What is the ruling on the Imam reminding worshipers to turn off their phones during the 'Isha prayer? And does this action invalidate the prayer of the Imam alone, or the prayer of all worshipers?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the Imam speaks intentionally during the prayer, knowing that it is forbidden except for the benefit of the prayer, his prayer becomes invalid by consensus. However, if he speaks out of forgetfulness or ignorance, his prayer is valid according to some scholars, and this is the choice of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. The prayer of the congregants is not invalidated by the invalidation of the Imam's prayer if the cause of invalidation is something that might be hidden from them, unless the cause of invalidation is not hidden from them and they continue to follow the Imam thereafter.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/75407
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 75407
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy