Dear Brothers and Sisters!

There are two conditions for Friday prayer. These are the two-rakat Friday prayer and the two khutba before it. These are the essential pillars of the Friday prayer and the scholars have agreed on this issue. In the 9th verse of Surah Al-Jumu’ah, Allah (swt) says: “O you who have believed, when [the adhān] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuʿah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allāh and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” The meaning of “proceed to the remembrance of Allāh” is the Friday prayer and khutba. The Messenger of Allah (saw) did not lead any Friday prayer without giving a khutba and said, “Pray as you have seen me pray. ”[1] If the khutba was not one of the conditions of the Friday prayer, the Messenger of Allah (saw) would have sometimes neglected the khutba to indicate this. However, no such thing has been conveyed. Therefore, the Friday prayer is not valid without the khutba.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Since the khutba is a part of the Friday prayer, it is necessary to behave in the same manner and respect while listening to the khutba as it is necessary to behave in prayer. While the khutba is being read, first of all, it is necessary to listen quietly and try to understand what is being said. Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran, “So when the Qur’ān is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.”[2] Many commentators have stated that listening to the khutba is meant here too. It is adaab not to speak while the khutbah is being recited. As a matter of fact, it is makruh to speak during the khutba.

A hadeeth mentions, “If you tell your companion to be quiet on Friday while the Imam is speaking, you have spoken improperly.”[3]

The state of being silent while listening to the khutba begins after the imam ascends the minbar. Even replying to those who sneeze (by saying yarhamukallah) should not be done. Everything that is haram in prayer is also haram during the khutba. Therefore, it is forbidden to eat, drink, speak, even if it is an amr-i bi’l ma’rûf; It is wajib to listen to the khutba silently.

Dear Jama’ah!

Unfortunately, we can witness behaviours that do not comply with the khutba etiquette during the khutba in our mosques. For example, during the khutba, the congregation talking to each other, laughing, and being busy with mobile phones are unfortunately common situations. As a result, they can leave the mosque without even receiving a single message from the khutba. The khutba is like a weekly meeting for Muslims, and what is told is like the weekly curriculum given to them. Because the weekly khutbas are carefully selected and written to set the agenda of the Muslims. People who speak during the khutba, by being busy on the phone, and communicating with each other, both violated the etiquette of listening to the khutba and prevented another Muslim from listening to the khutba. In both cases, it means that they are deprived of the rewards of the khutba.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Let’s listen and follow the khutba with sincerity. Let’s take advice from the khutbas and gain our weekly messages, let’s try to fix our mistakes and sins.

[1] Buhârî, Ezân, 18

[2] Surah Al-A’raf, 7:204

[3] Buhârî, Cuma, 36

Manners of the Khutba