Q: I had the honor of being a member of the Board of Trustees of
Bournemouth
Islamic Center which is located in south
England.
During my last visit to this Center two months ago, the Imam (the one who leads congregational prayer) delivered an eloquent khutbah (sermon) in Arabic, yet his translation of the Khutbah was very bad because of his bad English. Out of Allah's Grace, brother
Tariq Palmer
an Englishman who embraced Islam during his stay in
Jeddah
for eleven years and now works in
Bournemouth,
his birthplace, volunteered to give a translation of the Khutbah with his fluent English. However, the Imam asked him to give his translation after finishing Salah on the pretext that it is not permissible to have two Khutbah for Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer. Needless to say, worshippers who have their business and engagements cannot wait after finishing Jumu`ah Prayer, and consequently they leave the Masjid without gaining any benefit from the translation which provides the content of Khutbah.So I wish Your Eminence will write to me with what should be legally done in this regard, so that we can ask the Imam to act according to your Fatwa.
A:
There is nothing wrong in
translating the Khutbah into a language understandable by the attendance or many of them, provided that it comes after the Khutbah is delivered in Arabic and before Salah. (Part No. 7; Page No. 140) May Allah grant us success. May peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions!