If the mosque does not have a khatib, is it permissible for the worshippers to invite an imam from another area that is 25 kilometers away?
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The questioner : Here in our mosque, there is no khatib. A Friday khatib comes to us from another city, about twenty-five kilometers or more away. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this matter?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with that, provided you do not have a khatib from among yourselves who knows your needs and interests. There is no harm in a Muslim man coming to deliver the khutbah and lead you in prayer, if he is qualified for it.
The questioner : There is nothing wrong with it, but in the city where we live, there are some people who can deliver the khutbah.
The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you. I am telling you that if you do not have anyone to deliver the khutbah and lead you in prayer, and he is more knowledgeable about your affairs, as I told you before, then if you do have someone, why do you call the distant man and burden him with traveling this distance? However, if it is obligatory upon you for one reason or another, that is a different matter. If there is something, meaning you feel the need to clarify it, then every question has an answer. Did you hear me?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Did you hear me?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with that, provided you do not have a khatib from among yourselves who knows your needs and interests. There is no harm in a Muslim man coming to deliver the khutbah and lead you in prayer, if he is qualified for it.
The questioner : There is nothing wrong with it, but in the city where we live, there are some people who can deliver the khutbah.
The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you. I am telling you that if you do not have anyone to deliver the khutbah and lead you in prayer, and he is more knowledgeable about your affairs, as I told you before, then if you do have someone, why do you call the distant man and burden him with traveling this distance? However, if it is obligatory upon you for one reason or another, that is a different matter. If there is something, meaning you feel the need to clarify it, then every question has an answer. Did you hear me?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Did you hear me?
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.