Speaking while letters are read out on Friday

Ibrahim said: On Friday, while official letters are being read out, there is no harm in reciting the Qur'an and remembering Allah.

Amir said: On Friday, while official letters are being read out, there is no harm in talking.

Layth said: Abu Burdah used to talk on Friday while the official letters were being read out, and al-Sha'bi also saw no harm in it.

Muhammad bin Ali said: On Friday, while official letters are being read out, there is no harm in talking; but once the imam becomes occupied with the admonition, one may not talk.

Umar bin Abd al-Aziz forbade the reading of the official letters on Friday before the sermon had been completed.

Hammad said: I asked Ibrahim: During the Friday prayer various letters come from Qutaybah containing falsehood and lies. While they are being read out, if I wish to speak to my companion, should I speak, or should I remain silent? He said: Remain silent.

Ibn Awn said: While the muezzins were giving the call to prayer for Jumu'ah and the imam had already come out, I met Hammad bin Abi Sulayman. He spoke to me, but I did not speak to him. Then we met again on another Friday, and while the official letters were being read out he spoke to me; he kept speaking to me, but I remained silent. At this he said to me: "O my nephew, silence used to be (observed) in the past only when they admonished with the Book of Allah Almighty and spoke about it. Should we keep silent for these letters of theirs?!" Ibn Awn said: I mentioned this to Ibrahim, and he said: "Satan comes to one of them with anxious thoughts, or through his own self. Silence used to be (observed) in the past only when they admonished with the Book of Allah and spoke about it."

Al-Hasan said: Talking while the official letters are being read out is disliked. Al-Hasan said: The official letters used to be read out before the prayer.

Khalid bin Isa said: I saw Umar bin Abd al-Aziz conversing with al-Walid bin Hisham while Sulayman, as Commander of the Faithful, was seated on the pulpit and official letters were being read out on Friday.