Turning off mobile phone on floor while praying

21-10-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. Suppose that a man keeps his android mobile on the floor in front of him without putting it on silent. Then he starts praying in congregation. After a while, the mobile starts ringing while the imam is reciting. How should he stop it?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to turn off the phone with a slight movement while praying, as we have already highlighted in fatwas 87472 and 72686.

If the praying person is in the standing position and the phone is ringing on the floor, then if he can turn it off with a slight movement with his foot, this is permissible, otherwise he does not bend over to turn it off because this is not a slight movement; rather, this movement invalidates the prayer if done intentionally, because it is like bowing for the bowing position or the prostration.

The owners of mobile phones should fear Allah and be keen on turning off their phones before entering the mosque so as not to harm their Muslim brothers and in order to spare the houses of Allah from these musical tones which are heard in many mosques. We also advise avoiding musical tones and limiting oneself only to ringing tones that are devoid of music because it is prohibited to listen to music from mobile phones or from any other device.

Allah knows best.