I have recently moved to the UK to pursue my studies. Friday prayer is offered in the university, but I wonder whether the practice of giving the khutbah in English is acceptable. I find this strange. May I also ask whether it is permissible to offer Maghreb prayer only a short while before Isha, if one has missed it at the appropriate time because of a lecture or some urgent business. (Z. Majah)
Islam requires the Muslim community to hold the midday prayer on Friday in congregation, and that it should be preceded by a speech in which the imam discusses some issues that are important to the community, the general situation of the Muslims, and reminds his audience of their duties to God, and the Day of Judgment. For the congregation to benefit by the khutbah, or the sermon, it must be delivered in a language they understand. If the congregation, or a clear majority, is composed of people who do not speak Arabic, what benefit would they have if the imam gives his sermon in Arabic? The very purpose of the sermon will be defeated.
In universities and colleges, the sermon is given in English because it is the common language understood by those who attend. This is the proper way. Unfortunately, in most mosques in the UK, and other places as well, the sermon is given in Arabic when only a small percentage of the audience understands it. It is often the case that the imam himself does not understand Arabic. He reads the sermon from a book, and makes it very short. In most cases, it is given in less than four minutes. Ninety percent of the audience could not understand a word. Even Arabic-speaking people might not understand because of the speed with which it is delivered. This is a poor reflection on the status of the Muslims today. Wherever the community does not speak Arabic, the sermon should be in its own language. Thus, it should be delivered in Turkish or Urdu or Malay, according to what is spoken locally.
Some schools of thought severely limit the time range of Maghreb prayer, allowing it only within a brief time range after it becomes due. Other schools of thought extend its time range to the moment when Isha becomes due. Each view has its evidence. It is always better to offer one’s prayer at the beginning of its time, but when one has some difficulty, it is better to resort to the easier view. God always wants what is easier for people, as He has stated in the Qur’an.
During Ramadan I used to hold a copy of the Qur’an with translation during the Taraweeh prayer. This helped me to understand and concentrate, as I do not read Arabic. However, someone objected to what I did, saying that it was not right. Could you please explain whether it was right for me to do so? Moreover, is it right to hold the Qur’an in prayer with the aim of correcting one’s pronunciation? May I ask where should one look up the Discourse section on your website? (Fatma M.)
What you did was to introduce a learning dimension into an act of worship. The Taraweeh prayer is an act of worship, often involving the reading of long passages of the Qur’an. While learning the Qur’an and understanding its meaning may be classified as an act of worship, it is not a formal one like prayers. Therefore, we cannot introduce one into the other.
Holding the Qur’an while one is praying, either to read out of it or to follow what the imam is reciting is permissible in the voluntary prayer of Taraweeh. Some scholars say that this cannot be done in obligatory prayers. To read its translation while the imam is reciting the Arabic text is not the same. It involves a totally different mental exercise, and it diverts one’s attention. Therefore, it should not be done. I appreciate that it could keep you more focused on your worship, but you should devote time for learning other than what is afforded by prayers. The same applies to the attempt to correct your pronunciation. This is a learning exercise and it should be given time separate from prayers.
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