Is it prescribed for the khatib on Friday to pray the greeting of the mosque and sit, or should he go directly to the minbar?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for the khatib on Friday to pray the greeting of the mosque and sit, or should he go directly to the minbar?
The Shaykh : We can determine the ruling on this from what was mentioned in the answer to the first question, which is that following the Sunnah is the good.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : We answer this issue in two ways. The first is that some of the imams of the congregational mosques arrive early, in the first or second hour, hoping to gain the reward of those who arrive early. Then they pray as much as they wish and sit until the sun passes its zenith, after which they stand and go up to the minbar. This is an exercise of independent legal reasoning, but it is contrary to the correct view. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not come on Friday and sit waiting for the sun to pass its zenith, then stand and greet the people. Rather, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would come at the time of the zenith, or when he intended to deliver the sermon, without arriving early.
The second is that when the khatib enters the time in which he intends to deliver the sermon, he does not pray two rak'ahs. Rather, the Sunnah is for him to proceed to the minbar, go up on the minbar, and deliver the sermon. The scholars said that he should greet the ma'mum (those praying behind him) when he enters, meaning those around the door, and he should also greet the general congregation when he goes up on the minbar. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : We can determine the ruling on this from what was mentioned in the answer to the first question, which is that following the Sunnah is the good.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : We answer this issue in two ways. The first is that some of the imams of the congregational mosques arrive early, in the first or second hour, hoping to gain the reward of those who arrive early. Then they pray as much as they wish and sit until the sun passes its zenith, after which they stand and go up to the minbar. This is an exercise of independent legal reasoning, but it is contrary to the correct view. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not come on Friday and sit waiting for the sun to pass its zenith, then stand and greet the people. Rather, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would come at the time of the zenith, or when he intended to deliver the sermon, without arriving early.
The second is that when the khatib enters the time in which he intends to deliver the sermon, he does not pray two rak'ahs. Rather, the Sunnah is for him to proceed to the minbar, go up on the minbar, and deliver the sermon. The scholars said that he should greet the ma'mum (those praying behind him) when he enters, meaning those around the door, and he should also greet the general congregation when he goes up on the minbar. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.