An Appraisal of the Legality of Translating Jumu’ah Khutbah in Nigeria

Abstract

Khutbah (sermon) is one of the pillars of the Friday (Jumu’ah) prayer. When Islam spread to Nigeria, the Friday sermon was always delivered in Arabic. However, along with the increasing population of Muslims in the country, there is a desire among the people to translate Friday sermons into local languages so that the material presented can be fully understood by the congregation. This research examines the legality of Friday sermons delivered in local languages in Nigeria. The method used in this research is participatory and non-participatory observation methods. The final results of the research reveal that normatively Friday sermons can be delivered in any language other than Arabic. This is what has been practiced in other sermons outside the Friday sermon, such as the sermon for the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Qurban. In this way, it can be expected that the congregation will not only be able to understand the sermon contents being delivered but can also increase their knowledge of current issues related to Islamic teachings.