The Miswak, Responding to the Greeting, and Blessing the Sneezer During the Friday Sermon

The questioner:
He asks: Is it permissible to use the miswak during the Friday sermon, and likewise to respond to the greeting or to bless the sneezer?

The Shaykh:
It is not permissible to do any of this, because it involves movement. Using the miswak, and speaking to respond to the greeting or to bless the sneezer—none of this is permissible during the sermon.

The questioner:
I am the one asking.

The Shaykh:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever says to his brother, ‘Be quiet,’ has spoken nonsense, and whoever speaks nonsense has no Friday prayer for him.” Look, he says “Be quiet”—this is enjoining good and forbidding evil, but because it is done through speech, it invalidates the reward and the recompense for the Friday prayer. As for the one who speaks while the imam is delivering the sermon, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He is like a donkey carrying books,” because he made the effort to attend and came to pray the Friday prayer, but he invalidated its reward, so his deed became of no benefit. He did not benefit from the presence in the prayer any more than the donkey benefits from the books it carries on its back. This is a severe warning. Therefore, one must listen to the Friday sermon, cease all movement, and it is not permissible to greet those who are listening to the sermon. If he enters, he does not greet, and he does not respond to a greeting. Likewise, he does not bless the sneezer with words. Perhaps, once the preacher has finished the sermon, he may bless him and say, “May Allah have mercy on you.” Yes.