It is permissible to be occupied with seeking forgiveness and dhikr instead of listening to the Friday sermon
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 20430 )
Q: Is it permissible to be occupied with seeking forgiveness and dhikr instead of listening to the Friday sermon ?
A: It is obligatory for one who attends the Friday prayer to listen to the imam's sermon, to hear it, and not to be occupied with anything that distracts him from listening to it, such as speech. This includes seeking forgiveness, dhikr, and the like; due to the general prohibition of speaking while the imam is delivering the sermon. Evidence for this is what Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 934 It was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim and the compilers of the Sunan, and what the imam Ahmad and al-Bayhaqi and others narrated from Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: , and by the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-A'raf 7:204]
Some of the exegetes, such as Mujahid and others, mentioned that it was revealed regarding the obligation of listening to the sermon. This indicates that one who hears the preacher among those who attended the Friday prayer must devote his heart and all his limbs to listening to the sermon. However, if he does not hear the preacher because of his distance from him, or the weakness of the preacher's voice, or the like, there is no harm in being occupied with dhikr, seeking forgiveness, and reciting the Qur'an, provided he does not annoy the praying people around him. This is better for him than silence; because he is unable to listen. Likewise, if the preacher mentions Paradise and he asks for it in his heart, or mentions the Fire and he seeks refuge from it in his heart, or the preacher mentions the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he sends blessings upon him in his heart, or he says: "So remember Me, and I will remember you," and he says: "There is no god but Allah" in his heart, then there is no harm in that and no danger in it; because that is not idle talk if he does not raise his voice. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Is it permissible to be occupied with seeking forgiveness and dhikr instead of listening to the Friday sermon ?
A: It is obligatory for one who attends the Friday prayer to listen to the imam's sermon, to hear it, and not to be occupied with anything that distracts him from listening to it, such as speech. This includes seeking forgiveness, dhikr, and the like; due to the general prohibition of speaking while the imam is delivering the sermon. Evidence for this is what Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the Imam is delivering the Khutba, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have done an evil act.
إذا قلت لصاحبك يوم الجمعة: أنصت، والإمام يخطب فقد لغوتThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat on the pulpit one day and delivered a sermon to the people and recited a verse. Abu ibn Ka'b was beside me, so I said: "O Abu, when was this verse revealed?" He refused to speak to me. Then I asked him again, and he refused to speak to me, until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) descended. Then Abu said to me: "What is the matter with you? Have you not gathered anything from your gathering except idle talk?" When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished, I went to him and informed him, and he said: "Abu spoke the truth. If you hear your imam speaking, be quiet until he is finished."
جلس النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يومًا على المنبر فخطب الناس وتلا آية، وإلى جانبي أبي بن كعب فقلت: يا أُبي : متى أنزلت هذه الآية؟ فأبى أن يكلمني، ثم سألته، فأبى أن يكلمني، حتى نزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال لي أُبي : مالك من جمعتك إلا ما لغيت، فلما انصرف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جئته فأخبرته فقال: صدق أُبي فإذا سمعت إمامك يتكلم فأنصت حتى يفرغSo when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَSome of the exegetes, such as Mujahid and others, mentioned that it was revealed regarding the obligation of listening to the sermon. This indicates that one who hears the preacher among those who attended the Friday prayer must devote his heart and all his limbs to listening to the sermon. However, if he does not hear the preacher because of his distance from him, or the weakness of the preacher's voice, or the like, there is no harm in being occupied with dhikr, seeking forgiveness, and reciting the Qur'an, provided he does not annoy the praying people around him. This is better for him than silence; because he is unable to listen. Likewise, if the preacher mentions Paradise and he asks for it in his heart, or mentions the Fire and he seeks refuge from it in his heart, or the preacher mentions the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he sends blessings upon him in his heart, or he says: "So remember Me, and I will remember you," and he says: "There is no god but Allah" in his heart, then there is no harm in that and no danger in it; because that is not idle talk if he does not raise his voice. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.