14.03.2026 01:10
During a Friday sermon at a mosque in Trabzon, the imam lost his temper upon noticing that the congregation was preoccupied with their cell phones. Reminding them that listening to the sermon is obligatory, the imam criticized the congregation's behavior, stating that being engaged with phones is not in line with the seriousness of worship. The imam said, "Listening to the sermon is obligatory; if you continue like this, your prayer will not be accepted. Then I will not lead the prayer, and I will not deliver the sermon. Leave the mosque and go."
An imam serving in a mosque in Trabzon reacted harshly to the congregation who were preoccupied with their phones during the Friday sermon. The imam, who expressed his discontent with the congregation's engagement with their mobile phones during the sermon, reminded them that listening to the sermon is obligatory and stated that their behavior was inappropriate.
"LISTENING TO THE SERMON IS OBLIGATORY"
During the Friday sermon, the imam addressed the congregation, stating that talking on the phone and being distracted by phones while the sermon is being read is contrary to the spirit of worship. Trying to draw the congregation's attention, the imam reacted by saying, "Listening to the sermon is obligatory. You must adhere to the obligation. You come to the mosque, but you do not listen to the sermon."
The imam noted that some individuals continued to engage with their phones during the sermon, saying, "I can do a live broadcast; you don't even need to come to the Friday prayer, you can watch me from home on the live broadcast, and you can perform your Friday prayer from there! You claim to be Muslims, but you are not saying anything related to Islam, you do not know Islam! You come to the mosque, listening to the sermon is obligatory, you must adhere to the obligation. Then you say, 'Alhamdulillah, I am a Muslim,' but you do not fulfill the requirements of being a Muslim."
"LEAVE THE MOSQUE"
The imam, who stated that the congregation continued to engage with their phones despite the warnings, expressed his reaction with harsher words in the later part of his speech.
The imam said, "You have a mobile phone in your hand... The phones are still in your hands... You are neglecting the obligation, and your prayer is not accepted. In this way, your Friday prayer is also not accepted. Then you say, 'The teacher is angry'... I am showing you the right paths, I am telling you what Allah says. Listening to the sermon is obligatory! Your prayer is not accepted... I do not perform the prayer! I do not read the sermon! Leave the mosque, go away! Am I going to deal with you?"