Understanding the khutbah in your own language

When Allah describes how messengers were sent, He singles out understanding as the purpose:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ

"We have never sent a messenger except in the language of his people, so that he might make things clear to them." - Quran 14:4 (Ibrahim)

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

"Will they not then reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" - Quran 47:24 (Muhammad)

For young Muslims born in Europe, for those new to the faith and for everyone whose mother tongue is not Arabic, an entire khutbah can pass without a single word taking root. Making the message intelligible - without changing the khutbah itself - serves its true purpose. That is the whole idea behind Minbar.

Go deeper

Want to read more about the Quran, hadith, the companions and the stories of the prophets? Buruja is Minbar's sister project with daily Islamic content, free to use.

Visit Buruja

Translations of the meaning are approximate. For depth and rulings, return to the Quran, the authentic Sunnah and people of knowledge.


← All pieces