The Ruling on Video Recording

Question:
The first message in this episode came to us from Kassala, Sudan, sent by one of the brothers from there. He says: Abu 'Ammar Muhammad Nur Mahmud. Our brother began his message by saying: We are the group of Anصار al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah in Kassala, Sudan. We have a video device that we used to film those affected by drought and desertification in order to solicit charity from the generous to help them. It has already served its purpose, and they received good funds from various Arab countries, which improved their circumstances. Then we used it to record the lectures held by the Salafi preachers of the group, as well as the lectures, conferences, and creedal weeks that the group holds there. This is because this device is present in households, but it is used for corrupt matters. So we began lending the lectures to the households that possess this device so that they might benefit from it and from the da'wah through the recorded tapes. Our question is: What is the ruling in Islam if this device is used to show those lectures in the presence of women? You know that the lecturer is a man. May Allah reward you with good?

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows:
There is no doubt that recording lectures and scientific seminars via tapes has great benefit and great utility for people; because they hear the voice of someone they know, and they benefit from it more than from merely written material. However, regarding films, because they contain images, it should not be used due to the lack of necessity. The tape that preserves the voice is sufficient, and praise be to Allah.
As for filming women in films, its harm is great and its danger is immense, so that is not permissible. Rather, the known tape that preserves the voice without an image should be used; because the intended purpose is achieved by it, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you! They use this filming—Your Eminence—to clarify the conditions that some people have reached, such as famine and lack of rain?
The Shaykh: That has ended. They mentioned that it has ended, praise be to Allah, so there is no need for it to continue after that. Yes.
The presenter: But what if it is found in other areas?
The Shaykh: We hope that there is no harm in that, but it is not a necessity; because describing the conditions of the affected people with words is sufficient. So, in my opinion, there is no necessity for filming. Rather, speaking about them and explaining their needs, that they were afflicted with such and such, and afflicted with such and such, is sufficient, if Allah wills. Because the warning regarding image-making is of great and dangerous magnitude, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was severe regarding image-making, so it is not resorted to except for extreme necessity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who gives it, and he cursed the one who tattoos and the one who gets tattooed, and he cursed the image-maker, and he said: Thus he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. And he also said (peace and blessings be upon him): So this indicates the severity of the warning and that this is among the greatest of major sins. Therefore, it is not permissible to resort to it except for a necessity where there is no alternative. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you. So, in this case, does describing with words suffice?
The Shaykh: It is sufficient. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.