What is the ruling on the imam interrupting the prayer and reproaching the congregants, then resuming the prayer with a new opening takbir without a new iqamah, and is his prayer valid?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
We urge Muslims to switch off their phones before prayer to avoid disturbance, and the Imam is permitted to remind them of this. However, for the Imam to interrupt the prayer to scold someone who did not switch off their phone is an error and forbidden, as it is an interruption of an obligatory act of worship without a valid reason, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "And do not invalidate your deeds." Their obligations have been fulfilled by repeating the prayer, but the Imam should be advised not to repeat such an action.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/105118
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 105118
- 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