You're not the first person I know who's done that. Sometimes, to be honest, I wonder why, if the only khateeb on call doesn't really speak English, why he's being asked to speak in English at all. I'm also puzzled by the underlying assumptions. "I'm so important, it doesn't matter if I can't speak the language." Which is just weird. Like, most people should have a basic grasp of what's in their competency and what's not, no?
I’ve got a Bayan to deliver next Friday. I need to make a start still in preparing . Probably my first time in doing this and I want to hone in on my skills.
I feel there is a real lack in the Muslim space of writing and articulating speeches , normally people just copy great orators and steal their ideas and works.
Salam, you’re right that there’s not enough courses or workshops along these lines. I’d be happy to help if I can! In the meantime, I always find it helpful to ask questions, which serve as guidelines and guardrails
Who are you talking to?
What do they expect you to talk about?
What do you think they need to hear?
What are you qualified to speak to—where, in other words, do you add the most value and unique perspective? (After all, they had to ask you for a reason!)
And how can you make this an effective, impactful first chapter in an ongoing relationship?
Once you’ve got even a basic outline here, you can get to content and delivery, in that order—
Absolutely! I’m teaching a class and offering workshops for that reason, but while some of it is individual - we can learn how to be better public speakers - some of it is also structural. For example, there should be multiple aimmah in rotation, who have different skills, audiences and appeal. We’re better off when we have collective wisdom!
Great read. Sometimes the simplest questions seem so out there because we got used to the mediocre. It can change as long as people are given a better alternative. I have a close friend who had the same questions and when he was an imam for 10 years his khutbas were all about personal development, goal setting, personal finance, etc. To say that masjid and it's congregation miss him is an understatement.
But, dare I say, you’re pointing to another problem. A lot of masajid hire aimmah who effectively serve as pencil-pushers of a religious kind. They come straight out of religious education, which means that (largely) they lack any meaningful real-world experience
How can an Imam who’s never been in a boardroom, sat down with an elected official, or negotiated a secular institution (say, going to college where elite and perhaps liberal norms prevail) meaningfully guide and direct our communities? Or speak to and mentor our kids?
Thanks for this, Haroon! So much of this is advice that priests also need to hear. Pope Francis always said to them, 7 min homilies max. But so few actually took that advice. I’ve got my own piece about this issue percolating in my head, and im planning to weave in some ahadith from the Prophet which relate. Your post reminded me that I need to get it written.
Always glad to be helpful! There's a point in there I'm sitting with, too. A Friday khutbah is a sermon followed by a supplication followed by prayer. Of the three parts, two involve directly talking to God and calling for his blessings. Yet, somehow, we've reached a point where the overwhelming amount of time is allotted to the former. It's as if we're saying we can't imagine an inherent purpose, quality, serenity and deep energy that might come from being with God. A human voice must take precedent.
So one of these mosques has maybe a three-five minute summary in English. I advised the imam to skip this as he clearly struggles with speaking English and is difficult to understand.
See, that's a point I should keep in mind - many times, there's very few men available to serve as Imams, and if their English isn't so great, well, who else is going to lead? But the part that's weird to me is when people insist on taking the mic who don't have to and who cannot communicate effectively. It's presumptive in the extreme
I have found a workaround. I try to go to small masjids where the khutbah isn't in English.
You're not the first person I know who's done that. Sometimes, to be honest, I wonder why, if the only khateeb on call doesn't really speak English, why he's being asked to speak in English at all. I'm also puzzled by the underlying assumptions. "I'm so important, it doesn't matter if I can't speak the language." Which is just weird. Like, most people should have a basic grasp of what's in their competency and what's not, no?
I’ve got a Bayan to deliver next Friday. I need to make a start still in preparing . Probably my first time in doing this and I want to hone in on my skills.
I feel there is a real lack in the Muslim space of writing and articulating speeches , normally people just copy great orators and steal their ideas and works.
What are the solutions?
Salam, you’re right that there’s not enough courses or workshops along these lines. I’d be happy to help if I can! In the meantime, I always find it helpful to ask questions, which serve as guidelines and guardrails
Who are you talking to?
What do they expect you to talk about?
What do you think they need to hear?
What are you qualified to speak to—where, in other words, do you add the most value and unique perspective? (After all, they had to ask you for a reason!)
And how can you make this an effective, impactful first chapter in an ongoing relationship?
Once you’ve got even a basic outline here, you can get to content and delivery, in that order—
This is a must discussion. We need to start rethinking a way that makes our Khutbah engaging, relevant and insightful.
Absolutely! I’m teaching a class and offering workshops for that reason, but while some of it is individual - we can learn how to be better public speakers - some of it is also structural. For example, there should be multiple aimmah in rotation, who have different skills, audiences and appeal. We’re better off when we have collective wisdom!
Great read. Sometimes the simplest questions seem so out there because we got used to the mediocre. It can change as long as people are given a better alternative. I have a close friend who had the same questions and when he was an imam for 10 years his khutbas were all about personal development, goal setting, personal finance, etc. To say that masjid and it's congregation miss him is an understatement.
That sounds incredible
But, dare I say, you’re pointing to another problem. A lot of masajid hire aimmah who effectively serve as pencil-pushers of a religious kind. They come straight out of religious education, which means that (largely) they lack any meaningful real-world experience
How can an Imam who’s never been in a boardroom, sat down with an elected official, or negotiated a secular institution (say, going to college where elite and perhaps liberal norms prevail) meaningfully guide and direct our communities? Or speak to and mentor our kids?
This is a big part of it. @bilalqazi wrote a great piece on this.
I’d love to see the piece!
Thanks for this, Haroon! So much of this is advice that priests also need to hear. Pope Francis always said to them, 7 min homilies max. But so few actually took that advice. I’ve got my own piece about this issue percolating in my head, and im planning to weave in some ahadith from the Prophet which relate. Your post reminded me that I need to get it written.
Always glad to be helpful! There's a point in there I'm sitting with, too. A Friday khutbah is a sermon followed by a supplication followed by prayer. Of the three parts, two involve directly talking to God and calling for his blessings. Yet, somehow, we've reached a point where the overwhelming amount of time is allotted to the former. It's as if we're saying we can't imagine an inherent purpose, quality, serenity and deep energy that might come from being with God. A human voice must take precedent.
So well-put
So one of these mosques has maybe a three-five minute summary in English. I advised the imam to skip this as he clearly struggles with speaking English and is difficult to understand.
See, that's a point I should keep in mind - many times, there's very few men available to serve as Imams, and if their English isn't so great, well, who else is going to lead? But the part that's weird to me is when people insist on taking the mic who don't have to and who cannot communicate effectively. It's presumptive in the extreme