This article talks about a common mistake made during Jumu’ah prayers by presenting a hadith. It exaplins this prophetic guidance, how the early companions applied it, and how it serves as a timeless reminder for today’s khateebs and worshippers.
Prolonging the Khutbah and shortening the Salaat
Abu Waa’il (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) reported that once ‘Ammar ibn Yaasir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) delivered the Khutbah (sermon), which was short and eloquent. When he stepped down from the pulpit, we said to him: “O Abu Yaqdhaan! You have delivered a short and eloquent speech, would that you made it longer.” He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “I have heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘The length of a man’s prayer and the shortness of his Khutbah (religious talk) are a sign of his Fiqh (i.e. understanding of the religion). So lengthen the Salaat and shorten the Khutbah, for there is charm (in concise) expression.’” [Reported by Muslim]
The aforementioned Hadeeth does not contradict the affirmed Ahaadeeth that urge Muslims to shorten their Salaat; one of which is reported by Jaabir ibn Samurah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) who said: “I used to perform the prayer with the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and both his Salaat and Khutbah were of moderate length.” [Muslim – the Book of Jumu’ah]
The Salaat of the Khateeb (the Imaam who leads the Friday prayers and conducts and delivers the Khutbah) should be longer than his speech (Khutbah) but not so long that it would causes hardship for the Muslims. And the Khutbah should be of moderate length. [Sharh Saheeh Muslim by an-Nawawi]
During the present times, the Khutabaa’ (those who deliver the Khutbah) lengthen their Khutbah to an extent that it encroaches upon the actual prayer time, and then they try to finish the prayer in a hurried manner. This practice is against the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
It is incumbent upon the Khateeb to be considerate of the state of the people. A short Khutbah undoubtedly indicates giving heed to the state of the people and in doing that, there is abundant good.
However, Umm Hishaam bint Haarithah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) said: “I learned Surat Qaaf (chapter 50) from no other source than the tongue of Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when he would deliver the Khutbah to the people.” [Reported by Muslim]
This Hadeeth indicates that he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to prolong the Khutbah, and she (Umm Hishaam) said: “When he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) delivered the Khutbah to the people”, which indicates he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to recite this Surah within the Khutbah. Is this considered long?
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “We consider this Hadeeth a criteria to measure the length of the Khutbah. This is because some people prolong the Khutbah for an hour or more, which is lengthier than reciting Surat Qaaf.
Accordingly, it is said that the matter is comparative (estimative). The criterion to measure the shortness (of the Salaat and the length of the Khutbah) is the action of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
i.e. any Khutbah which resembles the Khutbah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is considered a light Khutbah, but sometimes there are situations which require the Khateeb to shorten his Khutbah even more than this, and in some situations – and this might happen rarely- the Khateeb needs to explain and elaborate the matter for the people, and it is necessary to explain it in the present Khutbah and not in the coming Khutbahs.
The most important matter is that the best manner of giving the Khutbah should be like the Khutbah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” [Sharh Bulugh al-Maraam]
A good Khateeb, who is well-versed in the lexical meanings of words and an eloquent speaker, who can deliver concise speeches, is indeed a Faqeeh. That is why the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed, some speech is like magic.” [Al- Muwa’ithah al-Hasanah]
Mistakes done by those attending the Salaat:
1. Raising the hands while saying “Ameen” when the Imaam recites Du’aa.
Shaikh Bakr Buzaid (Rahimahullaah) said: “Raising the hands with Du’aa is a recommended Sunnah, by the consensus of the scholars except in one state – and that is in the Khutbah on Friday. It is disliked for the Khateeb to raise his hands and also disliked for the one who is listening to the Khutbah – as long as the Khateeb is not seeking rain from Allaah in the Friday sermon. In such a case, it is a Sunnah act for him and the Ma’moomeen (those who follow him in prayer) to raise their hands during the Du’aa for seeking rain.” [Tas-heeh ad-Du’aa]2. Raising the hands when the Imaam sits between the two Khutbahs at the end of the first Khutbah and says: “Call unto Allaah (Ta’ala) believing that your Du’aa will certainly be answered.”
3. The recitation of the aforementioned statement so often by the Khateeb is also forbidden, for it leads to the Ma’moomeen raising their voices with Dhikr.
Sources:
Bulugh al-Maraam by Darus-Salaam Fat-h Dhil-Jalaali wal-Ikraam bi Sharh Bulugh al-Maraam by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) Tas-heeh ad-Du’aa by Shaikh Bakr BuZaid (Rahimahullaah) The Clarified Ruling of Mistakes Done in Salaat, by Shaikh Mash-hur Hasan al-Salman
