Question
Is it permissible for a Muslim who does not understand the language of the khutbah to engage in Qur’an recitation, dhikr, or du‘a silently during the Friday sermon?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah – The Asl
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you say to your companion ‘be quiet’ while the imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk.” (Bukhari, Muslim).
Allah says: “When the Qur’an is recited, listen to it and remain silent so you may receive mercy.” (al-A‘raf 204).
From these texts, the scholars ruled that audible speech and distraction are prohibited during the khutbah in order to preserve its sanctity.
The Effective Cause – ‘Illah
The purpose is to ensure attentiveness so that the congregation benefits from the admonition.
Case in Question
A Muslim in Montreal only understands English and Urdu. The khutbah is delivered in Arabic. He cannot understand or benefit from the sermon, and his mind wanders.
Legal Analogy – Qiyas
- The deaf person or one sitting far from the imam: When listening is impossible, silence is no longer obligatory, and dhikr is permitted if not disruptive.
- The hadith of Sulaik al-Ghatafani: The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to pray two rak‘at of tahiyyat al-masjid while the khutbah was ongoing (Bukhari, Muslim). This shows that acts of worship may coexist with the khutbah if they do not disturb others.
Scholarly Reasoning
In Bushra al-Karim (a Shafi‘i commentary), the ruling is explained as follows:
“It is obligatory for the deaf person to attend jummah, whether he understands the khutbah or not, and he is excused for not being able to hear it. In this case, it is recommended for him to busy himself with dhikr and du‘a, which is better than simply remaining silent. For the one who hears, silence and listening are obligatory in order to benefit from the khutbah. But for the one who does not hear, such as due to deafness or distance, he must avoid speaking but may engage in Qur’an recitation or dhikr silently, as long as he does not disturb others. Speaking, however, is disliked, even if he does not hear.”
Al-Kasani (Hanafi) said in Bada’i al-Sana’i:
“Listening and silence are only obligatory when near, so that they may share in the fruits of the khutbah through reflection and contemplation. This is not realized by one far from the imam, so he should secure for himself the reward of reciting Qur’an and studying knowledge. Silence was not intended in itself, but as a means to listening. When the obligation of listening falls, so too does silence.”
This establishes that when the benefit of listening is absent, silent Qur’an or dhikr is permissible.
The Position of the Four Madhhabs
- All agree: if one hears and understands, listening silently is obligatory.
- If one cannot hear or cannot understand: silence is recommended to honor the khutbah, but silent Qur’an, dhikr, or du‘a is permissible as long as it does not disturb others.
Final Ruling
If a Muslim cannot understand the khutbah, he must still avoid audible speech out of respect for its sanctity. However, by analogy with those unable to hear, and in light of al-Kasani’s reasoning and the precedent of the Prophet ﷺ with Sulaik al-Ghatafani, it is permissible for him to occupy himself with silent Qur’an, dhikr, or du‘a.
And Allah knows best.