Ramadhan 1447 (Day 9)

Avoid Video Recording Tarawih Sessions Imam An-Nawawi rahimahullah mentions in his explanation of Sahih Muslim, under the Hadith of Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri - من رأى منكم منكرا: ((قال العلماء رضي الله عنهم: ولا يسقط عن المكلف الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر لكونه لا يفيد في ظنه بل يجب عليه فعله ، فإن الذكرى تنفع المؤمنين. وقد قدمنا أن الذي عليه الأمر والنهي لا القبول)) “The scholars (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil is not lifted from a responsible person simply because he thinks it will not have any effect. Rather, he must still carry it out, for indeed the reminder benefits the believers. As we mentioned before, what is required from a person is to give the command and the prohibition — not to ensure that it is accepted.” Based on this, we present eight reasons why video-recording the Tarāwīḥ prayers should be avoided: 1⃣ Creating images of animate beings is regarded as a major sin by many scholars. 2⃣ This is a blessed month in which good deeds carry multiplied reward — and likewise, sins are more serious. 3⃣ Having a camera fixed on you throughout the prayer can affect your khushūʿ (focus) and ikhlāṣ (sincerity). Imagine a respected person entering the room while you are praying — wouldn’t you naturally become more alert? Wouldn’t you perhaps beautify your recitation a little more? If one does not struggle against the nafs, that heightened awareness and beautification could slip into riyāʾ (showing off). So what about praying while knowing that hundreds, perhaps thousands, may later watch you? Would that not influence your mindset as you begin the prayer? Listen to what Sheikh Fawzan states ⤵️ https://t.me/salafirecords/1563 4⃣ Among the first to be cast into the Hellfire will be a qārī who recited the Qurʾān for praise. Are any of us safe from this danger? Even great Companions feared hypocrisy for themselves. It is reported that thirty Companions of the Prophet ﷺ all feared nifāq within themselves. Salamah ibn Dīnār رحمه الله said: “Hide your good deeds just as you hide your bad deeds.” If that was their level of concern, what about us? Should we not question our sincerity? Is there truly a need to record Tarāwīḥ? 5⃣ By broadcasting yourself, you expose yourself to countless eyes — and not all may wish you well. It only takes one evil eye to cause harm. May Allah protect us all. 6⃣ Consider how much precious time in these blessed nights may be lost in editing, designing thumbnails, uploading, and managing recordings. 7⃣ You may set a bad precedent that others may later follow. 8⃣ Insisting on recording can create division and marginalisation. Those who sincerely believe video-recording is impermissible may feel they are participating in sin simply by attending. Some scholars have stated that one should not willingly attend gatherings of wrongdoing without necessity, and that observing a sin without objecting carries serious consequences. The masjid — the House of Allah — is not ours; it belongs to Allah. It should be a place where all feel welcome and able to worship comfortably. By insisting on recording, a segment of the community may feel excluded. Even if they are a minority, their presence matters. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymin rahimahullah said: "It is not permissible for a person to take a photograph of someone except with his permission, even if he knows that this person holds the view that taking photographs is permissible.” [Sharḥ Bulūgh, v.15, p.329] If this applies to someone who believes it is permissible, then what about the one who believes it is impermissible? The masjid should strive for a balanced approach that keeps its doors open to all. {تعالوا إلى كلمة سواء بيننا} “Come to a common word between us.” A balanced and practical solution would be to avoid video recording and rely on audio recordings instead. If producing a video is absolutely necessary, then display pages of the Qur’an in the video rather than recording people.