Two Rak‘ahs During Friday Khutbah: A Fabricated Report and 10 Evidences
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-Salah, Page 445
Question:
Two Rak‘ahs of Prayer During the Khutbah
Research is requested regarding a well-known narration attributed with the following words:
"اذا صعد الخطيب المنبر فلا يتحدثن احدكم، ومن يتحدث فقد لغا، ومن لغا فلا جمعة له، أنصتوا لعلكم ترحمون”
Please provide authentication of this Hadith along with a scholarly and well-supported explanation of the issue.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
➊ Original Source and Authenticity of the Narration
This narration is not found with a chain of transmission in any reliable Hadith compilation.
It has been mentioned by Shaykh Abdul-Mut‘aal ibn Muhammad al-Jabri in his books:
- Al-Mushtahir min al-Hadith al-Mawdu‘ wa al-Da‘eef wa al-Badeel al-Sahih (p. 168)
- Mawsu‘at al-Ahadith wa al-Athar al-Da‘eefah wa al-Mawdu‘ah, Volume 1, Page 503, Hadith 1625
➋ Research of Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله)
Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) commented on this narration:
"باطل، قد اشتهر بهذا اللفظ على الألسنة وعلق على المنابر، ولا أصل له”
Meaning:
This narration is fabricated. It is commonly known on people’s tongues and even written and displayed on pulpits, but it has no basis.
(Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da‘eefah wa al-Mawdu‘ah 1/122, Hadith 87)
➌ Two Weak Supporting Narrations
(1) Narration from
Source: Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 3/193
Three reasons for weakness of the chain:
◈ (a) Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (or ‘Ali ibn al-Hasan) al-‘Askari – credibility is unknown
◈ (b) Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn (Suhail or Sahm) – also not verified
◈ (c) Yahya ibn Abi Kathir – was a mudallis, and narration is through ‘an‘anah
Verification sources:
- Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 7632
- Al-Nukat ‘ala Ibn al-Salah: 2/643
- It-haaf al-Maharah: 3/325, Hadith 3122
Imam al-Daraqutni (رحمه الله) said:
"ويحيي بن أبي كثير معروف بالتدليس”
(Al-‘Ilal al-Waridah 1/134, Question: 2163)
(2) Narration from
Source: Reported by al-Tabarani in Al-Kabeer, referenced by Majma‘ al-Zawa’id 2/184
- This narration is not found in Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer of al-Tabarani.
- The full chain is not available in any book.
- It includes Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik, who is weak and criticized by scholars.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) says:
“The response to the Hadith of Ibn ‘Umar is that it is weak. It contains Ayyub ibn Nuhayyik, who is known for rejected narrations, as said by Abu Zur‘ah and Abu Hatim. Authentic Hadiths are not contradicted by such narrations.”
(Fath al-Bari 2/409, under Hadith 930)
➍ Conclusion:
The chain both above and below Ayyub is unknown. Hence, reliance on such unsupported and fabricated narrations is impermissible.
➎ Summary of Research:
This narration is fabricated and rejected (باطل و مردود).
➏ Ruling in Light of Authentic Hadiths
As mentioned in:
- Sahih al-Bukhari (1166)
- Sahih Muslim (875)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When one of you comes while the Imam is delivering the sermon, let him pray two Rak‘ahs.”
Thus, if a person enters the mosque during the Friday Khutbah, he should perform two Rak‘ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid.
➐ Practice of the Companions
An incident from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, he entered the mosque during the Friday Khutbah and prayed two Rak‘ahs.
Some Marwan soldiers tried to stop him, but he responded:
“How can I abandon these two Rak‘ahs when I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ…”
Sources:
- Juz’ Raf‘ al-Yadayn: Hadith 162 (Chain is Hasan)
- Sunan Abi Dawood: Hadith 1675
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi: Hadith 511 — “Hasan Sahih”
➑ Prohibition of Speaking During Khutbah
This is explicitly mentioned in:
- Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 934)
- Sahih Muslim (Hadith 851)
➒ Practice of the Tabi‘een
Ibn ‘Awn (رحمه الله) reported:
“Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله) used to enter while the Imam was delivering the sermon and he would pray two Rak‘ahs.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Vol. 2, p. 111, Hadith 5165 – Authentic chain)
➓ Final Conclusion:
The said narration is not only lacking a chain but is completely fabricated.
From authentic Ahadith, and the practice of the Companions and Tabi‘een, it is clear:
One who enters the mosque during the Khutbah should perform two Rak‘ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid.هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
