Question
Salam Imam, Meta has unveiled their new glasses, which have a built-in display and can be operated with subtle hand gestures. Is it permissible for a learning Muslim to read or watch the steps of the prayer on the display while they are praying? JazakAllahu khayran.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Principle of Distraction in Salah
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A man is not rewarded from his prayer except that which he was mindful of.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud). The essence of salah is khushu‘ (humble attentiveness). Anything that causes major distraction or resembles play undermines the purpose of prayer.
Reading or watching a device while praying could easily turn the act into outward motions without presence of heart, and thus is generally discouraged.
2. Use of Aids for a New Learner
The fuqaha allowed a new Muslim or a beginner in salah to use temporary aids if they genuinely do not know how to recite or perform the prayer otherwise. Examples:
- The Shafi‘i and Hanbali jurists permitted a person to read Qur’an from a mushaf during prayer if needed, though it reduces concentration.
- By analogy, a learner using glasses to recall the sequence of steps could be excused, provided it is temporary and only until they learn.
This is supported by the usul principle:
الوسائل تأخذ حكم المقاصد
“The means take the ruling of the objectives.”
Using a visual aid to learn Salat is permissible because performing Salat in its correct manner is obligatory. The ruling implies that any tool which directly helps fulfill this obligation shares in its permissibility and benefit, but once the person no longer needs it, the ruling returns to the original obligation of performing Salat unaided.
and,
الميسور لا يسقط بالمعسور
“what can be done is not dropped because of what cannot be done.” In other words, you fulfill as much of the prayer correctly as you can now (with minimal assistance), while continuing to learn the parts you cannot yet manage unaided.
3. Limitation of the Ruling
- This is not a permanent practice. Once the person learns the steps and recitations, they must leave such devices aside.
- Using the device unnecessarily, or continuing after one has learned, would fall into lahw (vain distraction) and harm the khushu‘ of salah.
Final Ruling
It is not permissible to habitually watch or read prayer steps on a device while praying, as this distracts from khushu‘. However, for a new Muslim or someone still learning, it is excused as a temporary teaching aid, just as scholars permitted reciting from a mushaf in prayer when necessary. Once learned, the person must perform the prayer unaided.
And Allah knows best.