‘If the imam has ascended the pulpit (for Khutba) then there is no talking or prayer.' A common notion circulating widely among the Muslims is, if the Imam has ascended the pulpit to deliver the Friday Khutba, then, there is no speech or prayer; and the Arabic version says, “Itha kharaj al imam, fala salata wala kalam.” This has left a bad practice on the Muslim society. This baseless saying is quoted in “Hidaya”- a famous book of Fiqh. This is not an authentic saying of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) at all and is null and void. (Ref. This is not a Hadith by Dr. Syed Saeed Abdi – published by Darulkutub Al Islamia – Delhi) One more such saying is “When one of you enters the mosque and the Imam is on the pulpit then there is no speech or prayer until the imam finishes.” The scholars of Ahadith such as Allama Albani has stated in ‘Silsilatud Daeefa' that this saying is not valid. These sayings contradict the authentic Ahadith of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). The first agreed Hadith is narrated by Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah. He said: A man came whilst the Prophet (peace be upon him) was addressing the people on Friday, and he [the Prophet (peace be upon him)] said, “Have you prayed, o so and so?” He said, “No.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,“Stand up and pray two Rak'ahs.” (Bukhari) In another narration the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If one of you comes to the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah and the Imam is delivering the Khutba, he should pray two Rak'ahs and make them quick.” (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud) Another authentic narration says, “If one of you comes to the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah and the Imam has already arrived, he should offer two Rak'ahs.” (Bukhari and Muslim) It is a Sunnah to offer two Rak'ahs Tahiyatul Masjid (greeting to the mosque) while Imam is delivering the Khutba. Those who do not do this, they certainly miss this important Sunnah . Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported, “Sulaik Al-Ghatafani came on a Friday, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was delivering the sermon. He (Sulaik) sat down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Sulaik, standup and observe two Rak'ahs and make them short.” Thus, it is obvious from the above authentic Ahadith that it is allowed and permissible for Muslims to offer two Rak'ahs even if the imam is delivering the sermon (Khutba). __
