What is the ruling on returning the greeting and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he is mentioned, and saying "Ameen" while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on returning the greeting, saying "Ameen," and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while the imam is delivering the sermon?
The Shaykh : The Friday sermon?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Greeting during the Friday sermon is forbidden, meaning: it is not permissible for a person who enters while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon to greet, and returning the greeting is also forbidden. The reason returning it is forbidden is that it is speech, because if you say "Peace be upon you" or "Peace be upon you," this is addressing a person who does not deserve a response, because the rule is that anyone who greets in a state where he is not allowed to greet does not deserve a response. Accordingly, initiating the greeting is forbidden and returning it is forbidden. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
يوم الجمعة والإمام يخطب فقد لغوت Even though you are forbidding evil, and yet you have wasted, meaning: you have forfeited the reward of the Friday prayer.
As for sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) when he is mentioned in the sermon, there is nothing wrong with that, but on the condition that one does not raise one's voice, so as not to disturb others or prevent them from listening attentively.
The student: What about saying "Ameen," O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : And likewise, saying "Ameen" is permissible without raising the voice, because "Ameen" is a supplication. If we asked you, what is the meaning of a person saying "Ameen"?
The student: O Allah, accept it.
The Shaykh : Its meaning is "O Allah, accept it," so it is a supplication, yes.
The Shaykh : The Friday sermon?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Greeting during the Friday sermon is forbidden, meaning: it is not permissible for a person who enters while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon to greet, and returning the greeting is also forbidden. The reason returning it is forbidden is that it is speech, because if you say "Peace be upon you" or "Peace be upon you," this is addressing a person who does not deserve a response, because the rule is that anyone who greets in a state where he is not allowed to greet does not deserve a response. Accordingly, initiating the greeting is forbidden and returning it is forbidden. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
If you say to your companion, "Be quiet," on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon, you have wasted.
إذا قلت لصاحبك: أنصت.يوم الجمعة والإمام يخطب فقد لغوت
As for sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) when he is mentioned in the sermon, there is nothing wrong with that, but on the condition that one does not raise one's voice, so as not to disturb others or prevent them from listening attentively.
The student: What about saying "Ameen," O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : And likewise, saying "Ameen" is permissible without raising the voice, because "Ameen" is a supplication. If we asked you, what is the meaning of a person saying "Ameen"?
The student: O Allah, accept it.
The Shaykh : Its meaning is "O Allah, accept it," so it is a supplication, yes.