❖ Performing Salah with a Televised or Radio-Broadcast Prayer
(Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām)
Question:
Is it permissible for a Muslim — especially women — to join in prayer with a Salah being broadcast on television or radio, when the Imam is not visible?
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
It is not permissible for anyone to perform Salah behind an Imam whose prayer is being broadcast on radio or television.
Reason:
The primary objective of congregational prayer (Ṣalāh al-Jamāʿah) is collective gathering — worshippers assembling in one place, standing together in rows.
◈ The Imam and the congregation must be in the same location, or at least their rows must be connected.
◈ In a radio or TV broadcast, this condition is absent — the Imam and the followers are in separate places, and their rows are not connected.
◈ As a result, the core wisdom of the congregational gathering is lost.
If This Were Allowed:
◈ People would start praying all five daily prayers and Jumuʿah at home.
◈ This would contradict the Sharʿi rulings concerning Jumuʿah and congregational prayer.
Conclusion:
Whether male or female, it is not permissible to perform Salah by following a TV or radio broadcast of an Imam’s prayer.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
