Question:

What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding a respected scholar who visited a town. This visit coincided with the Friday prayer and khutba. Is it correct for him to lead the prayer and deliver the khutba, even if he is not a resident?

Answer:

All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.

According to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of thought, it is correct for him to lead the Jumu’ah prayer and deliver the khutba if the residents requested this. However, the Maliki say it is a condition for the Imam to be a resident.

From the above we can say that if the people asked the respected scholar to deliver the khutba and lead them in prayer, then it is correct for him to do so.

And Allah ﷻ knows best.

This fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari