The use of the loudspeaker in the adhan is an example of the maslakh al-mursalah (unrestricted public interest), unlike the iqamah for prayer using loudspeakers.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Now, I am mentioning an example that we raised in this trip in several places. This loudspeaker that the mu'adhdhins use today, you are familiar with it.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, they use it for the adhan, for the iqamah, and for broadcasting the recitation of the Qur'an, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : I say that its use in the adhan is permissible because it realizes a legal objective. It is recommended that the mu'adhdhin have a loud voice and that the mu'adhdhin be in a high place to achieve this legal interest, which is conveying the voice to the farthest place. There are hadiths that encourage this, because the voice, no matter how far it reaches from stone or brick, will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection. You surely remember all these things.
The questioner : But I have a problem with some of it.
The Shaykh : Well, I am just asking you. What is the problem about?
The questioner : The problem is that it is obligatory for whoever hears the call to come to it.
The Shaykh : That problem, may Allah reward you.
The questioner : I think this issue has not been raised here.
The Shaykh : No, it has not been raised... I am telling him a story now, but he says he has a problem, so my speech has not yet ended. What did the problem focus on?
The questioner : Continue, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : So perhaps the problem will be about the point that I am circling around more, or there is no problem, as I hope. In that case, you would say you have a problem with another point that I did not circle around.
The questioner : We are now learning a method.
The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah reward you. The point is that I distinguish between broadcasting the mu'adhdhin's voice with this new device, which I see as a legitimate interest based on what I mentioned earlier.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : And I asked you, do you remember what I answered you directly? You said to me, "I have a problem," instead of answering me with "yes." I remember these things you are referring to, that it is recommended for the mu'adhdhin to have a loud voice and to be in a high place, and so on. Is this correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Beautiful. Now, they do not distinguish between a mu'adhdhin in this broadcast and the muqim. So here I say: does the muqim call the iqamah inside the mosque, or on the roof of the mosque, or on the minaret when they introduced it? Where is the Sunnah for the muqim to establish the iqamah?
The questioner : Inside the mosque.
The Shaykh : Inside the mosque. Was this legislation for a wisdom, even if we do not know it, or was it, God forbid, mere nonsense?
The questioner : Far from that.
The Shaykh : Far from that. Good. So now, I see that broadcasting the iqamah as many people do is an innovation. This is what I wanted to reach. Why? Because this occurrence is a single occurrence related to the adhan. One device is related to the adhan and is related to the iqamah. We say that in the adhan it is permissible because it realizes a legitimate interest, whereas in the iqamah it does not realize a legitimate interest. Are you with me on this?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, so this means it is a means that is not prescribed, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Because it contradicts the Sunnah.
The questioner : The iqamah.
The Shaykh : The iqamah. Yes, this is an example of the topic we quoted from Ibn Taymiyyah: if the reason for adopting a means existed in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but he did not adopt it despite the existence of the reason, then it is not permissible for us to create a means, because that reason existed in the time of the Messenger of Allah. Is this clear?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, his example regarding the Old Covenant is the adhan for the two festivals. His example now is broadcasting the iqamah with a loudspeaker, because this means was possible at that time, just as it was done with the adhan, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : So, since he did not do it, it indicates that this difference or this distinction between the form of broadcasting the adhan and the form of broadcasting the iqamah must remain as it was in the first era, and we should not equate them today because of the existence of this modern means. I think the speech is going well up to here.
The questioner : Yes, it is going well.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, they use it for the adhan, for the iqamah, and for broadcasting the recitation of the Qur'an, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : I say that its use in the adhan is permissible because it realizes a legal objective. It is recommended that the mu'adhdhin have a loud voice and that the mu'adhdhin be in a high place to achieve this legal interest, which is conveying the voice to the farthest place. There are hadiths that encourage this, because the voice, no matter how far it reaches from stone or brick, will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection. You surely remember all these things.
The questioner : But I have a problem with some of it.
The Shaykh : Well, I am just asking you. What is the problem about?
The questioner : The problem is that it is obligatory for whoever hears the call to come to it.
The Shaykh : That problem, may Allah reward you.
The questioner : I think this issue has not been raised here.
The Shaykh : No, it has not been raised... I am telling him a story now, but he says he has a problem, so my speech has not yet ended. What did the problem focus on?
The questioner : Continue, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : So perhaps the problem will be about the point that I am circling around more, or there is no problem, as I hope. In that case, you would say you have a problem with another point that I did not circle around.
The questioner : We are now learning a method.
The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah reward you. The point is that I distinguish between broadcasting the mu'adhdhin's voice with this new device, which I see as a legitimate interest based on what I mentioned earlier.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : And I asked you, do you remember what I answered you directly? You said to me, "I have a problem," instead of answering me with "yes." I remember these things you are referring to, that it is recommended for the mu'adhdhin to have a loud voice and to be in a high place, and so on. Is this correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Beautiful. Now, they do not distinguish between a mu'adhdhin in this broadcast and the muqim. So here I say: does the muqim call the iqamah inside the mosque, or on the roof of the mosque, or on the minaret when they introduced it? Where is the Sunnah for the muqim to establish the iqamah?
The questioner : Inside the mosque.
The Shaykh : Inside the mosque. Was this legislation for a wisdom, even if we do not know it, or was it, God forbid, mere nonsense?
The questioner : Far from that.
The Shaykh : Far from that. Good. So now, I see that broadcasting the iqamah as many people do is an innovation. This is what I wanted to reach. Why? Because this occurrence is a single occurrence related to the adhan. One device is related to the adhan and is related to the iqamah. We say that in the adhan it is permissible because it realizes a legitimate interest, whereas in the iqamah it does not realize a legitimate interest. Are you with me on this?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, so this means it is a means that is not prescribed, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Because it contradicts the Sunnah.
The questioner : The iqamah.
The Shaykh : The iqamah. Yes, this is an example of the topic we quoted from Ibn Taymiyyah: if the reason for adopting a means existed in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but he did not adopt it despite the existence of the reason, then it is not permissible for us to create a means, because that reason existed in the time of the Messenger of Allah. Is this clear?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Okay, his example regarding the Old Covenant is the adhan for the two festivals. His example now is broadcasting the iqamah with a loudspeaker, because this means was possible at that time, just as it was done with the adhan, correct?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : So, since he did not do it, it indicates that this difference or this distinction between the form of broadcasting the adhan and the form of broadcasting the iqamah must remain as it was in the first era, and we should not equate them today because of the existence of this modern means. I think the speech is going well up to here.
The questioner : Yes, it is going well.