AN EXAMPLE

We know that the composition of pure cow’s milk is not to be found in powdered milk. Despite this, our children are used to and are more adapted to powdered milk than cow’s milk. At times, they even feel disgust to drink cow’s milk. Hence, if cow’s milk is brought home, some may drink it while others won’t. This will create an upheaval in the house. The father or the responsible party of the house will prefer to get powdered milk which everyone may drink without any fuss. If ever, he insists on making the family drink cow’s milk, it will mean that he is not a good responsible party who wants the well-being of his family. Through this, he is causing harm to familial harmony. From this example, we learn that it is better to have something good which creates harmony instead of something which is better but creates disagreement and dispute.

We learned this principle from the attitude of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) regarding the renovation or reconstruction of Ka'bah Shareef according to the plan of Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam) in putting a roof over the area called Hateem and enclosing it with walls. In general, the Ka'bah which was according to the plan of Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam) was better. However, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had abandoned this idea merely so as not to create confusion in the mind of people. If this applies to something which is better, then it will apply even more for something which is not good. Hence, in the light of this principle, let's study the problem of conducting the Khutbah of Jummah in a foreign language. Whomsoever one may inquire in regards to the permissibility of conducting the Khutbah of Jummah in Arabic, there will be no one who will say that it is not permissible. Everyone agrees that it is permissible. During Hajj, the people who do not know Arabic are more than those who know. Despite this, they conduct the Khutbah in Arabic in Makkah and Madinah. According to the 4 Mazhab, the Khutbah of Jummah should be conducted in Arabic itself. Despite this, if we conduct it in another language, what other purpose can there be besides creating division in the community.

If ever, it would be permissible and better to conduct the Khutbah of Jummah in another language merely to create harmony, a concerned and responsible person would have preferred it to be conducted in Arabic which is consented by all. Nonetheless, when we know that it is not even permissible to conduct it in another language, then why insist on it? There maybe a reason or a purpose behind that, but definitely, there is no welfare for the community. And in doing so, we are not showing our good faith. We, as preachers, must think about our condition in our Qabr if the community after us suffers the grave consequences caused by irresponsible decisions that we may have made during our lives!

[English version of "Ene l’exemple (Khoutbah en creole)" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.2]