Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii “Friday Prayer Etiquette”
Dear brothers and sisters who, in obedience to Allah’s (swt) command, are standing shoulder to shoulder in our mosques on this blessed Friday! Jumu‘ah mubarak! May Allah’s (swt) peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
Dear Muslims!
It’s Friday today. It is the most auspicious of days upon which the sun rises.1 It‘s a blessed day on which we stand before our Lord (swt), raise our hands in supplication, and humbly seek forgiveness and pardon from Him for our sins.
Dear Believers!
The Friday prayer is a unique act of worship to which our Almighty Lord (swt) has granted a special place in the Holy Qur’an. Friday, with its sermon, khutbah, and prayer, purifies us from our mistakes and sins, guides us toward good and righteousness, and equips us with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, and brings us closer to the values that strengthen our social life. Every believer who seeks to benefit from this blessed time must set aside worldly concerns and heed the call of Allah the Almighty (swt).
Dear Muslims!
The khutbah is a prophetic address to the Ummah of Muhammad (saw), serving as a reminder of the commands and prohibitions of our Almighty Lord (swt). It is an invitation to humanity towards the way of Allah (swt), the light of Islam, and the beautiful morals exemplified by our beloved Prophet (saw). The khutbah is a requirement for the Friday prayer. It is not possible to speak of the Friday prayer without the khutbah. It is essential to listen to the khutbah with the same attentiveness and reverence as one would in prayer. Therefore, speaking with one another should be avoided during the khutbah. Greetings should not be exchanged. Mobile phones should not be used. In fact, the Messenger of Allah (saw) advises us to listen to the khutbah with such attentiveness that we should not even say “Hush!” to someone speaking while the imam is delivering the khutbah during Friday prayer.2
Esteemed Believers!
In the verse I have recited at the beginning of this Friday’s khutbah, our Almighty Lord (swt) states, “O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then proceed diligently to the remembrance of Allah and leave off your business. That is best for you, if only you knew.”3 Therefore, let us never neglect the Friday prayer, which symbolizes our submission to Allah (swt) and represents our unity and solidarity, except when there is a valid religious justification.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with our Prophet’s (saw) following warning: “Whoever neglects the Friday prayer three times in a row without an excuse, then Allah sets a seal upon his heart.”4
[1] Muslim, Jumu‘ah, 18.
[2] Muslim, Jumu‘ah, 11.
[3] Jumu‘ah, 62/9.
[4] Ibn Majah, Iqamat, 93.
