Some of the Khutabah’s practical mistakes while delivering the Khutbah are the following:
* Ascending the pulpit so slowly. (1)
* Turning one’s head to the right and to the left when he says: ‘I enjoin you ... and I forbid you ... ’ and when sending Sal?t on the prophet ( - ) taking one step up then descending from it when the Sal?t on the prophet ( - ) is finished. All such acts are proofless. The Sunnah is that the Khat?b faces the people directly from the moment he begins the Khutbah till its end. (2) This is also Ash-Sh?fi‘?’s view. (3)
Al-H?fith Ibn Hajar said: ‘It is reported in “Sharhul Muhaththab” that the act of turning one’s face to the left and to the right is a unanimously detested act’. (4)
Al-M?ward? stated the same in his “Al-H?w?”, he said: ‘The Khat?b must not turn his face to the right and to the left while sending Sal?t on the prophet ( - ), in order to be a good follower of Sunnah and the good manners it teaches’. (5)
* Raising hands when reciting du‘?’: Husain Ibn Abdir Rahm?n related that ‘Im?rah Ibn Ru’aibah saw Bishr Ibn Marw?n calling du‘?’ on Friday [Khutbah raising his hands]. ‘Im?rah said: ‘May All?h ( - عز وجل -) disgrace these hands. Indeed, I saw All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) Messenger ( - ) calling All?h ( - عز وجل -) on the pulpit; he raised only his index’. (6)
(1) “Al-B?’ith ‘Al? Ink?ril Bida‘ Wal Haw?dith” (p. 84) and “Al-Amru Bi Ittib?‘ Wan Nahyu ‘Anil Ibtid?‘” (foil 25/B).
(2) “Al-B?’ith ‘Al? Ink?ril Bida‘ Wal Haw?dith” (p. 85), “Al-Amru Bi Ittib?‘ Wan Nahyu ‘Anil Ibtid?‘” (foil 25/B), “Rawdatul T?lb?n” (vol. 2 / p. 32), “H?shiyatu Ibn ‘Abd?n” (vol. 1 / p. 759) and “Isl?hul Mas?jid” (p. 48).
(3) “Al-’Umm” (vol. 1 / p. 230), “Z?d al-Ma‘?d” (vol. 1 / p. 430) and “Al-B?’ith ‘Al? Ink?ril Bida‘ Wal Haw?dith” (p. 85).
(4) “Fathul B?r?” (vol. 2 / p. 402).
(5) “Al-B?’ith ‘Al? Ink?ril Bida‘ Wal Haw?dith” (p. 85).
(6) Narrated by: Muslim in his “Sah?h” (no. 874), An-Nas?’? in “Al-Mujtab?” (vol. 3 / p. 108) and Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (no. 1104).