Answered by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
I have read your previous rulings on the khutba of Jumma but still feel the need for clarification on certain issues. In mosques where the imams are from the Indo-Pak region a sermon in Urdu/English is always offered prior to the khutba in Arabic. Please could you clarify the following issues pertaining to the status of this non-Arabic khutba:
(a). If the person enters the mosque for Jumma salah and the non-Arabic sermon is in progress, can one pray their 4 sunnah muakkadah of zuhr or does one have to wait until the non-Arabic sermon is over?
(b). If a person arrives in the mosque and the non-Arabic khutba is in progress, and one feels that he will not be able to complete his 4 sunnah muakkadah of zuhr in the time available after the non-Arabic khutba finishes and before the khutba in Arabic starts, if a person is a slow reciter for example, can a person offer these 4 sunnahs immediately after the 2 fard salah of Jumma?
(c). Is the status of the two sermons (i.e. the non-Arabic and the Arabic) the same in that is a person not allowed to do zikr during the non-Arabic sermon as is the case during the Arabic khutba? Also must one pay the same degree of attention to both of the sermons?
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
It should be remembered that a sermon in the local language that precedes the main Arabic Jumu’ah Sermon (khutbah) is not more then a normal lecture or lesson (dars). It is not subject to any of the characteristics and rules that are the features of the Friday Khutbah.
By understanding this, all of your Questions perhaps, may be answered. However, the following are the brief answers to each of your Question:
1) Yes, one is allowed to perform the Sunnah prayer whilst the non-Arabic lecture is in progress. However, it would be reasonable not to make a habit of this, as it may disturb the Imam.
2) If time is short, then one is allowed to offer the Sunnah prayers after the Jumu’ah Salat is complete.
3) No, the rules of the main Arabic Khutbah do not apply in the normal lectures. However, it would be wise to pay as much attention one can, in order to benefit from the advices delivered by the Imam.
And Allah knows best
Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, UK