By Asma bint Shameem
Once the Imaam ascends the minbar and starts the khutbah, there can not be any more talking.
We should keep absolutely quiet and listen to him.
If we say a single word, our Jumu’ah is null and void.
📌 PROOF:
🍃Abu’l-Darda’ radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam sat on the minbar and addressed the people, and he recited a verse.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b was next to me, so I said to him: “O Ubayy, when was this verse revealed?”
But he refused to speak to me, so I asked him again and he refused to speak to me, until the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam came down (from the minbar).
Then Ubayy said to me: “You have gained nothing from your Jumu’ah except idle talk.”
When the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam had finished (the prayer), I went to him and told him (what had happened).
He said: “Ubayy was right. When you hear your imam speaking, then keep quiet and listen attentively until he has finished.”
(Ahmad, Ibn Maajah —saheeh by al-Albaani)
📌 As long as the Imaam is speaking, we must keep quiet and listen.
If he stops, like in between the two khutbahs or is quiet after he says salaam, there’s no prohibition.
🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“The silence is obligatory in the condition the Imaam is giving the khutbah.
So what is before the khutbah, even after the Imaam comes, it is not obligatory to be silent.
And between the two khutbahs, it is not obligatory to be silent”
(Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari 3/555)
The general principle for speaking during the Khutbah is as Imaam
az-Zuhri said:
“The Imaam coming out stops prayer and his speaking stops conversation”
[Malik in Muwatta, Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, and others)
So when the Imaam speaks, it is not allowed to speak.
🍃 Ibn ‘Abd al-Baarr said:
“There is no dispute among the fuqaha’ of all regions that it is obligatory to remain silent and listen attentively to the khutbah, for those who hear it”
(Al-Istidhkaar, 5/43)
📌 Even if others are talking we are NOT supposed to tell them to keep quiet.
Because if we do, that also counts as ‘laghw or idle-talking’.
🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“If you say to your companion when the Imaam is preaching on Friday, ‘Be quiet and listen,’ you have engaged in idle talk.”
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
But we can gesture to them to keep quiet such as by placing the finger on the lips, etc. without speaking.
🍃 Abdullah ibn Umar saw two men talking while the imam was giving the khutba on the day of jumua and he threw pebbles at them to tell them to be quiet.
[Malik in his Muwatta 234 with a Saheeh chain]
🍃 Imaam Ibn Qudamah said:
“If he hears a person speak, then he does not prohibit him with speech due to the Hadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam:
“When the Imaam is delivering the Khutbah, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have committed idle speech”
[Bukhari and Muslim].
However, he can signal to him as there is textual evidence that has come from Ahmad.
So he can place his finger on his mouth.
From those who took the opinion that one can signal during the Khutbah without speaking are Zaid ibn Suhaan, Abdurrahman ibn Abi Layla, Thawri, al-Awzaa’i, and Ibn Mundhir. Tawus disliked signaling [during the khutbah]”
[al-Mughni (2/165)]
The ONLY exception for “speaking” is if there’s an URGENT need; so the Imaam can talk to the people or someone can address the Imaam.
Or if there’s some emergency, like someone fainted or fell and hurt themselves. etc.
📌We CANNOT even say Salaam to the people once the khutbah starts and if someone says salaam to you, you should NOT answer.
🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“It is haraam to give salaams during the Friday khutbah, so it is not permissible for one who enters the masjid whilst the imam is delivering the khutbah to give salaams, and it is also haraam to return the greeting.”
(Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/100)
📌 Can we shake his hand without saying a word or does this also count as “idle speech”?
🍃Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“As for shaking the hands (during the khutbah), then there is no harm in it although what is better is not to shake hands (during the khutbah).
Rather, he should indicate to him (i.e. through his body language) in order that the person realizes that this is not the time for shaking hands since shaking hands is a type of distraction which can take the person out of the zone of giving full attention in listening to the khutbah.”
(Majmoo’u Fataawa volume: 16, chapter: yawmul jumah)
📌What about sneezing?
If you sneeze say Alhamdulillaah quietly to YOURSELF.
And if someone else sneezes, ignore that and do NOT say yarhamukallaah.
Otherwise it counts as ‘talking’
🍃 Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said:
“If a member of the congregation sneezes on Friday, he should say “al-hamdulillah” silently.
If he says it out loud and the people around him hear him, it is not permissible for them to say “Yarhamuk Allaah” to him.”
(ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 5/109)
📌Can I say Ameen to the Imaam’s duaas?
When the Imaam makes duaa, we can say Ameen QUIETLY to ourselves so no one hears.
And if the name of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam is mentioned during the Khutbah, we send salaams on him SILENTLY.
📌What about making tasbeeh and other dhikr?
We cannot say ANY form of dhikr, or duaa or use prayer beads either while the Imaam is speaking.
The scholars said:
“Remembering Allaah (dhikr, pl. adhkaar) is something that is liked and is required from everyone, and it is encouraged in all circumstances, apart from exceptional situations as mentioned in Islamic teaching, such as when sitting to relieve oneself, when listening to the khutbah (sermon at Friday prayers) and so on.”
(al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah 21/222)
However if the Imaam mentions the Prophet ﷺ, we should send peace and blessings on him quietly without raising our voice.
🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“If the khateeb mentions the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam, then the listener should send blessings upon him silently, so that he does not disturb the people around him.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/166)
📌What to do if others are talking near you?
If others are talking near you, instead of saying anything, just get up and change your spot.
DO NOT spoil your Jumu’ah by telling them to keep quiet.
It’s not worth it.
And Allaah knows best.
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