In the Name of Allāh.

Indeed, the Khutbah is a core aspect of the Jumu’ah prayer. It’s not just a sermon or a lecture, but a sacred ritual that holds great significance in the Islāmic faith. It’s an opportunity for Muslims to renew their commitment to Allāh and to receive spiritual guidance and inspiration.

While it is important to keep the Khutbah engaging and relatable, the Imām (to deliver it) should not squander people’s time by focusing on frivolous or unnecessary discussions that may detract from its intended purpose. The Khutbah should be rooted in fear and reverence for Allāh, with the ingredients of thanks and praises, blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ), and a balance of admonishment and encouragement.

The importance of presenting the truth cannot be overstated. Allāh says: “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allāh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth.” [Sūrah Al-Aḥzāb (33): 70] More so, Jābir Ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said, “The truest word is the Book of Allāh, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad. The evilest matters in religion are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.” [Sunan An-Nasā’ī 1578]

With this in mind, the Khutbah should be carefully planned and prepared to ensure that the message delivered is accurate, beneficial, engaging, and with the utmost respect and seriousness. The Khutbah should serve as a reminder and a call to action, inspiring believers to strive for righteousness and to avoid distractions.

I beseech Allāh to make us always strive to attend the Jumu’ah prayer with sincerity and devotion and guide us through what we hear, taking them to heart and acting by them. Aameen.

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