bears a clear order of doing the two Rak‘ahs even if the Im?m is on the pulpit.

[2/ 60] Accordingly, it is of sheer ignorance that some Khutabah prohibit those who attend the mosque while the former are delivering their Khutbahs from doing these two Rak‘ahs and hence contradicting the prophet’s ( - ) order. I am afraid that such Khutabah fall under All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) threat which states: [ أرأيت الذي ينهى * عبداً إذا صلى]

‘ Have you (O Muhammad) seen him (i.e. Ab? Jahl and the like) who prevents, a slave (Muhammad) when he prays?’. (1)

And He ( - عز وجل -) said:

[ لا تجعلوا دعاء الرسول بينكم كدعاء بعضكم بعضاً قد يعلم الله الذين يتسللون منكم لواذاً فليحذر الذين يخالفون عن أمره أن تصيبهم فتنة أو يصيبهم عذاب أليم]

‘ And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment (i.e. his Sunnah), be ware lest some Fitnah (disbelief, weakness of faith, Bid‘ah, hypocracy, ... etc.) before them or a painful torment be inflicted on them’. (2)

Accordingly, An-Nawaw? said: ‘This is a crystal clear text to which diverted interpretations have no access. None of the ‘Ulamah who know this had?th and believe in its authenticity rejects it’. (3)

The phrase “while the Im?m is delivering his speech” -in the previously mentioned had?th- indicates that talking while the Im?m is not delivering his speech is not prohibited.

Tha‘labah’s Ibn Ab? M?lik narration supports this. He said: ‘They [i.e. the Sah?bah] used to talk while ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khatt?b was sitting on the pulpit till the Mu’aththin finishes his