Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Which one is prioritized, sermons on TV where thousands are able to tune in and watch it or giving sermons in mosques?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In our opinion, if someone is highly respected and influential where thousands of people would want to attend his sermon, then it is prioritized to give it on TV so that it would benefit a larger audience. As an example, in the 60s until the 90s there was a renowned commentary scholar al-Syeikh Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sya’rawi where his sermons are something the people of Egypt would look forward to due to his vast knowledge and style of speech in terms of the commentary of the Quran.
Consequently, if he is not someone as described above, then in our opinion it is prioritized for him to give sermons in mosques for the great blessings of going to the mosque. Among them are:
- The blessing of going to a mosque
- The blessing of being in a mosque
- The blessing of performing congregational prayer and rawatib prayer
- The blessing of attending a class or sermon
- The blessing of sitting and waiting for a sermon with the intention of iktikaf
- The blessing of cultivating silaturrahim among the Muslim ummah
- The blessing of learning or barakay al-talaqqi
Hence, we suggest the sermon or religious lessons are conducted in mosques where the congregation will attend it, as has been practised by the previous salaf al-soleh. The Prophet PBUH and his companions and the tabi’in, as well as the 4 imam of the madhhab who made the mosque as the learning centre for Muslims.
We are also certain that mosques that organized sermons and religious lessons are included as those who enliven the mosque. So true is the statement of Allah SWT:
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّـهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَـٰئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ
“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.”
Surah al-Taubah (18)
May Allah SWT made us be among those who love sermons and religious lessons. Then, we will be eligible to be among those who attain paradise as stated in a hadith from Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ، وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ؛ إلَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ السَّكِينَةُ، وَغَشِيَتْهُمْ الرَّحْمَةُ، وَ حَفَّتهُمُ المَلاَئِكَة، وَذَكَرَهُمْ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ،
“And whoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that sakeenah (tranquility) descends upon them, and mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them amongst those who are with Him.”
Sahih Muslim (2699)
Lastly, may Allah SWT bless us with the determination to go and seek knowledge wherever it may be, especially in mosques. Amin.