Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked:

Question:

Some people suffice with listening to tapes of lectures and withdraw from the sittings of the remembrance of Allah [i.e. the lessons]. What is your advise on that?

Answer:

“Verily this does not equal sitting in front of the Shaikh and learning directly from him. However, sometimes a person is not free. No doubt sitting in the sittings of remembrance of Allah is better in order to obtain its reward and due to it having a greater affect [on the person] than listening to it from the tape”

[Fatawaa Su’aal ‘Alal-Haatif (2/38)]

Translated by

Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan