And among the matters that distract in prayer: the ma'mum taking the mushaf and following his imam.
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The Shaykh : A man came to one of the scholars and said: "I deposited a trust, and I forgot where I put it, and the owner of the trust came to ask for it — do you know what a trust is? — Yes, for example, I deposited dirhams with him as a trust, and I lost track of where they were." So this man came to ask the scholar, saying: "What should I do?" He said: "Go and pray, and you will remember it." So the man went and began to pray, and he remembered where it was.
From where did the scholar derive this, or by what did the scholar derive this trick? He derived it from the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) And this is the reality. Now,
And among the things that distract from prayer is what some people do who pray behind the imam; you find him taking the mushaf and following the imam in his recitation. The truth is that this action leads to matters that are to be avoided:
First: that a person moves with movements that are not needed. What are the movements? Taking out the mushaf, opening the mushaf, closing the mushaf. Yes, and perhaps the mushaf is small and requires glasses to look at it, and perhaps he puts on his glasses while he is praying. These are many actions.
And among them also: that this action occupies him from a recommended practice required of him, which is placing the right hand over the left on the chest. For this is among the prescribed matters, and he is occupied with holding the mushaf from doing that.
And among them also: that a person occupies his sight by moving from the top of the page to the bottom, and by moving from the beginning of the line to the end. The sight has movements just as the hand has movements; there is no doubt about this. So he is occupied with the movements of his eyes by which he follows the words and letters in the mushaf. How many are these?
Fourth: that this follower feels as if he is separated from the prayer, as if he is holding onto this reader in order to look and see if he makes a mistake or hits the mark, so his heart strays from the prayer and moves away.
Behind me, and I hold the mushaf; if I make a mistake, correct me. This is permissible for the sake of need.
Shall we read, or shall we take questions? Yes.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : We mentioned yesterday, so that the discussion does not run long on us, that we will make half for the lesson and half for the questions. Because this is what justice and fairness require.
This one is asking a question: There is no harm in accepting it and answering it, even though it is contrary to custom, because the custom is that the question must be on the paper.
From where did the scholar derive this, or by what did the scholar derive this trick? He derived it from the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
When Satan enters a person in his prayer, he is present and makes him remember: remember such and such, remember such and such, remember such and such.
إن الشيطان إذا دخل الانسان في صلاته حضر وجعل يذكره: اذكر كذا اذكر كذا اذكر كذاAnd among the things that distract from prayer is what some people do who pray behind the imam; you find him taking the mushaf and following the imam in his recitation. The truth is that this action leads to matters that are to be avoided:
First: that a person moves with movements that are not needed. What are the movements? Taking out the mushaf, opening the mushaf, closing the mushaf. Yes, and perhaps the mushaf is small and requires glasses to look at it, and perhaps he puts on his glasses while he is praying. These are many actions.
And among them also: that this action occupies him from a recommended practice required of him, which is placing the right hand over the left on the chest. For this is among the prescribed matters, and he is occupied with holding the mushaf from doing that.
And among them also: that a person occupies his sight by moving from the top of the page to the bottom, and by moving from the beginning of the line to the end. The sight has movements just as the hand has movements; there is no doubt about this. So he is occupied with the movements of his eyes by which he follows the words and letters in the mushaf. How many are these?
Fourth: that this follower feels as if he is separated from the prayer, as if he is holding onto this reader in order to look and see if he makes a mistake or hits the mark, so his heart strays from the prayer and moves away.
Behind me, and I hold the mushaf; if I make a mistake, correct me. This is permissible for the sake of need.
Shall we read, or shall we take questions? Yes.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : We mentioned yesterday, so that the discussion does not run long on us, that we will make half for the lesson and half for the questions. Because this is what justice and fairness require.
This one is asking a question: There is no harm in accepting it and answering it, even though it is contrary to custom, because the custom is that the question must be on the paper.