Is it permissible for the imam of the mosque to play recorded tapes containing seminars, lectures, and sermons by some shaykhs and preachers for the congregation in the mosque, if the congregation is not affected by the hadiths or sermons he delivers to them because they have become accustomed to them? We ask for guidance on this.
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The questioner : With Allah’s blessing, we begin this episode with a message from a listener of the program, Sa'd al-Dawasi from Wadi al-Dawasir. He says in this question: Is it permissible for the imam of the mosque to play recorded tapes containing seminars, lectures, and sermons by some shaykhs and preachers for the congregation in the mosque, if the congregation is not affected by the hadiths or sermons he delivers to them because they have become accustomed to them? We ask for guidance on this?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this is that we say: Among the blessings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) upon us in this age is that He has facilitated for us these great means for preserving knowledge and spreading it among the Muslim community, such as printing, copying, and recording tapes, through which Allah has benefited many of His creation. This is among the signs of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) indicating His mercy toward His servants. And this recording that occurs points to the perfection of the power of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), where He revealed to His servants and taught them this strange, unusual, and beneficial craft. So we must thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) for this blessing so that He may increase us in His favor, for Allah says:[Ibrahim 14:7] And among the blessings of Allah (the Exalted) upon us in these tapes is that a person can hear the voice of a scholar he wishes to hear, even if there are great distances between them, or even if that scholar has died. And they said:
"The writing remains for a time after its writer, and the writer of the writing is buried under the ground"
And we say:
"The voice remains for a time after its speaker, and the owner of the voice is buried under the ground"
So regarding this imam who brings these tapes to play for his congregation, we say there is nothing wrong with that, because what is said directly in the mosques is permissible to be delivered in the mosques via a medium, as long as the speech is beneficial and useful. However, the better and more preferable option, without a doubt, is for the one who speaks to be the one who sees that there is benefit for the congregation in what he says, because his own speech has a stronger impact on the congregation than hearing a voice on a recording. And because the congregation might disperse if they hear this, based on the fact that this tape is available in places where it is sold, so a person might say, "I will buy it and listen to it, even if I am in my car," or the like. In that case, this imam has not brought anything new. So I say the more preferable option is for him to be the one who delivers the lessons, with what Allah has opened up for him, if he has knowledge, or by reading from the books of scholars whose knowledge and trustworthiness are relied upon, to the congregation. This is the more preferable and better option. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this is that we say: Among the blessings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) upon us in this age is that He has facilitated for us these great means for preserving knowledge and spreading it among the Muslim community, such as printing, copying, and recording tapes, through which Allah has benefited many of His creation. This is among the signs of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) indicating His mercy toward His servants. And this recording that occurs points to the perfection of the power of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), where He revealed to His servants and taught them this strange, unusual, and beneficial craft. So we must thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) for this blessing so that He may increase us in His favor, for Allah says:
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
وإذ تأذن ربكم لئن شكرتم لأزيدنكم ولئن كفرتم إن عذابي لشديد"The writing remains for a time after its writer, and the writer of the writing is buried under the ground"
And we say:
"The voice remains for a time after its speaker, and the owner of the voice is buried under the ground"
So regarding this imam who brings these tapes to play for his congregation, we say there is nothing wrong with that, because what is said directly in the mosques is permissible to be delivered in the mosques via a medium, as long as the speech is beneficial and useful. However, the better and more preferable option, without a doubt, is for the one who speaks to be the one who sees that there is benefit for the congregation in what he says, because his own speech has a stronger impact on the congregation than hearing a voice on a recording. And because the congregation might disperse if they hear this, based on the fact that this tape is available in places where it is sold, so a person might say, "I will buy it and listen to it, even if I am in my car," or the like. In that case, this imam has not brought anything new. So I say the more preferable option is for him to be the one who delivers the lessons, with what Allah has opened up for him, if he has knowledge, or by reading from the books of scholars whose knowledge and trustworthiness are relied upon, to the congregation. This is the more preferable and better option. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.