Q 2: We saw an Imam in Al-Bulaydah who, while standing above the pulpit, said to the worshippers: "Say that there is no god but Allah". Therefore, people pronounced Tahlil (saying: "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]") and Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"). Is it right for the Imam to say that? Is it right for the followers to pronounce Tahlil? What is the meaning of the Hadith that says: "If you (even) ask your companion to be quiet on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have in fact talked irrelevance." We would like an answer for this questions.

A: First: If the Khatib (preacher) intends by saying to the listeners: "Say that Allah is One," to guide them to what is obligatory upon them concerning Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship), Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship) and Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes), he will not be blamed even if they misunderstood him and pronounced Tahlil and Takbir in loud voices. But they have committed a mistake due to their misunderstanding and in raising their voices. (Part No. 2; Page No. 523) Moreover, he has to advise and point out to them what he had actually intended so that they won't do this again. If by saying this, he intended to make them answer him with Tahlil and Takbir in loud voices, then he has committed a mistake and Bid`ah as well as the people. This is because it was not reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) or one of the rightly guided caliphs said this in one of their Khutbahs (sermons), and likewise those who listened to them. The Khatib used to ask any of those who were present in the mosque about a certain thing such as what has happened between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Sulayk. When he entered the Masjid (mosque) while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering Khutbah, Sulayk sat down without performing Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (two-unit Prayer to salute the mosque). The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him to pray two rak'ahs. Another incident was when a Bedouin complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) because of drought. He asked the Prophet to supplicate to Allah to send rain from the sky. The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah, the rain fell and kept raining until the man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the following Friday Khutbah to ask Allah to stop the rain. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah to send rain to places that would make use of it without causing harm to anyone. Once, `Umar asked `Uthman concerning his not coming earlier to Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer. `Umar said: "What is this hour (for attending the prayer)?" `Uthman said: "I did no more but performed ablution only." `Umar said: "Just ablution!" (may Allah be pleased with them both). (Part No. 2; Page No. 524) It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected." He also said: "He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected." Secondly: The Hadith you have mentioned is reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and the compilers of the Sunan. It means that if you talk to the person sitting beside you while the Imam is delivering the Khutbh even by advising him or enjoining good and forbidding evil even by saying: "Stop talking" or "Listen to Khutbah", you will be committing a mistake and doing what should not be done. You have to talk to the Khatib in order to advise him to stop committing evil and to do what is good. Otherwise, people who are present in the Masjid will indulge in noise and turmoil. There is no blame to hint to a person who commits a mistake to stop doing so.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.