The Jumu’ah Khutbah is a shart
(condition) of the prayer. The Jumu’ah prayer is not complete
without the khutbah. Furthermore, this condition can only be
fulfilled by the performance of dhikrullaah (remembrance of
Allah).
It is sunnah for the khutbah of the
Jumu’ah and ‘Eidain to be in Arabic, and in opposition
to this, to perform the khutbah in another language is a
bid’at (innovation). [Sharh Muwatta by Shah Waliullah,
Kitaab-ul-Adhkaar of an-Nawawi and Durr-e-Mukhtaar,
Shuroot-as-Salaah, Sharh-ul-Ihyaa] Similarly, performing
the khutbah in Arabic and then giving its translation in
another language before the prayer is also bid’at and must be
avoided. Of course, there is no harm in giving the translation after
the prayer- rather this is a better way. There is also no harm if the
translation is given after the khutbahs for ‘Eidain and
it is even better to step away from the mimbar and give the
translation, in order that a distinction is made. [As in
Taqreedh-ar-Risaalah based on the hadith of Muslim]
It is sunnah to have wuduu’ while
giving the khutbah. Not having wuduu’ while giving it is
makruh. It is also sunnah to stand up while giving the
khutbah- to sit down is makruh. [‘Alamgiri and
al-Bahr] It is sunnah to face the people while giving the
khutbah. Facing the Qiblah or any other direction while
giving it is makruh. [‘Alamgiri and Bahr-ur-Raa`iq]
To say “A’oodhu billahi min ash-shaytaanir-rajeem”
softly before starting the khutbah is sunnah. [On the
saying of Abu Yusuf, likewise in al-Bahr]
Saying the khutbah in a loud voice so that
the people can hear it is sunnah. Saying it softly is also
makruh. [‘Alamgiri]
It is sunnah to give a moderately short
khutbah and not make it too long. The limit that it should be kept
to is the same time as it would take to read one of the
Tiwaal-e-Mufassal surahs (any surah between al-Hujuraat
and al-Burooj). Making it any longer is makruh. [Shami,
‘Alamgiri, Bahr]
It is sunnah that ten things be observed in
the khutbah:
-
starting with hamd (praise of Allah);
-
glorifying Allah (thanaa);
-
saying the shahaadatain;
-
sending blessings and salutations (darood wa
salaam) on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam);
-
saying some words of instruction and advice;
-
reading some verse of the Quran;
-
sitting for a little while in between the two
khutbahs;
-
making du’aa (supplication) for all Muslim
men and women;
-
saying “Alhamdu lillaah” in the second
khutbah as well as thanaa and darood;
-
making both khutbahs no longer than the
time it takes to read a surah of the Tiwaal-e-Mufassal.
[‘Alamgiri, Bahr]
[This is a translation of an article written in
1350H by Moulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi’ of Darul-Iftaa, Darul-‘Uloom
Deoband, Allah have mercy on him. It appears in Khutbaat-ul-Ahkaam li
Jumu’aatil-‘Aam by Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on
him), Madinah Publishing Co., Karachi 1382H.]
