SOME PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE KHUTBA ON FRIDAY SERMON CAN BE GIVEN IN A NON-ARABIC LANGUAGE, CAN IT? ANDIF IT IS GIVEN IN A NON-ARABIC LANGUAGE WILL THER BE ANY DEFECT IN THE SALAH OF THE FOLLOWERS?

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

 It is a Sunnah to give the Khutba in Arabic. Those who say it is permissible to perform the Khutba in a language other than Arabic base their argument on the notion that it is a lecture.

 However the Qur’an and the Hadith, seem to regard it as a form of Zikr. 

“Hasten for the remembrance of Allah (Swa)” (Surah Al Jumuah V9)

“Zikr”could refer to the Jumuah prayer or the Jumuah Khutba. (Maariful-Qur’an p455 v8)

Zikr and a lecture are different in many ways. Imam Abu Hanifah (RA) has said that by merely saying one tasbih or takbir the Khutba will be done. However a lecture would not be sufficient by saying one takbir.

Other differentiating features are that the Khutba is one of the conditions of the Salah, whereas a lecture is not. Similarly to sit quietly and remain silent during the Khutba is obligatory and during a lecture it is not. (Fiqhi Maqalat P127 V3)

Another source of evidence used in support of the view that the Khutba can be said in a non-Arabic language is the saying of Imam Abu Hanifah (RA) to recite the qiraat in Farsi (or any other language apart from Arabic) in prayers is permissible for those people who are not able to read Arabic. Therefore it should be permissible in the Khutba. (Nurul Idah P73)

The answer is first of all Imam Abu Hanifah (RA) has retracted (rujuu) from this statement and secondly he has only permitted that individual who does not know the Arabic language properly. Because he has retracted from that statement even if there is such an Imam who does not know Arabic, he cannot say the Khutba in a different language. (Ahsanul Fatawa P161-163 v4)

Maulana Khalid Saifullah has written that the Khutba should be done in Arabic, as this is the most preferred view, and the practice of the majority of the salaf (pious predecessors). If one wishes to do a lecture then he should do it before the Khutba with the language one is accustomed with locally. (Jadid Fiqhi-Masaaail P168 V1)

If somebody did perform the Khutba in any other language other than Arabic then the Khutba will performed with detestability and the Jummah prayer, which is read, afterwards will be done. (Fiqhi Maqalat P127 V3)

Only Allah Knows Best.

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.