Fatwa: 72

Category: fatwas about prayer

Giving lessons before the Friday’s sermon

The question:

The activity of the imam of our mosque is limited to leading the five daily prayers and pronouncing the Friday’s sermon. He does not give weekly lessons. I asked his permission to give lessons in At-Tawhîd (monotheism). He accepted on condition that I should do it on Friday before the Friday’s sermon, because at that moment there are too many people. What do you advise me?

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Besides the conditions that qualify one to lead the assemblies of knowledge and orientation, [one should know] that the religious knowledge is confined to the following expression, “Allah says, the Messenger says”. In fact, the Messenger صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم “Warned of holding circles of knowledge before the Friday’s sermon.”⁽¹⁾ So how one who preaches the Tawhîd by his words can contradict the knowledge by his act? This is why following the Revelation and sticking to apply the religious texts are among the fruits of the Tawhîd of Allah and Islamic faith. Allah تعالى says:

﴿مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللهَ﴾ [النساء: 80].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم), has indeed obeyed Allâh﴿ [An-Nissâ' (The Women): 80].

He also says:

﴿قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾ [آل عمران: 32].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Say (O Muhammad صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم): "Obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم)."But if they turn away, then Allâh does not like the disbelievers﴿ [Âl-`Imrân (The Family of `Imrân): 32].

In another verse:

﴿اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ﴾ [الأعراف: 32 ].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’ân and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allâh), besides Him (Allâh).﴿ [Al-A`râf (The Heights): 32].

Therefore, there is no salvation except with two kinds of Tawhîd: devoting sincerely one’s worship to Allah and following strictly the Messenger. One should not resort or admit any other source except these two.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers Al-Muharram 23^th, 1430 H
Corresponding to February 22^th, 2006