381. Cell Phones And Jumuah

By Asma bint Shameem 

*Can I look at my cell phone or text someone during Jumu’ah Khutbah*?

When we attend the Jumu’ah Khutbah, we’re supposed to *listen to it attentively, without any distractions or preoccupations.* 

Doing *anything* that will take away our attention from the Khutbah will result in us *losing the rewards of Jumu’ah* and comes under the category of *‘idle action’* that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam strictly *FORBADE*. 

He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Whoever does wudhu’ and does wudhu’ well, then comes to Jumu’ah and *listens attentively*, will be forgiven (his sins) between that and (the next) Jumu’ah, and three days in addition to that, *but whoever touches the pebbles* has engaged in an idle action.” (Muslim)

As we can imagine, at the time of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, there was no carpet in the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ and they all sat on the ground for the Khutbah. 

And if someone fidgeted or played with the pebbles during the Khutbah, the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would forbid them from doing that. 

Nowadays we don’t have *‘pebbles’* to distract us. 

But ANY thing that will distract us from listening to the Khutbah comes under the same category. 

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said: 

“It is haraam for him to speak whilst the Imaam is delivering the khutbah, *and it is also haraam for him to move, fidget, touch the pebbles, draw lines on the ground, or anything else of that nature.”*

(Al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (5/71).

So don’t look at your cell phone during the Khutbah, don’t text anybody or check your email, don’t twirl your bangles or play with your jewelry, don’t draw random designs on the carpet, don’t look here and there, don’t use the miswaak.... The list goes on....

If we don't pay attention and instead, preoccupy ourselves with something other than the Khutbah, we *lose* the reward of Jumu’ah. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The one who engages in idle actions and steps over the people’s necks, it will be (recorded as) *‘Dhuhr’* for him.” (Abu Dawood —hasan by al-Albaani)

*So what to do?*

Don’t do ANY thing that will distract you. 

Instead, when the Imaam comes on the minbar:

- put everything away

- turn to face him completely 

- clear your mind 

- listen carefully. 

Give him your FULL attention physically and mentally. 

That’s what the Noble Sahaabah did when the Khateeb came on the minbar.

And Allaah knows best.