Are the slight movements that a Muslim might make during the Friday sermon, such as placing a hand over the mouth when sneezing or coughing, adjusting one's sitting posture, scratching the skin or head, or rubbing the eyes and ears, considered "laghw" (idle talk/futility) like touching pebbles mentioned in the hadith: "Whoever performs ablution well, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens and remains silent, will be forgiven for what is between that Friday and the next, with an additional three days; and whoever touches pebbles has engaged in laghw," and would he miss out on the reward mentioned in the hadith by doing them?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
Actions that are unnecessary during the sermon are considered trifling and fall under the ruling of being preoccupied with pebbles, which is forbidden. As for actions that are necessary, especially those that aid in listening, there is no harm in them, such as changing one's position to ward off drowsiness, moving one's limbs to dispel sleep, closing something that distracts listeners, using a tissue after sneezing, or changing one's sitting posture when tired.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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