Question
About the Friday Khutba, if the elected politician is a Muslim leady or a non-Muslim in a majority Muslim country, are they allowed to lead the Friday khutba and in what manners. Also in Muslim minority country like London we have mosques and the local politicians are mainly non-Muslim. Are they allowed to take part in Friday Khutba and to what extent.
Answer
The main point of the Khutba (prayer) in Friday prayer, apart from serving as a reminder for religious values and religious obligations, is to give people a chance to hear issues related to their affairs from the people in charge (preferably the head of the state where it applies).
Accordingly:
A Muslim politician, male or female, can deliver Friday Khutba (sermon) if this is acceptable to the head of the state. The prayer however should be led by a man. It is only obvious that in case a lady is delivering the Khutba (sermon) every consideration will be given to avoid any inappropriate situation in terms of male and female interaction.
Friday prayers are basically obligatory where Muslims have a land to rule. Therefore it is not an obligation to have Friday prayer where Muslims are in a minority and where they don’t have a state.
A non-Muslim cannot deliver the Khutba (sermon) as the Khutba (sermon) typically includes reminding people of God and His last Messenger (sws) and book. Obviously a non-Muslim cannot deliver the above with all honesty. There is however no problem to give the non-Muslim politician a chance to give a talk before the Khutba officially starting.
Hope I have answered your questions.
Answered by: Farhad Shafti
Date: 2015-04-02
