Moving Between Mosques in Search of a Good Voice

Q: What is the ruling on moving between mosques? Is it permissible to go to a different mosque every night in search of a good voice?

A: I am not aware of any harm in this, though I lean toward the view that one should stick to the mosque where his heart finds peace and he feels humility; for he may go to another mosque and not find there the same humility and tranquility he found in the first. So, based on the principles of Islamic law, I hold that if he finds an imam in whom he feels reassured and in whose prayer and recitation he feels humility, he should stick with him or pray with him frequently. The matter is clear and there is no harm in it, praise be to Allah. If he moves to another imam, we do not see any harm in that, provided his intention is good and he is not seeking something else, such as showing off or the like. However, the closer view, according to the principles of Islamic law, is that he should stick to the mosque where there is humility, tranquility, and good recitation, or where the number of worshippers increases because of him. If he prays there and the worshippers increase because of him, they take his example, or because he benefits them and there is no one else there to benefit them and remind them at times, or because he delivers a lesson to them, meaning that his presence brings them benefit. If this is the case, then being in this mosque where the benefit comes from him or from someone else, or being in the mosque that is closer to the humility of his heart, tranquility, and his enjoyment of prayer there; all of this is desirable.