Q 1: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said about movement on Friday after the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) enters the Masjid (mosque): If anyone says to his brother, ‘Be quiet!’ he has spoken mistakenly. He (peace be upon him) also said, Anyone who plays with the pebbles has spoken mistakenly. What about those people who recite the Qur'an from Mus-hafs (copies of the Qur'an) and get up and put them back on the shelves when the Imam enters, they are making more movement than just playing with the pebbles? Please answer me.

A: It is permissible to talk before the Khatib (preacher) starts delivering the Friday Khutbah (sermon) and between the two Khutbahs, but it is forbidden during the Khutbah. The basic rule is based on what Al-Jama`ah (the group, i.e. Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Abu Dawud) related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, If you (even) say to your companion, ‘Be quiet!’ on Friday while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, you have in fact spoken mistakenly. It is also related by Imam Ahmad on the authority of Abu Al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) who reported, One day the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat on the Minbar (pulpit) and delivered the (Friday) Khutbah to the people. He recited an Ayah (Qur’anic verse) while Ubay ibn Ka`b was sitting beside me. I said, "O Ubay! When was this Ayah revealed?" He refused to answer me. I then asked him again, but he refused to talk to me. (He remained as such) until the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) descended. Ubay then said (to Abu Al-Darda'), "You only got (the reward of) what you said mistakenly during this Jumu`ah Prayer." When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) left, I went to him and told him of what had happened. He (peace be upon him) said, "Ubay was telling the truth. When you hear your Imam talking (delivering the Friday Khutbah), be quiet until he finishes." (Part No. 8; Page No. 242) Based on that, those who recite Qur'an from the Mushaf and get up and put it back on the shelves when the Imam enters the Masjid are not committing a forbidden act, as their activity takes place before the beginning of the Khutbah. Their action is done out of necessity and is not talking or playing.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.