The ruling on using the miswak while listening to the sermon

Question:
With Allah’s blessing, we begin this session with a message from the listener Sa'd Muhammad, who asks: What is the ruling on using the miswak while the imam is delivering the sermon, whether it is during the Friday prayer, or during the prayer of the two festivals or the prayer for rain? And what is the ruling on cracking one’s fingers during the prayer? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
What is prescribed when listening to sermons is to pay attention, to listen intently, and to be affected by them; because their purpose is to admonish people, remind them, urge them to obey Allah, and alert them to what is hidden from them.
Therefore, it is obligatory to focus on listening, hearing, and benefiting, and it is better to refrain from using the miswak; because the time of listening is not the place for using the miswak, so it is better to leave it; because it may be a form of idleness, so one should not use the miswak in this situation, but rather focus on the sermon, listen to it, and devote one’s heart and self to it.
And so it is with cracking one’s fingers during the prayer, or when listening to the sermon; because it is a type of idleness, yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.