What is the ruling on the sermon after the Friday prayer?
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The questioner : Some imams preach to the people after the prayer. Is the sermon after the prayer an innovation or is it permissible?
The Shaykh : No, this is an error. Speaking after the Friday prayer is an error, because it leads to there being three sermons, especially if it becomes customary. Also, if he brings up a topic that is the same as the two sermons, it is a repetition with no benefit, and it may give the impression that the imam is belittling the previous sermon and that he was deficient in its delivery. If he brings up a different topic, the people forget the topic of the sermon that is actually prescribed. For this reason, Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If someone speaks after the prayer, do not listen to him, unless it is a letter from the ruler or a word to that effect, meaning something from the ruler that is read to the people. Otherwise, we do not listen to him.
The Shaykh : No, this is an error. Speaking after the Friday prayer is an error, because it leads to there being three sermons, especially if it becomes customary. Also, if he brings up a topic that is the same as the two sermons, it is a repetition with no benefit, and it may give the impression that the imam is belittling the previous sermon and that he was deficient in its delivery. If he brings up a different topic, the people forget the topic of the sermon that is actually prescribed. For this reason, Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If someone speaks after the prayer, do not listen to him, unless it is a letter from the ruler or a word to that effect, meaning something from the ruler that is read to the people. Otherwise, we do not listen to him.