Teaching prayer and the funeral prayer through enacted dialogues

Question

For the reform of people, is it permissible to present dialogues (sketches) and give them a practical form, so that they make a greater impression on minds? A sketch about leading the prayer was presented. One man stepped forward to lead, began the prayer, and omitted the opening takbir (tahrima). The one behind said: “Come off it, what kind of prayer are you leading? I will lead.” Then the second one also made an obvious mistake in recitation which even common people understand.

Answer

Staging a dialogue in this way and acting it out in practice is an insult to and belittling (istikhfaf) of the prayer; it is not allowed. If a dialogue is conducted in question-and-answer form on correct rulings, such as those printed in Ta‘lim al-Islam, so that the rulings become firmly fixed, that is right. (2)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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