Is it permissible to stop someone from speaking during a sermon by speaking to them?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
It is forbidden to verbally stop a speaker by telling a person who is speaking, "Be silent," during the Imam's sermon. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stated, "If you tell your companion, 'Be silent,' while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk (laghw)." Instead of speaking, one must signal to the speaker. Ahmad specified that the signal involves placing one's finger upon one's mouth.
Supporting text
Zayd ibn Suhan, Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, al-Thawri, al-Awza'i, and Ibn al-Mundhir held that signaling should be done without speaking. Tawus disliked signaling altogether.