What is the ruling on reading from a newspaper or magazine in front of a worshipper inadvertently during prayer?
Whoever looks at a newspaper during prayer and reads what is in it silently has committed a disliked act (makruh). If he pronounces what he saw intentionally, knowing that speaking during prayer is forbidden, his prayer is invalidated by consensus. However, if he pronounces it out of forgetfulness, scholars have differed regarding the invalidation of his prayer, and the most preponderant view is that it is not invalidated.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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