Following mosques in search of a beautiful voice

Q: What is the ruling on following mosques in search of the imam’s beautiful voice, given the humility and presence of heart that results from it?

A: The more apparent view—and Allah knows best—is that there is no harm in doing so if the intention is to use it to help oneself achieve humility in prayer, to find comfort in prayer, and to settle one’s heart; for not every voice is comforting. If his purpose in going to the voice of so-and-so or so-and-so is the desire for good and the perfection of humility in his prayer, then there is no harm in that. Rather, he may be thanked for this and rewarded according to his intention. A person may find humility behind one imam and not behind another due to the difference between the two recitations and the two prayers. If his purpose in going to the distant mosque is to listen to his recitation because of the beauty of his voice, to benefit from it, and to find humility in his prayer—not merely for the sake of whim and wandering, but with the intention of benefit and knowledge, and the intention of humility in prayer—then there is no harm in that.
It is established in the authentic hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . So if his intention is also to increase the steps, then this is also a sound purpose.