The Conciseness of the Friday Sermon and the Length of the Prayer – Correct Meaning and Standard
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Page 246
❖ Question
What does it mean that the Friday sermon (khuṭbah) should be short and the prayer should be long?
Is this length and brevity absolute, or is it relative?
If relative, then in comparison to what?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
In this matter, relative length and brevity are meant, not absolute (undefined or unrestricted).
But this comparison is not between the prayer and the sermon themselves.
It does not mean that the prayer is longer than the sermon, or the sermon is shorter than the prayer.
Rather, the reality is:
- The length of the prayer is in comparison with other normal prayers.
- The brevity of the sermon is in comparison with other general sermons.
❖ What is the Standard?
The true measure of this comparison is the prayer and sermon of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ.
Whoever:
✔ Makes his prayer lengthy in accordance with the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ,
✔ And keeps his sermon brief in accordance with the sermon of the Prophet ﷺ,
then he fulfills the meaning of the ḥadīth:
«إِنَّ طُوْلَ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ»
“Indeed, the length of a man’s prayer and the brevity of his sermon are signs of his understanding (of religion).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, Bāb Takhfīf al-Ṣalāh wa-l-Khuṭbah)
Hādhā mā ʿindī wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
