Is collecting donations for the mosque after the second sermon by the imam of the mosque unlawful (haram), and does the prayer of the one who collects or counts the donations in the mosque become invalid, based on the saying, "He who tells his companion 'be quiet' has spoken in vain (lagha)," and on the story of the one whose prayer was invalidated because he counted pebbles?

Donation collection for mosques must adhere to Sharia regulations, among them: Donations for the mosque should not be collected during the Friday sermon (khutbah), nor between the sermon and the prayer. This is because collecting donations during the khutbah contradicts the commanded silence that worshippers are ordered to observe, and it falls under the general prohibition of idle talk during the sermon. As for collecting donations after the sermon and before the prayer, it causes hardship for people and may disrupt the continuity between the prayer and the sermon, which many scholars consider a condition for the validity of the Friday prayer. It is more appropriate for donations for the mosque to be collected after the prayer has concluded, to avoid these concerns. There is no harm in encouraging people to give charity and donate during the sermon.

As for the claim that this act is forbidden, collecting donations during the sermon involves speaking and stepping over people's necks, which falls under the general prohibition of idle talk. Similarly, if these donations are collected after the sermon, and it causes a disruption in continuity, then it must be forbidden. However, the claim that the prayer is invalid merely because donations were collected, even with continuity, is incorrect. While this act is prohibited, it does not invalidate the prayer. Rather, the prayer is valid and fulfills the obligation, even if the person misses out on the complete reward and full recompense. The meaning of "uttered idle talk" (laghā) is that one has lost the reward and the virtue of Friday has been nullified, and their Friday prayer becomes like a noon prayer.