This is something that I sometimes wonder about.Why do some people insist on having the friday khutba in arabic?What good is having khutba in arabic in places where majority of people will not even understand arabic?
If I cant understand something then how will I implement it. Khutba's definitely need to be in the common language of the place, Arabic in the middle-eastern countries, Urdu in Pakistan and English in all english speaking countries.
Khutba in arabic is a sunnat....
Most imams however do make the attempt to split the time and repeat the sermon in english as well.
Salat is also offered in Arabic. How much of that do we all understand? We cant advocate praying salat in urdu or english just because we cant understand it. Instead, we should attempt to learn and understand at least the basics of the arabic language. Remember, arabic is the language of 'aakhirat'. All accounting will be done in arabic. Thats just an example of the status of this language.
How is khutba in arabic a sunnat?I don't believe it is.Can you explain that?
Namaz cannot be done in urdu etc. because namaz is a worship and that has to be offered in arabic.Please don't compare that to khutba as the two are different.
I know we should all learn basic arabic,but that can hrdly enable anyone to understand a sermon which is quite complex.
An erroneous concept about 'sunnat' is that it has to be done, otherwise u are committing a sin.
Anything done by the Prophet SAW is a sunnat, and emulating that earns Allahs SWT happiness. In that context, khutba in arabic is a sunnat. And the khutba is an obligatory part of jumma salat. If a person does not sit in for the khutba, his jumma salat is not complete.
I didnt say that khutba has to be done in arabic and arabic alone. Like i said above, most Imams do make the provision of delivering an english translation of the khutba in addition to the arabic translation, which enables everyone to understand. However, delivering it in arabic is recommended, and optimum effort should be made to do it so.
Namaz cannot be done in urdu etc. because namaz is a worship and that has to be offered in arabic
True enough, but if you dont even know what you are reading, what good is that namaz?
Sunnah is NOT fard or obligatory. IF YOU DO IT, you get great reward for it, if you don’t do it because of some circumstances than there is no harm upon you.
The purpose of khutba is to give information, to inform people of different issues concering life - and to eleminate ignorences. If I do not understand khutba that is being given in Arabic, I will certainly would want to hear it in a language which is convenient to me. I don’t think there is any harm in that. Let see what Quran and Hadith books say about it. See you in a while.
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V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**
----*High Priest-OF-Painful Truth*----
And say: “Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished:for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.”
(Quran, Al-Isra, 17:81)
..did not say that delivering in khutba in arabic is obligatory. I said that the khutba itself, is obligatory. Now whether its delivered in arabic or some other language does not interfere with its deliverance.
Deliverance in arabic earns addition sawab, since u are fulfilling a sunnah. But locally most imams do make the effort to translate it as well.
Arabic is recommended, because if we have a working knowledge of arabic, we will be able to understand khutbas, wherever we go.
Normally, people going from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia for Hajj go for 40 days…and during those 40 days, they dont understand a lick of whats being said in khutbas and sermons. Merely sitting in front of the imam in a humble manner with your arms crossed does not accomplish the task, does it
[quote]
Originally posted by Ahmed:
How is khutba in arabic a sunnat?I don't believe it is.Can you explain that?
Namaz cannot be done in urdu etc. because namaz is a worship and that has to be offered in arabic.Please don't compare that to khutba as the two are different.
I know we should all learn basic arabic,but that can hrdly enable anyone to understand a sermon which is quite complex.
[/quote]
Ahmed bhai! Your problem is hidden in the word "Khutba". Here is my counter question, What is khutba?
Everywhere in the world the Khutba (cermon) is delivered in the languages that the audience could understand it. Like in Pakistan you can hear khutba in Pusho, Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi or Punjabi etc. and so is case with other overseas muslim communities.
Khutba is not what is recited to start a certain topic, it can be a pray and it can be some verses from the Holy Quran. In some instance those verses can be the topic of that Khutba.
Understand?
If a glass is half full,there are two ways of looking at it,i.e.half empty or half full.
The prophet(pbuh) delivered khutba in the language that he and people around him spoke.In that context it would be a sunnat to deliver khutba in the language that the people speak.It would be against the sunnat to deliver khutab in an alien language.That’s something the prophet never did!
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The revelations are different,Quran and Hadith are revelations,whatever we read in namaz is also revelation from Allah.What I mean is that that is worship as tought by the prophet(pbuh).The above argument therefore cannot apply to these.But the khutba is different,it is a sermon prepared by the khateeb himself.
The prophet(pbuh)spoke arabic all the time,that doesn’t make it sunnah to speak arabic.What we have to consider is the question what did the prophet(pbuh) actually teach us about the khutba.Considering what the khutba has been described as being for,my argument would seem more plausible than the view held by some ulema that the khutba must be in arabic.
So once again let’s see what has actually been tought to us by the prophet(pbuh).We have clearly been told that the friday khutba is for teaching and reminding people about islam and it’s teachings on a weekly basis.The prophet(pbuh) did it his entire life.Given this purpose it should be considered an order of the prophet(pbuh) that that is to be done.It cannot be done in arabic,and there is nothing in the prophet(pbuh)'s teachings to show that it has to be done in arabic.
Therefore my question remains…considering all this why is it held that the khutba must be in arabic.
Exactly.
**
I don’t think it is addition sawab.Beacuase as I explained I think khutba in arabic is not the sunnah here,rather somehing else is.
**
I do agree that we should all learn some arabic,that is surely recommended but I think you are missing my real question here.Some hold the view that khutba can only be in arabic,I would like to know why?
Take your translating imams for example…they wouldn’t need to translate if the original khutba was in local language ,would they?Why do these people think that a khutba is not valid unless it is in arabic.This is something different than just “additional sawab”.
If you don’t hold this view than I am discussing with the wrong person
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But I certainly would want someone to explain the basis of this belief.
[This message has been edited by Ahmed (edited February 12, 2001).]
[quote]
Originally posted by Sophia Mujahid:
** Ahmed bhai! Your problem is hidden in the word "Khutba". Here is my counter question, What is khutba?
Khutba is not what is recited to start a certain topic, it can be a pray and it can be some verses from the Holy Quran. In some instance those verses can be the topic of that Khutba.
Understand?**
[/quote]
No I don't.You completely lost me.
.
[This message has been edited by Ahmed (edited February 12, 2001).]
The prophet(pbuh) delivered khutba in the language that he and people around him spoke.
Is that to say that Allah SWT revealed the Quran to Prophet SAW in arabic just because he was a resident of Arabia? No…it was because Allah SWT meant it to be that way. And yes, there is a difference between the two.
In that context it would be a sunnat to deliver khutba in the language that the people speak.
A sunnat is something that is done exactly the way Prophet SAW did it. You are using deductive reasoning here, which in my mind, does not apply. Would it be ok for people to start reciting the Quran in english only, since thats the language they understand in the US? or urdu in Pakistan?
Quran and Hadith are revelations,whatever we read in namaz is also revelation from Allah.
Ahadees are not revelations
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and besides, the issue is not about revelations here. Its about uniformity among muslims.
The prophet(pbuh)spoke arabic all the time,that doesn’t make it sunnah to speak arabic.
Yes it does.
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It cannot be done in arabic,and there is nothing in the prophet(pbuh)'s teachings to show that it has to be done in arabic.
No it doesnt have to be done in arabic. But its recommended.
Therefore my question remains…considering all this why is it held that the khutba must be in arabic.
Because arabic is supposed to be the central language of muslims all over the world. Its a shame for us, because other religions, that we call kufr, are so meticulous in their ways…you meet a jew anywhere in the world, and he will have a working knowledge of hebrew…so why do we have to come up with excuses for our lack of devotion?
I don’t think it is addition sawab.Beacuase as I explained I think khutba in arabic is not the sunnah here,rather somehing else is.
Use of arabic does earn additional sawab, because Prophet SAW is quoted to have said…arabic is the language of jannah…and all the questioning on the day of judgement will be in arabic.
Khutba in arabic, as said before, is not a compulsion…but makes more sense than anything else, because arabic is supposed to be the central language of muslims all over the world. If you go to an ISNA or ICNA convention, you will have speakers there from all over the world, many of whom dont speak your language. Hence they make speeches in the language that they think all muslims know, i-e Arabic. But how would they know that majority of the muslims dont even know what they pray in their salat, let alone understand what they are saying.
Heres the bottom line. If an Imam delivers a khutba in arabic and noone understands him, hes not the one to blame. Blame those who cannot understand him. Understanding the words of salat is much more important than khutba. If the folks dont even know what they are reciting when they pray, what right do they have complaining about an arabic khutba?
Our problem is…in worldly matters, we always come up with a justification, a reasoning for everything. But in islamic matters, we always search for loopholes. People who bear and raise kids in USA or UK always try to make sure their kids learn urdu, so they can communicate with their folks back home on their once every 10 year visits. But they dont bother with arabic, even though u have to communicate with Allah SWT 5 times a day. Use deductive logic here
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Your question was answered very early in the thread. Its not obligatory for the Imam to do a khitaab in arabic. But if the Imam does not know any language other than arabic, then thats not his fault. Its the listener’s deficiency.
OH man, whats the fuss about?
The very first part of the khutbaa, SHOULD be in Arabic and the REST of it that involves “informing people” should be in the language understood by the majority of the listeners.
As I said earlier, purpose of the khutba is to give knowledge and eliminate ignorence, you cannot do both of them if you deliver khutba in the language which majority of the people do not understand.
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Nothing wrong with reading an arabic surah and than reading its translation. Consider the khutbaa in the same context…
V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**
----*High Priest-OF-Painful Truth*----
And say: “Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished:for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.”
(Quran, Al-Isra, 17:81)
watcher is right.
from what i know.. there are two parts: the khutba (which MUST be in arabic) and the Waaz.. which is like a lecture in any language. khutba can be two lines.. waaz can be 15 min worth of lecturing.
see the difference?
-mehndi
when u listen to Quranic recitation done by a pakistani person and one who is fluent in arabic (speaks/writes it)... u will feel different levels of spirtuality between the two recitations. i dont know why. but it happens.
every arabic letter of the Quran... every sound.. has a purpose. to read the Quran in any other language (besides understanding it) would be pointless.
even other languages (english, french, whatever) can not fully implement the meaning of an arabic word of the Quran.
Delivering the sermon in a local language does not negate the namaz in anyway.
Is it the responsibility of the imam to ensure everyone understands what he says?
Or is it the responsibility of the people to make sure they understand the Imam?
If a person from Pakistan goes for hajj or umra, does he have the right to complain why the Imam isnt delivering the sermon in urdu?
Last year, the Imam-e-Masjid-e-nabvi came to the US and spoke at the ISNA and ICNA conventions. Now he doesnt know a lick of english. Is it realistic of people to expect him to learn english just so his 'american audience' can understand him?
When we go to school in Pakistan, we are taught english from the very beginning....why? so we can understand physics, chemistry, biology. We are taught a foreign language just so we can read books. Try asking ur English professor to explain one of Keats' poems in urdu, since thats ur native language.
[quote]
Originally posted by Eastern Analog:
**Delivering the sermon in a local language does not negate the namaz in anyway.
Is it the responsibility of the imam to ensure everyone understands what he says?
Or is it the responsibility of the people to make sure they understand the Imam?
If a person from Pakistan goes for hajj or umra, does he have the right to complain why the Imam isnt delivering the sermon in urdu?
Last year, the Imam-e-Masjid-e-nabvi came to the US and spoke at the ISNA and ICNA conventions. Now he doesnt know a lick of english. Is it realistic of people to expect him to learn english just so his 'american audience' can understand him?
When we go to school in Pakistan, we are taught english from the very beginning....why? so we can understand physics, chemistry, biology. We are taught a foreign language just so we can read books. Try asking ur English professor to explain one of Keats' poems in urdu, since thats ur native language. **
[/quote]
rightfully said.
-mehndi
any historian/archeologist/scholar who studies a particular people/country/culture first learns the LANGUAGE so he can better understand everything.
.
..
[This message has been edited by Admin (edited February 15, 2001).]
the khutba addresses the ppl, it should be in their local language, obviously.
Damn, problem solved eh? Thank you very much, I was looking for such a short answer. [You mind if I steal it?]
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V~V~VHe came, He saw, He conqueredV~V~V**
----*High Priest-OF-Painful Truth*----
**And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when you know (what it is).
**Quran,Al-Baqara, 42.