Is it permissible to show videos in a masjid prayer hall to encourage public to give sadaqa?

A charity organisation in UK attends Masajids around the country and encourages the public to make donations by showing videos in the Masjid prayer hall/Jamat Khana of people’s sufferings. During the video appeal people’s faces can be seen. Scholars condone this by being present in such a gathering.

As a lay person this irks my conscience as I am unsure whether this constitutes picture making and whether such videos are permissible? It gives the feel that one is watching TV in the House of Allah. In addition, I would like to know what’s the prophetic way of raising money for charitable causes?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

Showing videos in the masjid prayer hall is in clear violation of the etiquettes that must be observed in the masjid[1]. Rasūlullāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمَسَاجِدَ لَا تَصْلُحُ لِشَيْءٍ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَوْلِ، وَلَا الْقَذَرِ إِنَّمَا هِيَ لِذِكْرِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَالصَّلَاةِ وَقِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ

“Verily, these masjids…are only for the remembrance of Allāh, Salāh and recitation of the Qur’ān.” (Sahīh Muslim)[2]

The permissibility of digital photography and videos is a heavily contested issue amongst contemporary ‘ulamā’. Whilst many ‘ulamā’ permit it, many others consider it to be the same as typical photography, hence deeming it impermissible. In light of this disagreement, it is extremely inappropriate to display videos in the masjid. Certain permissible activities are severely prohibited in masjids, so how can something as highly dubious as videos be permitted in them? If the charity organisation insists on showing video appeals, it must be conducted outside the masjid prayer hall. 

The following hadīths illustrate how Nabī (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) would raise money for charitable causes:

On the authority of Jarīr ibn ‘Abdillāh al-Bajalī (radiyAllāhu ‘anh):

Groups of Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allāh (Allāh bless him and grant him peace), draped in wool. He saw their miserable state, [severe] need having afflicted them. So he encouraged the people to give in charity. They delayed in that, until [displeasure] could be seen on his face. Then a man from the Ansār produced a purse of silver and then came another, and then they followed in succession until delight could be recongised on his face.

Then the Messenger of Allāh (Allāh bless him and grant him peace) said: “Whoever initiates a beautiful act in Islām, and it is practised after him, an equal reward of those who practised on it will be written for him, and nothing will be reduced from their deeds…” (Sahīh Muslim)[3]

‘Iyād ibn ‘Abdillāh narrated: I heard Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī (radiyAllāhu ‘anh) say:

A man in a shabby state [named Sulayk] arrived on Friday while the Prophet (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi was all am) was [about to] deliver the khutbah, so the Messenger of Allāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said to him: “Have you prayed?” He said: “No.” He said: “Pray two rak‘ahs.” And he encouraged the people towards charity. They offered [their] garments and he gave him two garments from them. When it was the second Friday, he came while the Messenger of Allāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) was [about to] deliver the khutbah, so he encouraged the people towards charity. [Sulayk also] offered one of his two garments. Then the Messenger of Allāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “This [man] came [last] Friday in a shabby state so I ordered the people to give in charity and they offered [their] garments, and I ordered two garments from them to be [given] to him. He now came, so I ordered people to give in charity, and he offers one of them!” He scolded him and said: “Take back your garment!” (Sunan al-Nasā’ī)[4]

The following are some of the methods Nabī (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) employed based on these hadiths:

1. To use encouraging words about the vast rewards of giving in charity.
2. To express displeasure when the people show some reluctance to give and to express pleasure and happiness when they give.
3. To encourage people to lead by example, as they will be the inspiration for others to follow and will, as a result, receive the reward of all who give.
4. To show the miserable state of the suffering, as Nabī (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) ordered Sulayk (radiyAllāhu ‘anh) to offer two rak‘ahs of prayer so the people can witness his condition.

The important principle to keep in mind when doing charity work, or engaging in any effort, is the necessity of employing pure and acceptable means. Rasūlullāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا

“Verily, Allāh is pure and He does not accept but that which is pure.” (Sahīh Muslim)[5]

Hence, in any noble effort, only good and wholesome means should be employed. Allāh’s blessing and help can only be expected in any religious or worldly endeavour if only those means which He approves are adopted.

And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best

Zameelur Rahman

Student Darul Iftaa
UK

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net