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Brief Rulings for the Jumu'ah Khutbah
Hadrat Moulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi’ (RA)

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.]