Islam Question and Answer - Is it permissible for the khateeb to use a projector during the Jumu‘ah khutbah?

Thu 13/7/1434 - 23/5/2013

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Knowledge & Propagation » Inviting others to Islam » Means of Dawah

Is it permissible for the khateeb to use a projector during the Jumu‘ah khutbah?

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Is there any shar‘i objection to using modern means of giving a presentation, such as a computer screen or projector, as a tool for the khateeb during the Jumu‘ah khutbah, with no sound that would drown out the voice of the khateeb? The purpose of the Jumu‘ah khutbah is to remind, exhort and teach the people, and to discuss with the people their religious and daily affairs that are related to their environment and society. These tools will help to convey the khutbah in a more practical way to the worshippers, and help them to focus on the subject matter, whilst paying attention to all shar‘i aspects in the means used. Microphones and loudspeakers help to convey the khateeb’s voice to a larger number of people, so they are audio tools; by the same token projectors and screens are visual tools. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) communicated to his Companions by means of gestures to make ideas clearer. One time we see him (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) holding his forefinger and middle finger close together; on another occasion we see him (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) drawing three lines on the ground to represent man, his lifespan and his hope, as is narrated in Muslim. These were simple matters at that time but they helped to clarify an idea or give a clearer image to the minds of the listeners.
I hope that you can answer my question.

Praise be to Allaah.

The one who thinks that Islam does not approve of technical development and modern inventions is mistaken. Using the Internet, satellite channels and modern means of communication provide evidence for what we stated above. But that is conditional on it being in accordance with sharee‘ah and not involving anything haraam that leads to negative consequences. What we think is that using a projector in the Jumu‘ah khutbah is not in accordance with sharee‘ah, for a number of reasons:

The Jumu‘ah khutbah has a certain status and importance, as Allah called it in His Book “remembrance of Allaah”, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!”

[al-Jumu‘ah 62:9].

Using the projector as mentioned would detract from its status or take it away altogether, and is not suitable because the khutbah is remembrance of Allah, may He be exalted.

The Sunnah in the Jumu‘ah khutbah is to keep it short, but using a projector and so on would make it long, which is contrary to the Prophet's guidance.

Abu Waa’il said: ‘Ammaar [ibn Yaasir] addressed us and he spoke briefly but eloquently. When he came down (from the minbar), we said: O Abu’l-Yaqzaan, you spoke eloquently but briefly, would that you had made it longer. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace and Allah be upon him) say: “A man’s lengthening his prayer and shortening his khutbah is a sign of his understanding (of religion), so make your prayers lengthy and your khutbahs brief, for there is charm in eloquent speech.”

Narrated by Muslim, 869.

See also the answer to question no. 122701

The projector may be visible to some people and not others, and some of the worshippers may be deprived, such as the women and those who are sitting in a place where they cannot see the projector which, in this case, will be part of the khutbah and complementary to the words of the khateeb.

In order to use this equipment, the lights have to be turned off and the lights of the projector have to be turned on. This will require some of the worshippers present to move, either to turn the lights off or turn the projector on, and they will be distracted by the operation of the projector or sounds coming from the machine, which is contrary to the rulings on Jumu‘ah. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade touching the pebbles during the khutbah and ruled that the one who does that deliberately will be deprived of the reward for Jumu‘ah. In fact he forbade playing with the pebbles which were usually on the ground in the mosque: “whoever touches the pebbles has engaged in an idle action.” Narrated by Muslim (857) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah.

What we think is that it is not permissible to use a projector during the Jumu‘ah khutbah. But in lessons, exhortations and lectures, the matter is broad in scope and there is nothing wrong with using projectors in those cases.

And Allah knows best.

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