosque nearby, in which case it disturbs the worshippers in the other neighboring mosques. There is no need for this, because what is required of him is to make the ma'mum hear him. As for making the streets and houses hear him and disturbing the other mosques, this is prohibited by the Shari'ah, so it is not permissible. Also, some of them add something to the microphone called an echo, which increases the volume and causes the sound to repeat and echo after the imam speaks. There is no need for this, and it disturbs the ma'mum and makes it difficult for them. It is obligatory to leave these things and use the loudspeaker to the extent of the need and to the extent that the ma'mum can hear, without any increase in the volume or the addition of an echo or anything else that is unnecessary or harmful to the people.
May Allah reward you with good. This question is actually about the echo in some of the microphones found in mosques. Honorable Shaykh, it causes disturbance to some of the worshippers, so what is your opinion on it?
Answer:
The truth is that loudspeakers have a great benefit, for they convey the takbir to the worshippers and convey the imam's recitation to them, no matter how many rows there are. They are a blessing from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) if used within proper limits. However, some imams (may Allah guide them) exaggerate in their use of the microphone. There is an exaggeration there that is unnecessary. This is because he puts his mouth into the microphone, or he gets very close to it, or some of them even lean over it or turn toward it if it is beside him, and he puts his mouth in it. The sound rises to a level that is beyond what is needed and exceeds what is necessary, which disturbs the ma'mum (those praying behind the imam) and makes it difficult for them. This is because when the sound is amplified, it affects their hearing. It also disturbs them. The use of the loudspeaker should be to the extent of the need, and not exceed the need. It should not be a matter of showing off. Some of them also turn on the speakers or horns of the microphones facing the streets and the neighboring houses, which disturbs the people. It disturbs the people with its sound, and perhaps there is a mosque nearby, in which case it disturbs the worshippers in the other neighboring mosques. There is no need for this, because what is required of him is to make the ma'mum hear him. As for making the streets and houses hear him and disturbing the other mosques, this is prohibited by the Shari'ah, so it is not permissible. Also, some of them add something to the microphone called an echo, which increases the volume and causes the sound to repeat and echo after the imam speaks. There is no need for this, and it disturbs the ma'mum and makes it difficult for them. It is obligatory to leave these things and use the loudspeaker to the extent of the need and to the extent that the ma'mum can hear, without any increase in the volume or the addition of an echo or anything else that is unnecessary or harmful to the people.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 6521- ما رأيكم في الصدى الذي يكون في مكبرات الصوت في المساجد؟ - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.