What does the Friday sermon consist of?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What must the Friday sermon include?
The Shaykh : The most important thing is that the Friday sermon should include what brings about admonition, softens the heart, and directs people to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It should also include praise and glorification of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the like of what is called a sermon and by which hearts are admonished. The preacher should choose topics that suit the current situation so that his sermon has importance, impact, and acceptance among the people. For example, if the time of fasting arrives, meaning Ramadan enters, let his sermons be about fasting, the virtues of the month of Ramadan, and the like. It is not wise to speak about fasting, things that break the fast, and the etiquettes of fasting, and the like, in the month of Rabi' for example.
The preacher should also shorten the sermon to the extent that the intended purpose is achieved. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 869 and so that people do not become bored, causing the beginning of the sermon to be lost in the end. Also, when the sermon is long, it scatters the listener's attention, and he forgets much of it or most of it. However, sometimes necessity may call for lengthening it. If necessity calls for lengthening it, let it be a length that does not bore people or tire them.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The most important thing is that the Friday sermon should include what brings about admonition, softens the heart, and directs people to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It should also include praise and glorification of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the like of what is called a sermon and by which hearts are admonished. The preacher should choose topics that suit the current situation so that his sermon has importance, impact, and acceptance among the people. For example, if the time of fasting arrives, meaning Ramadan enters, let his sermons be about fasting, the virtues of the month of Ramadan, and the like. It is not wise to speak about fasting, things that break the fast, and the etiquettes of fasting, and the like, in the month of Rabi' for example.
The preacher should also shorten the sermon to the extent that the intended purpose is achieved. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The lengthening of prayer by a man and the shortness of the sermon is the sign of his understanding (of faith).
إن طول صلاة الرجل وقصر خطبته مئنة فقههThe questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh.