The Friday sermon
OR
Friday sermon, its status,
its importance, its ruling, its implications in the hearts of Muslims
All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the
Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Prayers and peace of
Allah be upon the most honorable of the Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet
Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
Every week, Muslims assemble on Friday in
compliance to the order of Allah Glorified and Exalted, they listen to the
sermon of that great day. Thus, they have the opportunity to listen to what
benefit them and reform their beliefs and deeds.
O Honorable Sheikh, we hope that you answer the
following questions about this important subject so that it will benefit
Muslims.
1. What is the status and
importance of the Friday sermon in Islam? What is its ruling?
2. What are effects the sermon
can leave in the hearts of the Muslims?
3. What are characteristics and
conditions that should be available in the good sermon?
4. Did the Friday sermon have a
distinguished role in Islam? Is it possible to mention two examples of it?
5. What are the elements that
constitute a successful preacher?
6. What is the condition of the
Imam and the follower on Friday during listening to the sermon?
7. What is the virtue reported
about Friday?
8. Do you have a final word on
this occasion?
His Eminence the Scholar, the Imam Sheikh
Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Jibrin, may Allah guide him to His satisfaction,
said:
All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Walî
(Helper, Supporter, Protector, Lord), Worthy of all Praise, the Glorious. I
bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone; with no partner, a Witness
to all things. I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger,
prayers and peace of Allah be upon him and upon all his family and companions
who are faithful in unifying Allah.
Allah is Wise in His laws, fate and destiny. He
has obligated assembling, both general and private. On Friday, Allah Almighty
has ordered to come to the remembrance of Allâh (Jumu’ah religious talk
(Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)) and to leave off any worldly matters that occupy
one from remembering Allah. Allah has ordained the sermon delivered by the Imam
standing on the pulpit; a lot of people listen to what benefit them and to what
they are guided to by the Imam. Hence, the Friday sermon is one of the most
important means for calling to Allah Almighty and one of the most outstanding
ways of Islamic education. Allah Almighty has invited them to it and ordered
them to come to the remembrance of Allah; to what reminds them of their Lord;
to what benefits them in their life. Muslims receive preaches, sermons,
remembrances and what guide them to reform their life and to know how to
worship their Lord.
It was reported in the noble Hadith the urge to
listen carefully to the sermon, the forbiddance to engage in idle talks or
deeds or to engage in worldly matters. The Hadith even forbade touching pebbles
or ordering others to listen. Therefore, all people will listen carefully and
benefit greatly. Thus, the sermon is the most affecting thing to the behavior
of Muslims. It has the highest and most sublime status in Islam. It is
important that attention must be given to the sermon and the selection of
important subjects that are needed. The well-informed Imam who is capable of
knowing the conditions of people; who knows what is needed and what is to be
stressed at, is to be selected. He should be of high efficiency, eloquent, the
ability to convey the message and clarify the meanings, the establishment of
evidence and to present what is needed in all situations.
There is no doubt that, whenever the wise
believer -of Allah as his Lord and of Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be
upon him, as the Prophet and Messenger of Allah- whenever he hears these
guidance and sincere pieces of advice he will believe in them and their
essence. They will affect his behavior and manners. They will have a
significant impact on his deeds and actions. Therefore, he will repent from all
acts of disobedience when he is invited to sincere repentance. He will persist
in performing acts of obedience when he hears their virtues and good
consequences. He will increase performing optional acts of worship that bring
him closer to the satisfaction of his Lord and His reward. The Imam has aroused
his interest in keeping them. His heart is touched. His faith is renewed and
strengthened. The doctrine is stabilized in his heart. He leaves the Friday
prayer with a soft heart and a wet eye. He humbles himself to his Lord. He
regrets what has passed in his life of negligence. He avows himself to the
obedience of his Lord. He replaces sinful assemblies to others. He abandons the
companions and colleagues, who hinder him from the remembrance of Allah and
from prayers; he replaces them with righteous reforming companions who remind
him if he forgets, who aid and strengthen his power when he remembers. They are
the companions who fill their assemblies with useful knowledge, righteous
deeds, remembrances and pondering on the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah and His creation.
However, such impacts may weaken or be lost for
some praying persons. It is either out of heedlessness, inattentiveness or
sleepiness during the sermon. Man would be absent-mindedly or careless to what
is being preached. It is as if he were absent. Otherwise, it would be because
of the Rân (covering of sins and evil deeds) over their heart which prevents
him from repentance, being touched and from accepting the advice and guidance.
When the heart is controlled by sins and inclined to them, it hardens and it
becomes hard to repent. It will be difficult to part with the habits and
conventions that have become deep-rooted in the heart. It has become, as
impossible, to quit and abandon such solid settlings in the heart, except by
the will of Allah.
We may wonder about how many people who flock
to the mosques on Friday and then leave to their business and continue in their
play and inattentiveness. They remain in their transgression, wandering
blindly, due to the weakness of faith. This meeting has become something
ordinary. The majority does not think about its wisdom. They do not remember
what they have heard. Thus, after the prayers, you find them engaged in their
own affairs; speaking about their habits, as if they had not heard a reminder
or advice urging them to change and influence.
The characteristics that should be found in a
good sermon:
They depend upon the Imam and his ability. He
should possess religious Islamic knowledge and the correct belief. He should be
well-informed and knowledgeable; proficient in the ability to extract themes,
evidences and interesting articles from the books. Through the power of his
talent and gift, he can include his sermon with interesting exhortations that
move the hearts and feelings, induce determination towards loftiness, suppress
the evil souls from sins and bad ethics. They can give rise to the psychic
powers towards sublime attributes, and to be adorned with virtues and
dignities, to abandon all that undermines religion and all that contrary to
virility or brings about bad reputation.
Thus, we can see that such an Imam treats the
problems of people. He warns against the calamities, vices and well-established
sins that people fall into; such as Al-Fawâhish (shameful sins, illegal sexual
intercourse), drugs and violations. He narrates factual stories that give
lessons and exhortations. He gives evidence and reasons. He maintains clear
statements that illustrate the meanings and fix them in the minds. He does not
elaborate on the words that bore the listeners, and eventually make them forget
it. To sum up, the good advising Imam is the one who is keen on what benefits
the listeners, he follows up the news, asks about the reality of people. His
sermon includes sublime meanings and eloquent statements. He does not embark
upon trivialities nor does he condemn individuals. He does not scandalize those
who fell into acts of disobedience or violations.
The sermon includes praising Allah and thanking
Him, the two testimonies (that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is
His Slave and Messenger), sending prayers and peace of Allah upon the Prophet,
and recommending the piety of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. It includes
reciting some Quran, quoting some suitable verses and Hadiths, teaching
important provisions and the allowed and the forbidden. The sermon mentions the
acts of worship which people perform in ignorant or faulty manner, the
violations in transactions, contracts and felonies. It warns against great
sins. It calls for Allah Almighty, for being ready for the departure (death).
It mentions the promise and the threat, Paradise and Hellfire, the horrors
taking place after death and all that which affect the souls. Thus, Allah
Almighty benefit by these sermons, those whom He wants to guide.
There is no doubt that Friday sermons have a
great part in the Islamic history. The impacts of the Prophetic sermons are
still famous among the companions and those who came after them. The most
benefits and knowledge that were reserved from the Prophet, prayers and peace of
Allah be upon him, was that taken through the sermons delivered on the pulpit.
One of the female companions reported that she memorized {Qâf. [These letters
(Qâf, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân, and none but Allâh (Alone)
knows their meanings]. By the Glorious Qur’ân.} [Surat Qâf 50:1]
{ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ} ق: 1
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