Excerpted from the book: “Aḥkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani
❖ Question:
When the Friday khutbah is in progress, can a person entering the mosque say “As-salāmu ʿalaykum” to others inside?
❖ Answer:
During the Friday sermon (khuṭbah), whether saying salām or replying to it, or saying “yarḥamuk Allāh” to someone who sneezes, or reciting ṣalāt (durūd) upon hearing the Prophet’s ﷺ name — all these are matters of scholarly difference among the scholars of ḥadīth (A’immah al-Ḥadīth).
This difference arises because general evidences on both sides appear to conflict — with some narrations prohibiting speech during the khuṭbah and commanding silence, while other general narrations encourage the greeting of salām and sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Evidence for Prohibition of Speech During Khutbah
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you say to your companion on Friday, while the imām is delivering the sermon, ‘Be silent,’ then you have engaged in idle talk (laghw).”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 934]
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 851]
From this, some scholars concluded that any form of speech during the khutbah is impermissible. Even merely instructing someone to be quiet renders the act invalid or idle, and one may forfeit the reward of Jumuʿah.
Another narration from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما states:
“Whoever performs ghusl on Friday, applies perfume (if available), wears his best clothes, avoids stepping over people’s necks, and does not engage in idle talk during the sermon — his (minor) sins between two Fridays will be forgiven. But he who indulges in idle talk and steps over people’s necks — for him it is just a ẓuhr prayer.”
— [Abū Dāwūd: 347] | [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1810] | [Bayhaqī: 3/231]
Imām al-ʿAynī رحمه الله writes in ʿUmdat al-Qārī:
*“When the imām begins the sermon, it is appropriate for the audience to avoid anything that they would also avoid during prayer, for Allah commands:
﴿وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا﴾
‘When the Qur’an is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent.’ (al-Aʿrāf: 204)
The Prophet ﷺ also said: ‘Even saying to your companion: Be silent — while the imām is delivering the sermon — is idle speech.’”
Thus, replying to salām or saying yarḥamuk Allāh is discouraged during the khutbah.
❖ General Evidences Supporting Salām and Sending Blessings
On the other hand, there are general aḥādīth that encourage greeting and sending blessings at all times. For instance:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The right of a Muslim upon another Muslim is six… when you meet him, greet him with salām.”
— [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2162]
— [Musnad Aḥmad: 8832]
— [Adab al-Mufrad: 925, 991]
He also said:
“When one of you enters a gathering, let him greet with salām; and when he intends to leave, let him greet with salām. The first salām is no more deserving than the last.”
— [Abū Dāwūd: 5208]
— [Adab al-Mufrad: 1007]
— [Musnad al-Ḥumaydī: 1166]
— [Tirmidhī: 2706]
These texts encourage greeting at all gatherings, with no exceptions mentioned.
❖ Reconciling the Evidences
In light of the apparently conflicting evidences — between:
- the obligation to listen silently during the sermon, and
- the general obligation to return salām or send blessings —
a balanced position is adopted by some scholars.
Imām Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله in Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī writes:
“The prohibition of speech during the sermon refers to mutual conversation among people, not to the remembrance of Allah. As Imām Ibn Khuzaymah preferred, one may quietly respond to salām, say yarḥamuk Allāh, or recite durūd in a low voice. This allows implementation of all relevant commands, whether of silence or remembrance.”
This is also consistent with the position of the Ḥanafī school — that if the khatīb recites:
﴿صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾
(Send blessings upon him – al-Aḥzāb: 56) during the sermon,
then listeners may silently send blessings in their hearts without speaking aloud.
This allows them to fulfill both commands: attentiveness and remembrance.
❖ Final Ruling:
Therefore, if someone enters the mosque during the khutbah and says salām, the one listening may:
✔ Respond silently in their heart — thereby fulfilling the command to return salām
✔ Without violating the command to remain attentive and silent
Similarly:
- One may silently say “yarḥamuk Allāh” to someone who sneezes
- One may silently send durūd upon hearing the Prophet’s ﷺ name
These quiet, inward actions do not contradict the Qur’anic command of anṣitū (remain silent) or the Prophet’s ﷺ command to avoid speaking.
✅ Conclusion:
✔ Saying salām during the Friday khutbah is not ideal, but if done, it should be returned silently and inwardly.
✔ Silent responses do not violate the obligation of listening.
✔ This reconciles all authentic evidences — both of prohibition of speech and command to remember Allah and return greetings.
