Author: Al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (حفظہ اللہ)
إِنَّ طُولَ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ، فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ، وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab Takhfif al-Salah wa al-Khutbah, 869)
Translation:
"Indeed, the length of a man’s prayer and the brevity of his sermon are signs of his understanding. So, prolong the prayer and shorten the sermon, for some eloquence is like magic (in its effect)."
The Hadith encourages Imams to focus on delivering meaningful and concise khutbahs while ensuring the prayer is spiritually enriching and slightly longer than usual. This balance demonstrates the Imam’s wisdom and understanding of the congregation’s needs. The implementation depends on maintaining moderation in both practices.
Allah knows best!
Question:
In Sahih Muslim, there is a Hadith implying that a short khutbah (sermon) and a long Salah (prayer) are signs of the Imam's wisdom. What is the correct understanding of this? If it indeed means that the khutbah should be short and the Salah long, when and how should this Hadith be implemented?Answer:
The Hadith in question is narrated by Ammar (رضی اللہ عنہ) in Sahih Muslim with the following words:إِنَّ طُولَ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ، فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ، وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab Takhfif al-Salah wa al-Khutbah, 869)
Translation:
"Indeed, the length of a man’s prayer and the brevity of his sermon are signs of his understanding. So, prolong the prayer and shorten the sermon, for some eloquence is like magic (in its effect)."
Explanation:
This Hadith does not mean that the Jumu’ah prayer should be longer than its khutbah. Instead, it emphasizes that the Jumu’ah prayer should be relatively longer than usual daily prayers, and the khutbah should be concise compared to other types of sermons.Examples from the Sunnah:
- Occasionally Lengthy Khutbah by the Prophet (ﷺ):
The Prophet (ﷺ) sometimes delivered long khutbahs, as is evident in Sahih Muslim, where he delivered a sermon from Fajr until Dhuhr and then from Dhuhr until Asr, mentioning past and future events. This indicates that the brevity of the khutbah is a general recommendation, not a strict rule. - Moderation in Khutbah and Salah:
Jabir bin Samurah (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) used to deliver two khutbahs, sitting between them. He recited Qur'an and advised people. His prayer was moderate, and so were his khutbahs."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab Dhikr al-Khutbatayn Qabl al-Salah, 862, 866) - Learning Qur'an Through Khutbah:
Umm Hisham narrated:
"I memorized Surah Qaf (ق) from the Prophet’s khutbahs, as he frequently recited it during Jumu'ah."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jumu'ah, Bab Takhfif al-Salah wa al-Khutbah, 873)
Key Points to Consider:
- The Length of Salah:
The Imam is generally instructed to lead light prayers (خفيف الصلاة) to avoid causing hardship for the congregation. However, for Jumu'ah, the Salah is expected to be relatively longer than regular prayers to align with the Hadith’s guidance. - The Length of Khutbah:
The khutbah should be concise, impactful, and to the point. It should not be unnecessarily lengthy, as excessively long sermons might dilute the attention and focus of the attendees. - Two Khutbahs:
The Jumu’ah khutbah consists of two parts, separated by a brief pause. Together, the time taken by the two khutbahs may exceed the time taken for the prayer itself.
The Hadith encourages Imams to focus on delivering meaningful and concise khutbahs while ensuring the prayer is spiritually enriching and slightly longer than usual. This balance demonstrates the Imam’s wisdom and understanding of the congregation’s needs. The implementation depends on maintaining moderation in both practices.
Allah knows best!