What is the ruling on broadcasting the iqamah and the imam’s loud recitation using a loudspeaker outside the mosque?
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The Shaykh : Also, I must point out something I have felt more strongly here than in other countries. It is that the adhan, which Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) prescribed through our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the mosque, was done for a specific wisdom. He distinguished between the iqamah and the adhan, as we mentioned. Therefore, it is not permissible to broadcast the iqamah with a loudspeaker outside the mosque. Likewise, it is not permissible to broadcast the imam’s recitation in the loud prayers, especially on Friday, outside the mosque. All these matters arose with the emergence of these means. They must be used within the limits of the Shari'ah, and one must not expand their use. Making people hear the imam’s recitation of the Qur'an while he is reading it is a cause of harm, and we have experienced this in many forms. A man is praying in his home, praying a voluntary prayer, such as the sunnah before the obligatory prayer. Suddenly, the iqamah is called, and the mu'adhdhin’s voice booms out, making it audible to those far away, just like the adhan. This is contrary to the Shari'ah. Making people hear the recitation of the Qur'an when they are not prepared to listen to it is problematic. They may be in a state where it is not appropriate for the Qur'an to be recited to them in that condition. All of this is an undesirable expansion. I advise that whoever is an imam should not use the loudspeaker except for the adhan. He should establish a good practice by appearing with his body, rather than hiding under the minbar or in a special room or the like. Yes?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The Friday khutbah is likewise not to be broadcast except within the limits of need, and only within the mosque. It has become a trend of the modern age that the imam must use a loudspeaker, even if there are only a few people praying behind him. Have you noticed this or not? So why is this? This is not a case where a loudspeaker should be used at all, because his voice is sufficient for those in one, two, or three rows behind him. However, if we imagine a very large mosque where those in the last rows cannot hear the imam’s voice, there is no objection to placing a loudspeaker there, but not in the front rows. All of this requires new organization if we were to think in terms of the fiqh of the Sunnah. The occasion arose, and I reminded you of this. Reminders benefit the believers.
Please proceed.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The Friday khutbah is likewise not to be broadcast except within the limits of need, and only within the mosque. It has become a trend of the modern age that the imam must use a loudspeaker, even if there are only a few people praying behind him. Have you noticed this or not? So why is this? This is not a case where a loudspeaker should be used at all, because his voice is sufficient for those in one, two, or three rows behind him. However, if we imagine a very large mosque where those in the last rows cannot hear the imam’s voice, there is no objection to placing a loudspeaker there, but not in the front rows. All of this requires new organization if we were to think in terms of the fiqh of the Sunnah. The occasion arose, and I reminded you of this. Reminders benefit the believers.
Please proceed.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
