Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assallamualaykum, warahmantullahi, wabarakatuhu.

My brother in Islam, I would like to know that, is it allowed to pray with an Imam who lead prayer in radio or TV?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Pray with Imam on T.V or radio

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one is physically praying behind an imam who is being filmed or relayed through the radio or television, there is absolutely no harm. The prayer is absolutely valid.

But if the prayer being led by an imam is being prayed say in Makkah and being relayed on TV or radio worldwide, it would not be permissible for a person to pray along with the imam in a distant place simply by hearing him on the radio or watching in on television… (say in Jeddah, or Bombay, or New York, etc.).

The prayer of the person is only valid if he is physically present in one of the rows of worshippers praying behind the imam leading the prayer.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan