Why Is It Sinful To Pray During the Friday Sermon (Khutba)?

Question: Why is it sinful to pray during the Friday Sermon (Khutba)?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

It is sinful to pray during the Friday sermon (khutba) because the Prophet forbade us from speaking during the sermon. [Bukhari and Muslim] The reason why we are forbidden to talk during the sermon is that it distracts us from listening to it properly. Becoming engrossed in something else, like prayer, is even likely to make us not listen carefully to the sermon. [Asna al-Matalib, Zakariyya al-Ansari]

This is also the reason why it is forbidden to buy and sell during the sermon. Allah Most High says, ‘O you who have believed, when [the azan] is called for the prayer on Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade.’ [Qur’an, 62: 9] “Remembrance of Allah” here means the khutba. [Al-Majmu, Nawawi]

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.