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Khutbah

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The Islamic sermon delivered during Friday prayers (Jumu’ah) and Eid, offering spiritual guidance, Quranic reflection, and community exhortation.

Detailed Definition
Khutbah is a living tradition of oral theology—connecting scripture to current affairs with wisdom and urgency. In poetry, it symbolizes the voice of conscience: echoing from pulpits, stirring hearts, calling to justice. Poets describe its cadence, the hushed crowd, the imam’s raised finger—not as lecture but as lifeline to the divine.
Example
Example in poetry:
A Friday poem opens with the khutbah’s call: “O you who believe—listen with your feet, not just your ears”; In a refugee camp verse, “The imam’s khutbah stitches hope into torn tents”; A modern reflection: “A good khutbah doesn’t preach—it awakens”; A minimalist lyric: “Khutbah: not speech, but shared breath toward justice.”
Additional Notes
The Khutbah is a central part of the Friday congregational prayer (Jumu'ah). It is delivered in two parts, with a brief sitting of the Imam in between. The sermon typically includes praises to God, blessings on the Prophet, Quranic recitation, and advice on a contemporary issue. It is not just a lecture but a ritual act that unifies the community. For students of rhetoric, the Khutbah is a living tradition of religious oratory and persuasive speech.
Also Known As
Khutba Sermon Friday Sermon
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