A circular was issued in our region by the Ministry of Awqaf to turn off the external loudspeakers, but the imams opposed this on the grounds that the people do not accept it.

The questioner : Your Eminence, a decision or circular was issued in our region by the Awqaf to turn off the external loudspeakers, but the imams found opposition from the congregation; many of the congregation oppose it. So the imams are in a dilemma. What is the solution, Your Eminence?

The Shaykh : Yes, may Allah reward you. The imams must obey Allah and His Messenger, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among them. As long as they have been ordered to do so, it is obligatory for them to execute the order, and they should not concern themselves with the people. Moreover, the one who demands that the external microphones be turned on is mistaken, because these external microphones disturb the worshippers around them and the people in the surrounding mosques, and this causes harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this when he went out to his Companions one day or one night and found them raising their voices in prayer, so he said: He considered this to be a nuisance and said: The harm in this is confirmed, and there is no doubt about it. We have even heard that in some nearby mosques, when the recitation of the other mosque is better than the recitation of their imam, they listen to it and follow it, until some of them, I heard, when the neighboring mosque said "and not those who go astray," he said "Ameen." So the complete harm in this is clear. Therefore, the correct course, without doubt, is to turn them off, even if the Ministry of Awqaf did not order it, because of the harm involved. We have only heard of this recently. What is the benefit of raising the recitation in prayer on the minbars? What is the benefit? Except that it disturbs the mosques around it and disturbs the worshippers in their homes. In the homes, women are praying and it disturbs them. Also, in the days of summer, it disturbs the children sleeping on the roofs or in the courtyards. Without doubt, turning them off is the correct course, and the one who turns them on and the people are harmed by it is contrary to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.