What is the ruling on a lesson before the Friday sermon?

The questioner : The other question is about the mosque; there, at our Islamic center, the brothers in the call give a lesson before the sermon on Friday. I do not know, I mean, I understand that previously it was not permissible, there was no lesson. They justify it on the basis that there are people among the worshippers who do not speak Arabic, so the lesson serves as a translation of the sermon into English. Is this permissible?

The Shaykh : Are you asking about the sermon or about the lesson?

The questioner : About the lesson. The sermon is in Arabic, so it is the lesson.

The Shaykh : The lesson is not permissible.

The questioner : Even if it is a translation.

The Shaykh : The justification you mentioned does not make it permissible to hold a lesson before the sermon. However, it is possible to do so after the sermon and after the prayer, or to announce during the sermon: "O you non-Arabic speaking Muslims, whoever wishes may sit with me after the prayer, and I will speak with you about some of the questions and problems you face, and so on." Before the lesson, it is not permissible.

The questioner : They used to ask me to hold a lesson before Friday, so I would say, "I cannot do that."

The Shaykh : It is not permissible. Two or three days ago, a questioner from here asked me this question. I saw him insisting on the permissibility of this matter. So I said, "As I told you, this is not permissible." He said, "Even if the worshippers agree?" I said, "Where do you get this agreement from? I entered the mosque; do you see that I am praying the greeting of the mosque or not?" He said, "Of course." I said, "You did not take my permission to disturb me. How can this be agreement?"