In the Name of Allāh.
Perfect Praise is to Him for the blessing of Islām. Actually, there is an age-long argument on the validity of Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) in non-Arabic language. This is so, for Islām not to be seen as a blind faith that does not give recognition to people’s situation. Anyway, the time isn’t much to analyse the different opinions regarding the issue.
Summarily, Ijtihād (juristic effort) has been employed by giving credence to the higher objectives of Islāmic Jurisprudence, and the result is that the sermon can be delivered in the language of the majority audience (which may not be Arabic). There is no proof in the Sharī’ah to suggest that the Prophet (ﷺ) stipulated that the Friday Khutbah should be in Arabic, rather he delivered it in Arabic because it was his language and the language of his people.
The wisdom behind the sermon is to serve as reminder about Allāh. Allāh says: “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the day of Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allāh [Jumu’ah religious talk (i.e. Khutbah) and prayer]…” [Sūrah Al-Jumu’ah (62): 9] It is Wājib (mandatory) for every Muslim (going for Friday prayer) to attend the sermon from the very beginning, except the one having a valid excuse. However, how do people become reminded when they do not understand what the Khatīb is saying (in Arabic)?
Again, the intent behind the permissibility and validity of the Friday sermon in non-Arabic language is that when it’s delivered in a local language (of the majority audience), a very useful message can be conveyed through it and it can serve as an effective medium to educate people in many areas of Islāmic teaching. Scholars have however mentioned that, the verses of Qur’ān and Ḥadīth texts should be read in Arabic.
The above also applied to translating the Khutbah. If there are some people in the congregation who don’t understand Arabic, then the Khatīb should combine the two languages, giving the Khutbah in Arabic (for its preservation and encouraging its learning as seen by some scholars) then repeating it in the other language which the other people understand. The Khatīb should do that which best suits the interests of the people he is addressing. Truly, Islām is for mercy, ease, justice, goodness, and wisdom.
I beseech Allāh to make our journey towards understanding Islām, towards living a life of mercy and wisdom, be ever bright and blessed. Aameen
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