The ruling on delivering a lesson before the Friday prayer

Question:
The questioner asks: What is the ruling on gathering in circles before Friday, sometimes without regularity, given that the Ministry of Awqaf requires imams to deliver a lesson before Friday?

Answer:
The lesson is not part of the gathering in circles. The lesson is a sermon delivered to the people who have gathered for the Friday prayer; a lesson or sermon is delivered to them before the prayer. This is a matter of consideration; it is not to be denied in a complete sense, but it is better to leave it, because the khutbah is sufficient. The khutbah is sufficient in place of the sermon and the lesson. What is required is that when people attend the Friday prayer, they should occupy themselves with the remembrance of Allah, voluntary prayers, and reciting the Qur'an. This is the best, better than delivering a lesson before Friday. However, if someone does it, he is not to be denied.