Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

what supplication should the followers recite when the imam takes a break during khutba for the friday congregational prayer.

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Answer:

What supplication during khutba sermon

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It is indeed from the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) for the ‘Imam’ to take a short break (about a minute or so) and sit, when delivering the sermon or ‘khutba’ during the Friday mid-day prayer.

To the best of our knowledge there is nothing in the authentic and established Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) commanded or guided the believers to recite a specific supplication during this short break the ‘Imam’ takes during the ‘Khutba’ on Fridays….thus one may seek ‘istigfaar’ (repentance) from Allah if one so wishes, or one may make any supplication they wish, or one may stay silent if one so wishes.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan