Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh called on imams and preachers to be sincere and avoid hypocrisy and showing off. He cited filming and posting prayers and preaching in mosques during the holy month of Ramadan on social media and channels as an example of incompatibility with sincerity.

The Grand Mufti said this in a religious edict (fatwa) in response to a question about the decision taken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to ban filming and posting prayers and lectures on social media. “This issue was a serious one before the decision of the ministry to ban filming and posting prayers and lectures on social media as part of the measures to ensure avoiding errors that may occur,” he said while noting that there is the issue of sincerity, which is a condition for the acceptance of any act of worship. “There are two conditions to accept any work. They are sincerity to God, and that the work is in accordance with the spirit of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah,” he said.

Al-Sheikh also drew attention to the Saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “The thing I fear most for you is minor polytheism. They said: What is minor polytheism, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Hypocrisy.”

The Grand Mufti explained in the fatwa that filming prayers, sermons and lectures or any acts of worship has rulings that differ according to the intention and purpose of the filming. He cited the Saying of the Prophet: “Whoever listens, Allah will listen to him, and whoever shows off, Allah will show off with him.”

Al-Sheikh emphasized that sincerity is important and that any action that is done without seeking Allah’s pleasure will be returned to its doer. He underlined the need to think and reflect before finding himself bankrupt on the Day of Judgment.

The Grand Mufti called on the Muslims to strive to be as sincere as possible.