Bismillahi Al-Rahmani Al-Rahim

Non-Arabic Khutbahs

Q
Assalamualaikum Brother Musa

I want to ask you about the Language of Jummah Khutbah. Is it necessary to recite some minimum number of verses in Arabic for it to become valid? What if the whole khutbah is in English with not even a single verse of Qur'an, not even "Bismillah"?

JazakaAllahukhair

Wassalamualaikum

A
Wa `alaykum al-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

First, a quite review of the relevant rulings, as mentioned in a message on the third of this month. The integrals [arkan] of the khutbah are:

1. Giving praise to Allah Most High, by specifically saying ā€œAl-hamdu lillahā€

2. Making prayers upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)

3. Reading a verse from the Qur'an that conveys a complete meaning

4. Beseeching people to be Godfearing [taqwa], such as saying ā€œittaqu allahā€ or ā€œati`u llahā€

5. The two khutbahs and the prayer being performed consecutively

6. That they be audible such that forty people could hear them

And regarding the language, the world is divided into the following:

1. People who know enough Arabic to do the entire khutbah in Arabic

2. People who do not...

1. ...but can recite Al-Fatihah in Arabic

2. ...and cannot recite Al-Fatah in Arabic

Someone from (1) must use Arabic for all of the integrals. Someone from (2a) must read Al-Fatihah in Arabic. Someone from (2b) does not.

Now on to your questions, with slight re-wording.

Q: Is there a minimum number of verses from the Qur'an that must be read during the khutbah?
A: Yes, at least one single verse from the Qur'an must be read, as mentioned in the third integral above. Failure to bring a verse meeting the criteria renders the khutbah invalid.

Q: What if the khutbah lacks a complete verse from the Qur'an?
A: If the person was capable of reciting a complete verse then the khutbah is invalid. If he was incapable of reciting a complete verse and everyone else in the community shares the same problem, the khutbah may be valid; otherwise such a person should not be giving the khutbah.

Q: Does the verse have to be in Arabic?
A: If the person is capable of reciting a verse in Arabic, then it must be in Arabic. Unless everyone else in the community is also incapable of reciting it in Arabic, such a person really should not be giving the khutbah.

Q: What if not a single portion of the khutbah is in Arabic?
A: If the person is capable of doing the integrals in Arabic, such a khutbah would be invalid. Unless everyone else in the community shares this same problem, such a person really should not be giving the khutbah.

And Allah knows best.

Wa al-salamu `alaykum,
--Musa