Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 527
In winter, Ẓuhr is generally prayed at about 12:30 pm or 12:45 pm, but on Fridays, the Jumuʿah prayer is delayed until 1:30 or even 1:45 pm, often with lengthy sermons. What was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ? How long were his khuṭbahs, and did he also delay Jumuʿah like today’s preachers?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Today’s extended and prolonged Friday sermons are contrary to the Sunnah and practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver two sermons, sitting briefly between them. His sermons included recitation of Qur’ān and admonition, as established by authentic aḥādīth.
① Two sermons with admonition:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ كَانَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ خُطْبَتَانِ، فَجَلَسَ بَيْنَهُمَا، يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَذَكِّرُ النَّاسَ.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 283)
“Jābir ibn Samurah رضي الله عنه said: The Prophet ﷺ would deliver two sermons, sitting briefly between them, reciting the Qur’ān and reminding the people.”
② Moderation in prayer and sermon:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ، فَكَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ قَصْدًا وَخُطْبَتُهُ قَصْدًا.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 282)
“I prayed with the Prophet ﷺ; his prayer was moderate and his sermon was moderate.”
③ Short sermon is a sign of understanding:
عَنْ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ:
«إِنَّ طُولَ صَلَاةِ الرَّجُلِ، وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ، مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ، فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلَاةَ، وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ.»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 282)
ʿAmmār رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Lengthening the prayer and shortening the sermon is a sign of a man’s understanding. So lengthen the prayer and shorten the sermon.”
He stated:
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
In winter, Ẓuhr is generally prayed at about 12:30 pm or 12:45 pm, but on Fridays, the Jumuʿah prayer is delayed until 1:30 or even 1:45 pm, often with lengthy sermons. What was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ? How long were his khuṭbahs, and did he also delay Jumuʿah like today’s preachers?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Today’s extended and prolonged Friday sermons are contrary to the Sunnah and practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver two sermons, sitting briefly between them. His sermons included recitation of Qur’ān and admonition, as established by authentic aḥādīth.
Ḥadīth Evidence
① Two sermons with admonition:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ كَانَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ خُطْبَتَانِ، فَجَلَسَ بَيْنَهُمَا، يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَذَكِّرُ النَّاسَ.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 283)
“Jābir ibn Samurah رضي الله عنه said: The Prophet ﷺ would deliver two sermons, sitting briefly between them, reciting the Qur’ān and reminding the people.”
② Moderation in prayer and sermon:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ، فَكَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ قَصْدًا وَخُطْبَتُهُ قَصْدًا.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 282)
“I prayed with the Prophet ﷺ; his prayer was moderate and his sermon was moderate.”
③ Short sermon is a sign of understanding:
عَنْ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ:
«إِنَّ طُولَ صَلَاةِ الرَّجُلِ، وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ، مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ، فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلَاةَ، وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ.»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 282)
ʿAmmār رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Lengthening the prayer and shortening the sermon is a sign of a man’s understanding. So lengthen the prayer and shorten the sermon.”
Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله
He stated:
- The khuṭbah should be concise, eloquent, and comprehensive.
- Three things are obligatory:
① Praise of Allah ﷻ,
② Sending ṣalāh upon the Prophet ﷺ,
③ Admonition to fear Allah (taqwā). - Additionally, in the first khuṭbah at least one verse of Qur’ān must be recited, and in the second khuṭbah duʿā’ for the believers must be made.
- If any of these five are omitted, then according to him, Jumuʿah is invalid.
(Sharḥ al-Sunnah, vol. 2, p. 578; al-Nawawī, vol. 1, p. 284)
Conclusion
- The Sunnah is to keep the Friday sermon short and concise, with admonition and Qur’ān.
- Lengthy sermons and delaying Jumuʿah prayer contradict the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
- True success lies in following the example of the Prophet ﷺ, not in lengthy orations.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
