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What is the ruling on using a mobile phone, given its potential harms, based on the Hadith: "There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Everything that harms a person and significantly impairs their health, which is considered a valid harm in Islamic law, is not permissible to use except out of necessity, which is measured by its extent. The prohibition depends on the certainty of harm, not mere suspicion. Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) cited the permissibility of his tayammum on a cold night and his fear of perishing if he were to bathe, by quoting Allah's saying: "And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you" (Quran 4:29). The Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed his action. Multiple scientific reports have proven the negative effects of mobile phone use, such as increased temperature, headaches, and effects on nerves and the brain. Therefore, caution must be exercised during use by minimizing it and employing means that mitigate harm. Otherwise, the user will be considered sinful if harmed due to misuse.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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