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Fatwa CenterAbandoning the Friday Khutbah
Question
Salaam ‘Alaykum.If a person is always late for Jumu’ah and misses the khutbah but catches the prayer, then does he fall into the threat of those whose hearts may be concealed? What if this person tries but is habitually unpunctual?Jazaakum-Allaah Khayran.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We have not come across a text of the scholars regarding the fact that the person who abandons the Khutbah, is like the one who abandons the Friday prayer.
If a person reaches the Friday prayer, he is not called a person who abandoned the Friday prayer especially that some scholars differed in opinion about the obligation of attending the Khutbah. Some of them consider it to be obligatory and some of them are of the view that it is desirable.
Ash-Shawkaani, who is of the view that attending the Friday Khutbah is desirable said:
“There is no threat that is reported about abandoning the Friday Khutbah, neither explicitly nor implicitly.” [End of quote]
The view we adopt here in Islamweb is that it is obligatory to attend the Khutbah. The evidence that it is obligatory is that it prohibits the sale [during this time]; and was it not that it is obligatory, it would not make it forbidden to sell during the Khutbah. Because what is desirable does not render forbidden what is permissible.
The evidence about its obligation is the saying of Allah in Surah al-Jumu'ah. Allah Says (what means): {But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers."} [Quran 62:11]
Ibn Attiyah 
said in al-Muharrir al-Wajeez: “This verse is evidence that it is obligatory to attend the Khutbah in Friday prayer because Allah did not say: and they left the prayer [rather, He said: they left you standing: meaning while giving the Khutbah]. [End of quote]
Al-Qurbubi said the same thing:
“The evidence that it is obligatory to attend the Friday Khutbah is the Saying of Allah (which means): {and left you standing}; this is a despise, and the person who abandons an obligation is Islamically rebuked; and the Prophet did not pray the Friday prayer except after delivering the Kutbah.”
Therefore, a Muslim must fear Allah and be keen on going to the Friday prayer early. In case he is late, he should not be late for the beginning of the Khutbah.
Allah knows best.
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