May A Person Who Is In A Different Location Follow An Imam Through Audio Connection?

May a person who is in a different location follow an imam through audio connection?

The imam and the congregation need to be in the same place physically or ritually for the congregational prayers. This unity is ensured with rows’ being next to each other. If prayer is established within the same building, the places of those who are inside are considered the same. In this respect, it is valid for the congregation to follow the imam upstairs or downstairs in multi-storey buildings on condition that the storey used as masjid is not big enough for the congregation and that the congregation which stands in storeys next to this storey hears the directives of the imam via loudspeaker or by means of announcement of muazzin. It is not obligatory for the congregation to see the imam or to see those who are seeing the imam. In the event that voice connection is cut, prayers of those who fail to follow the directives of the imam will be invalidated as they will not be able to follow the movements of imam (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, II, 285-286, 333-334). It is not permissible for those, who are in places which are falled apart from the place of imam by obstacles such as roads, rivers, etc. that distrupt the unity of place, to follow an imam from that distance.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS