Ruling on Delivering the Friday Khutbah While Standing or Sitting
Question:
Does the fact that the Prophet ﷺ delivered the Friday Khutbah while standing indicate that doing so is obligatory, or is it merely a Sunnah? And is it permissible to deliver the Khutbah while sitting?
Answer by Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir حفظه الله
The principle you have mentioned — that the mere action of the Prophet ﷺ does not indicate obligation unless supported by additional evidence — is generally valid. However, the matter of the Friday Khutbah is a specific case, because the Prophet ﷺ always delivered the Khutbah while standing.
Evidence:
Sayyiduna ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما stated:
"كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَخْطُبُ قَائِمًا، ثُمَّ يَقْعُدُ، ثُمَّ يَقُومُ كَمَا تَفْعَلُونَ الْآنَ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 920)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver the Khutbah while standing, then he would sit, and then stand again — as you people do today.
Practice of the Companions:
In another narration, it is reported that ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī al-Ḥakam once delivered the Khutbah while sitting. Upon this, the Companion Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah رضي الله عنه objected to his action.
This indicates that delivering the Khutbah while standing was considered important by the Companions as well.
Ruling:
◈ Delivering the Khutbah while standing is Sunnah, and it is not permissible to abandon it without a valid excuse.
◈ If there is a legitimate excuse, such as illness or physical inability, then delivering the Khutbah while sitting is permitted, and the ruling changes accordingly.
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ
And Allah knows best.
