Giving a speech before the Khutbah of Jummah

In practice, we give a speech before giving the Khutbah on the Mimbar on the day of Jummah. What is its ruling according to the Shariah? First of all, the Fuqaha did not make mention of this speech in the chapter in which they dealt with the principles and regulations concerning Salaat-ul-Jummah. If they did not mention it, it is because this speech is not included in Salaat-ul-Jummah nor is it a principle for that day. They drew our attention rather to Ghusl, Khutbah and Salaah. Despite all this, this speech is a practice that is fully in accordance to the Shariah. There is nothing that goes against the Shariah. Thus, it is allowed and recommended especially when there is an opportunity to address a relatively larger mass. This practice existed during the era of the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum). Such a practice should at least be permissible. According to a Hadith which is found in Al-Mustadrak of Al-Hakeem which is qualified as authentic by Al-Hakim and approved by Allaamah Az-Zahabi, Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) used to narrate Hadith until the Imam arrives for Salaah. The same is mentioned in Musannaf Ibn Abu Shaibah. According to another authentic Hadith which is found in Al-Mustadrak, Hazrat Abdullah Bin Busr (Radiyallahu Anhu) was narrating Hadith on the day of Jummah until the arrival of the Imam. According to Siyar-A'laam An Nubala of Az-Zahabi, Hazrat Salman (Radiyallahu Anhu) was asking Yazeed Bin Sohaan to speak to his people about Deen on the day of Jummah. According to Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq, Hazrat Tameem Daari (Radiyallahu Anhu) was giving a speech about Deen on the day of Jummah during the time of Hazrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Hazrat 'Usmaan (Radiyallahu Anhu) with their consent.

The practice of these Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum) and the approval of Hazrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Hazrat 'Usmaan in the presence of the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum) and the Taabi'in, are more than sufficient to prove the permissibility of this practice. To label it as Bid'ah is tantamount to qualifying those great people as ones who practiced and approved of Bid'ah.

[English version of  "Causerie avant khutbah Jum’ah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.2]