What is the ruling on offering the Friday prayer with only one sermon delivered in a language other than Arabic in a country where Arabic is not spoken? A man traveled to a non-Arabic-speaking country for work and settled in a region with Muslim population. Upon entering the mosque to perform the Friday prayer, he found the imam delivering the sermon in a language other than Arabic and limiting it to only one sermon. The inquirer would like to know the ruling on conducting Friday prayer in such a manner.

Performing the Friday prayer with one sermon in a language other than Arabic is valid and fulfills the obligation for those who attend with the imam, whether it concerns the above-mentioned inquirer or other congregants. However, it is preferable to deliver two sermons to remove oneself from scholarly disagreement.

 

Ruling on delivering the Friday sermon in a language other than Arabic

It is established in Islamic law that examining the acts of worship performed by Muslims and applying rulings to them requires understanding their circumstances and the juristic schools they follow. Imam Shihab al-Din al-Qarafi noted in Al-Dhakhirah that all of the juristic schools are paths to paradise and a means to happiness, and that whoever follows any one of them would ultimately attain paradise.

The manner of the delivering the Friday sermon described in the question is valid in Islamic law. This aligns with the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa who maintained the permissibility of delivering the sermon entirely in a language other than Arabic, whether or not the imam knows and speaks Arabic. Imam Abu Hanifa's companions, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan, maintain a similar view, though they premise this permissibility on the preacher’s inability to deliver the sermon in Arabic.

Likewise, in one opinion within the Shafi‘i school, the issue is contingent upon the congregants' understanding of the language. This is likewise the position of the Hanbalis, who hold that the primary objective of the Friday sermon is admonition and reminder, which can be achieved in any language.

Imam al-Nawawi posited two opinions in al-Majmu regarding the obligation of delivering the Friday solely in Arabic. He noted that the stronger view, supported by the majority, deems it obligatory. Conversely, the other view holds that delivering the sermon in Arabic is merely recommended since its primary purpose is to provide admonition—a goal that can be achieved in any language.

In Kashaf al-Qina, the Hanbali scholar Abu al-Sa‘adat al-Buhuti, upholds the same position, namely that the sermon is valid in a non-Arabic language if the preacher cannot speak Arabic, as the purpose of the sermon is to offer reminder and praise of Allah Almighty, which can be achieved in any language."

 

Ruling on limiting the Friday sermon to only one

Limiting the Friday sermon to only one is sufficient according to the Hanafi school, and is consistent with statements of Imams Ahmad, ‘Ata’ Ibn Abi Rabah, al-Awza‘i, Ishaq Ibn Rahawayh, Abu Thawr, and Ibn al-Mundhir. However, it is disliked to curtail it to only one semon without a necessity; it is better to deliver two sermons in keeping with the established tradition and to avoid scholarly disagreement.

Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Zaila‘i, the Hanafi scholar, noted in Tabyeen al-Haqa’iq that it is valid if the preacher delivers a single sermon for the Friday prayer instead of two (in contrast to the established practice), omits sitting between the two sermons, delivers the sermon while in a state of ritual impurity, or delivers the entire sermon while in a seated position. He advances his view on the premise that the objective of the sermon is remembrance and admonition.

Imam Ibn Qudamah, the Ḥanbali scholar, said in al-Mughni (2/225),
"It is a requirement for the Friday prayer to have two sermons, which is the position of al-Shafi’i. However, Imams Malik, al-Awzaʿi, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, Ibn al-Mundhir, and the scholars of the ra’y school hold that a single sermon fulfills the obligation. A report from Ahmad indicates the same view; he said, 'The sermon should only be as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered it, or a complete sermon.'" It has also been reported from several companions, including ‘Ali, al-Mughira, and Ubai, that they limited the Friday sermon to only one without any objections from others.

The ruling

The Friday prayer conducted in the manner described in the question is valid according to Islamic law and fulfills the obligation for the attendance, whether for the inquirer or for other congregants. However, it is recommended to deliver two sermons to remove oneself from scholarly differences.

And Allah the Almighty knows best