JUMU'AH&EID

Rules for the Jumu'ah Khutbah

1. Once all the people have gathered together, the imam should sit on the mimbar and the mu'azzin should call out the adhaan in front of him. Immediately after the adhaan, the imam should stand up and deliver the khutbah.

2. Twelve things are sunnah in the khutbah: (a) The person delivering the khutbah should be standing, (b) Two khutbahs should be delivered, (c) He must sit inbetween both the khutbahs to such an extent that Sub'haanallah could be recited three times, (d) He must be pure from hadath-e-akbar and hadath-e-asghar , (e) While delivering the khutbah, he must face the people, (f) He must recite A'udhu billahi minash shaytaanir rajeem in his heart before commencing with the khutbah, (g) He must deliver the khutbah in such a way that all the people can hear his voice, (h) The subject matter of the khutbah must comprise of the following eight things: (i) gratitude to Allah Ta'ala, (ii) praise to Allah Ta'ala, (iii) testifying the Oneness of Allah Ta'ala and the prophethood of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, (iv) salutations to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, (v) admonition and advice, (vi) recitation of verses or a Surah from the Quran, (vii) to repeat all these things in the second khutbah as well, (viii) to make dua for the Muslims instead of giving advice and admonition in the second khutbah. This was a list of the subject matter.

We will now go back to those factors which are sunnah for the khutbah itself. (i) The khutbah should not be too lengthy. Instead, it should be shorter than the salaat. (j) To deliver the khutbah from the mimbar . If there is no mimbar , one should stand up by taking support from a staff or rod. To take support from a staff or rod or to place one hand over the other while one is on the mimbar , which is the habit of some people; has not been reported. (k) Both the khutbahs have to be in Arabic. To deliver the khutbah in any other language or to add any poetry or idioms of another language as is prevalent today at some places is contrary to sunnah-e-mu'akkadah and is in fact makruh-e-tahrimi . (l) Those listening to the khutbah should face the qiblah .

In the second khutbah it is mustahab to make dua for Rasulullah's sallallahu alayhi wa sallam family, companions, wives, and specifically for the khulafaa-e-raashidin and Hadrat Hamzah and Abbas radiallahu anhuma. It is also permissible to make dua for the leader of the Islamic state. But it is makruh-e-tahrimi to praise him for things which are not true.

3. Once the imam stands up to deliver the khutbah, it is makruh-e-tahrimi to offer any salaat or to speak with each other. However, it is permissible for the saahib-e-tarteeb to offer his qada salaat at that time. In fact, it is wajib for him to offer his qada salaat . As long as the imam does not complete his khutbah, all these things will be prohibited.

4. Once the khutbah commences, it is wajib for all those present to listen to the khutbah. This is irrespective of whether they are sitting near the imam or far away from him. It is also makruh-e-tahrimi to do such a thing which will distract one from listening. Just as eating, drinking, talking, walking, making salaam , answering to a salaam , reading some tasbeeh , showing someone a masa'ala of the Shariah is prohibited while one is in salaat, it is also prohibited while the khutbah is being delivered. However, it is permissible for the one who is delivering the khutbah to show a mas'ala of the Shariah while he is delivering his khutbah.

5. If the khutbah commences while one is offering one's salaat, it is better to complete it if it is sunnah-e-mu'akkadah . If it is a nafl salaat , one should make salaam after two rakaats.

6. It is makruh-e-tahrimi for the muqtadis as well as the imam to raise their hands and make dua inbetween the two khutbahs when the imam is sitting. However, it is permissible to make dua in one's heart without raising one's hands as long as one does not say anything with one's tongue - neither silently nor loudly.

Nothing has been related from Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his companions with regard to delivering khutbahs on the last Friday of Ramadaan which contain matters related to the departure of Ramadaan . Nor is there any mention of this in the books of Islamic jurisprudence. In doing so, there is the danger of the masses thinking that this is necessary. It is therefore a bid'ah . Note : These days undue attention is given to this sort of khutbahs. If anyone does not deliver such khutbahs, he is accused and mocked at. Special preparations are made in listening to such khutbahs.

7. It is permissible to deliver a khutbah while looking into a book.

8. If Rasulullah's sallallahu alayhi wa sallam name is mentioned in the khutbah, it is permissible for the muqtadis to send durood to him in their hearts.