The khutba in a non-Arabic language

Question

(1) Should the Friday khutba be only in the Arabic language, or may there also be a translation and a sermon along with it? If there is a sermon [with it], what is [its ruling]? (2) How long should the khutba be? (3) If the ordinary muqtadis (followers) become weary of the length of the sermon or the translation, what should the khatib do? (4) Is it permissible for the khatib to bind himself [to the rule]: “I will certainly give a translation or a sermon”, while the muqtadis are not stopping [him]?

Answer

(1) The khutba must necessarily be in the Arabic language only; translating it, or giving an independent sermon along with it in any other language, is not permissible. If, however, on occasion some current issue is explained to those present in the course of the khutba, that is correct. Mawlana ‘Abd al-Hayy Lakhnawi ﵀ wrote a separate treatise on this subject.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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