(7) Khutba –Sermon
The khuṭba is the sermon given on Friday (see post no.6), and also the occasion of the two main Muslim feasts: Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, and Eid al-Fitr (AR 30), the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast at the end of Ramadan.
The khuṭba is usually delivered by the imam of the mosque standing on movable steps which serve as a pulpit (minbar). The sermon must always contain prayers of blessing on Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, and his family. The first part takes the form of a commentary on a passage from the Qur’an, and then exhortations on moral conduct are given to the congregation. It is usually pronounced in Arabic but this may be followed by a translation in another language.
In countries where Islam is the official religion the text of the khuṭba is often written out beforehand by the Ministry for Religious Affairs.
Make A Comment
Comments (0)