Bismiallahi alrahmani alraheem (In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)
Do you remember the last time you heard a cell phone ring during the prayer? It’s very rare these days to observe the Salah without having to listen to one of the cool tunes coming from a cell phone. These cell phones with all of their benefits have become very disturbing and harmful in the context of prayer. Take for example this incident: A while back I was standing in the Jumuah prayer, and suddenly the tune of “Who let the dogs out” started playing for a few seconds. I’ll tell you, I was “letting the dogs out” in my head during the Salah, and even after the prayer. This brother, who forgot to turn off his phone, was the cause of prayer-disturbance of more than 60 Muslims including himself. Unfortunately this incident is very common nowadays.
Another problem that is secondary to this issue is the spreading of filthy music and making other Muslims listen to it indirectly. You should realize that even if the phone ring is halal (Azan, halal nasheeds, Quran, etc…) one must still turn of his/her phone because it will distract the Imam, musaleen, and others during salah or Jumuah. And of course it is known that in Jumuah one must not talk, play, reply to people or engage in anything but listen to the khateeb. Otherwise, engagement in such acts may invalidate his/her Jumuah and remove some or all of his/her rewards. In this context, cell phones are without a question, a distraction to their owners and others during the Friday khutbah.
I cannot comprehend how some Muslims do not have the will to turn off their phones before entering the prayer. Even though they are repeatedly reminded of this fact through posters, signs, and imams asking them to do so, they still seem to fail in this aspect. It is understandable that a person might forget to turn off the phone once in a “while” as we are all forgetful, but to do so every time and be careless about it only brings evil. I wonder what the reaction would be, if one was to offer an ounce of gold to these Muslims for each time they turn off their phone before prayer. I can imagine that they would hasten and would never forget, because it involves money and wealth. But how about something that is better than money and wealth? Your Salah!
I advise myself and all of my Brothers and Sisters to put their phones on “silent” when entering the masjid. May Allah swt protect us from disturbing Muslims during the Salah, and protect us from having our Salah revoked due to our negligence.
