Answering the telephone whilst praying
Question They were praying one of the prayers at home when the telephone started to ring, and it distracted them with its ringing for a long time. Is it permissible in such cases for the worshipper to take a few steps forwards or backwards and pick up the receiver and say “Allaahu akbar” or raise…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
If
the worshipper is in the position that you describe and the phone starts
ringing, it is permissible for him to lift the receiver, even if he
has to move a little way forward or back, or to the right or left, on
the condition that he keeps facing the qiblah and he says ‘Subhaan Allaah’
so that the person who is calling will know (that he is praying). It
was narrated in al-Saheehayn
that the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray whilst carrying his
granddaughter Umaamah. When he did rukoo’, he would put her down, and
when he stood up he would pick her up again. According to a report in
Muslim, this was when he was leading the people in prayer in the mosque.
(Narrated by Maalik, 1/170; al-Bukhaari, 1/487, in Sutrat
al-Musalli, Baab idha
hamala jaariyatan sagheeratan ‘ala ‘unuqihi; Muslim, 543,
in al-Masaajid, Baab
jawaaz Hamal al-Subyaan; Abu Dawood, no. 917-920; al-Nasaa’i,
2/45).
Ahmad
and others narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her)
said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was praying in his house
with the door closed. I came (to the door) and he walked over
and opened the door for me, then he went back to his place.” She mentioned
that the door was in the direction of the Qiblah. (Narrated by Ahmad,
6/31; Abu Dawood, 922; al-Nasaa’i, 1/178; al-Tirmidhi, 2/497).
Al-Bukhaari
and Muslim narrated that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever notices something
alarming whilst praying, then men should say ‘Subhaan
Allaah’ and women should clap their hands.”
And
Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad
and his family and companions, and grant them peace.
