This is in response to Mat Baim's call to ban mobile phones in mosques as published in the Borneo Bulletin on Wednesday, January 16th.

Although his reasons may be commendable and most probably for the good of fellow Muslims, I can't help but find his views a bit too shallow, judgemental and narrow-minded.

First of all, in none of his encounters did any of the men's action he spoke of disturb or cause any sort of distraction to the others in the mosque.

Secondly, he immediately perceived that these men haven't performed the commendable Sunnat prayer just like he did even though he just came in and has no knowledge of the men's activity before he arrived.

Hence, being engrossed in mobile phones should not and cannot be attributed to neglecting obligations in the mosque.

Lastly, in this technologically advanced world, the whole Quran/Tahlil/Wirid and prayers can be easily stored inside the mobile phone.

For all we know, those people who seem engrossed looking into the screens of their mobile phones may have been reciting Quranic verses or Wirid.