Can ringing phones be turned off during prayer?

Can phones that are suddenly ringing during solat (prayer) and especially during congregational prayer be turned off?

The loud ringing would certainly disturb others and break their focus during prayers.

Although mosques and suraus have put up signs or reminders for phones to be in silent mode during prayers, there are still times one would forget to do so.

In a situation where the phone rings during prayer, can one turn it off? It can be worrying that by doing so, it will invalidate the act of worship being performed.

Religious preacher Ustaz Azhar Idrus explained, in that situation, if the movement to turn the phone off is vigorous then the prayer is invalid.

But he said if it involves only making some movement then it will not make the prayer void.

"However, if there is an intend to check messages, or read messages or answer the phone in his movement then his prayer is invalid even if he moves a little," he said on Instagram.

The preacher cited Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Bujairimi in Kitab Hasyiah Al-Bujairimi which stated: 'A prayer is invalid when there is excessive movement but will not be invalidated when there is only little movement, unless there is an intend to amuse oneself'

According to Sheikh Bakr Syatha in Kitab I'anah At-Talibin: "And the prayer is not invalidated due to little movement with no purpose to play during prayer but if there is then it invalidates the prayer.

Meanwhile,Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies Research and Innovation Deputy Dean Universiti Associate Prof Dr Ahmad Sanusi Azmi said it is okay for someone to turn the phone off during prayer, provided they are mindful of their movements.

"This is because the phone's ring tone will disturb others," he said on Facebook.

The scholar said the Prophet SAW had once reprimanded a friend who had recited the Quran loudly in the mosque, because it was feared that his recitation would disturb other worshippers.

In a Hadith narrated by Imam Abu Daud, it was said: "The Messenger of Allah retired to the mosque. He heard them (the people) reciting the Qur'an in a loud voice. He removed the curtain and said: One should not trouble the other and one should not raise the voice in recitation or in prayer over the voice of the other.

Based on the Hadith, Dr Sanusi said even the act of raising ones voice while reciting the Quran was reprimanded by the Prophet SAW then even more so the songs set as the phone ringtones which will break other worshippers focus during prayer.

Adding to his points for those in the Syafie sect, there are several conditions that a person must keep in mind to avoid making the prayer void.

For those who want to turn off their ringing phone during prayer but also don't want to invalidate the prayer then the scholar advises them to avoid these:

1. Doing excessive movement.

2. Movement that is obviously not part of the prayer such as walking on purpose (with no necessity) or hitting.

3. Movement done intentionally whereas the person knows the act is prohibited.

4. Movements done continuously.

5. Movement that has no necessity but allowed according to syarak.

If a person is mindful of these then Dr Sanusi said a slight movement to turn off the mobile phone is something that is considered permissible (harus).

"Do remember, leaving the phone to ring and disturbing other worshippers is even more prohibited," he stressed.