Are there any hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the virtue of leading people in prayer and delivering the sermon to them on Friday, and does a Muslim receive reward if he does this?

The questioner : Are there any hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the virtue of leading people in prayer and delivering the sermon to them on Friday? And does a Muslim receive reward if he does this? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. I am not aware of a specific text regarding the virtue of leading the Friday prayer and its sermon, but the general texts and their indications point to the virtue of leading, whether in Friday prayer or otherwise. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: As for the sermon, it is part of calling to Allah and spreading the Shari'ah of Allah among His servants, so it falls under the general evidence indicating the virtue of knowledge, spreading knowledge, and calling to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So whoever has the ability to deliver a sermon that is based on what softens the heart and awakens ambitions, in a manner supported by evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, then that is good without a doubt. And it is incumbent upon the preacher, whether the Friday imam or one who speaks in a general lecture or the like, to seek out what the people in their community need and to clarify its ruling from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.