Khutbah - Delivery

Delivery

At the beginning of the service the adhan is given, during which the khatib (the individual who delivers the khutbah) remains sitting. The iqama is given when the khatib descends. The sermon is delivered in two parts. Both parts are delivered while khatib is standing and punctuated by a pause in between them when the khatib sits down. During the sermon itself, it is obligatory to pronounce the following:

• the hamdala, or an expression to praise God and show gratitude towards him; saying al-hamdu li'llāh "Praise belongs to Allāh" at the beginning of the sermon is usually sufficient,
• the salawaat, or invocations of peace and blessings on Muhammad,
• recitation of a part of the Qur'an in the first part of the sermon or, according to some doctors, in both,
• admonitions to piety in both parts of the sermon,
• and dua (prayer) on behalf of the faithful.

The khatib must be in a state of ritual purity; his dress must be in accord with the prescriptions. It is commendable for the khatib to be on a pulpit or an elevated place; to salute the congregation when directing himself towards them; to sit down until the adhan is pronounced by the muezzin; and to direct himself straightway to his audience. Finally the khatib should make the sermon short.

In medieval Islam, sermons were generally delivered in classical Arabic. This linguistic requirement that required substantial training on the part of the khatib, and a notable degree of education on the part of listeners, especially non-Arab Muslims. This expectation contributed to the growth of a literary genre consisting of model sermons, such as those by the renowned ibn Nubata (d. 984). Later on, however, preaching in colloquial languages, while often retaining certain Arabic expressions, has become increasingly common.