Friday Sermon: Must its topic be what is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or can it be about combating sins and guiding people to matters of their religion?
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The questioner : This questioner is from Umm al-Qura, and he has symbolized his name with the letter M. Ibrahim says: Friday sermon, O honorable Shaykh, must its topic be what is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or can it be about combating sins and guiding people to matters of their religion? And are there conditions for the Friday sermon or for the Friday preacher? I hope you will inform us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the preacher’s sermon using what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) preached is the best and most complete, because the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are concise, comprehensive, and beneficial. So for a person to preach with them is better and more complete. However, it may not be possible for a person to be knowledgeable about them, in which case he preaches with what is made easy for him. The purpose of the sermon is to admonish people and remind them of what benefits them in their religious and worldly affairs. The preacher should vary the sermon according to the need and according to what happens. If it rains, for example, he reminds people of the blessings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in this rain and reminds them of His signs in how He forms this rain, then combines it, then makes it a mass, so you see the water pouring out of it. He explains the signs of Allah in it, where it descends upon the barren, dead earth where you see no green, but it is gray and dusty. When this rain descends upon it, it becomes green, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Hajj 22:63].
Then he reminds them of the legal rulings that follow from this. If it is difficult for people, for example, to pray the prayers at their times, then it is permissible for them to combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, based on what Muslim narrated from the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined prayers in Medina without fear or rain.” They asked: What was his intention in doing that? He said: “He intended not to burden his Ummah.”
The important thing is that a person’s sermon should be appropriate in its topic to the audience or to reality.
In the days of Ramadan, for example, he reminds people in the sermon about matters related to fasting, night prayer, and zakah, and the like.
In the days of Hajj, likewise, he reminds people about Hajj, its virtue, its conditions, its etiquettes, and other things.
The important thing is that the most important element in the sermon is the admonition that softens hearts, and informing people of what they need at appropriate times.
As for the conditions of the sermon, one of its conditions is that it precedes the Friday prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to preach before he prayed the Friday prayer, and because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:10].
And among its complements, or it is said rather that among its conditions, meaning the sermon, is that it includes praising Allah, testifying to His oneness and to His Prophet’s message, and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). And reciting a verse from the Book of Allah. These matters are detailed in the books of Islamic jurisprudence, but the most important thing in the sermon is admonishing people, moving their hearts, and guiding them to what they need at times of occasions. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the preacher’s sermon using what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) preached is the best and most complete, because the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are concise, comprehensive, and beneficial. So for a person to preach with them is better and more complete. However, it may not be possible for a person to be knowledgeable about them, in which case he preaches with what is made easy for him. The purpose of the sermon is to admonish people and remind them of what benefits them in their religious and worldly affairs. The preacher should vary the sermon according to the need and according to what happens. If it rains, for example, he reminds people of the blessings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) in this rain and reminds them of His signs in how He forms this rain, then combines it, then makes it a mass, so you see the water pouring out of it. He explains the signs of Allah in it, where it descends upon the barren, dead earth where you see no green, but it is gray and dusty. When this rain descends upon it, it becomes green, as Allah the Exalted said:
Do you not see that Allah has sent down rain from the sky and the earth becomes green? Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.
أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَتُصبِحُ الأَرضُ مُخضَرَّةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطيفٌ خَبيرٌThen he reminds them of the legal rulings that follow from this. If it is difficult for people, for example, to pray the prayers at their times, then it is permissible for them to combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, based on what Muslim narrated from the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined prayers in Medina without fear or rain.” They asked: What was his intention in doing that? He said: “He intended not to burden his Ummah.”
The important thing is that a person’s sermon should be appropriate in its topic to the audience or to reality.
In the days of Ramadan, for example, he reminds people in the sermon about matters related to fasting, night prayer, and zakah, and the like.
In the days of Hajj, likewise, he reminds people about Hajj, its virtue, its conditions, its etiquettes, and other things.
The important thing is that the most important element in the sermon is the admonition that softens hearts, and informing people of what they need at appropriate times.
As for the conditions of the sermon, one of its conditions is that it precedes the Friday prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to preach before he prayed the Friday prayer, and because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
فَإِذا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلاةُ فَانتَشِروا فِي الأَرضِ وَابتَغوا مِن فَضلِ اللَّهِ وَاذكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثيرًا لَعَلَّكُم تُفلِحونَAnd among its complements, or it is said rather that among its conditions, meaning the sermon, is that it includes praising Allah, testifying to His oneness and to His Prophet’s message, and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). And reciting a verse from the Book of Allah. These matters are detailed in the books of Islamic jurisprudence, but the most important thing in the sermon is admonishing people, moving their hearts, and guiding them to what they need at times of occasions. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.