Short answer
It should be. Abu Hanifa held a khutbah in another language is valid, but most Deobandi and traditional Hanafi muftis say giving it in a non-Arabic language is makruh tahrimi, so they advise a talk in the local language before the adhan and then a short Arabic khutbah. Some other scholars allow the khutbah in the local language.
Abu Hanifa held the khutbah is valid in any language; his two students allowed a non-Arabic khutbah only for someone unable to speak Arabic. Because the Companions kept the khutbah in Arabic even in non-Arab lands, many Hanafi muftis rule a non-Arabic khutbah makruh tahrimi and recommend the local-language talk before it.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The pillars of the khutbah must be in Arabic if someone present can manage it; the rest may be in another language.
- Maliki
- The khutbah must be in Arabic, even if the listeners do not understand it.
- Hanbali
- A khutbah in another language is not valid if the speaker is able to give it in Arabic.
Explanation
The Jumuah khutbah is two short sermons with a brief sitting between them, given before the prayer. It contains praise of Allah, salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, recitation from the Quran and advice. It is a condition of Jumuah, and the Hanafi school treats it as an act of worship in its own right, not only a lecture.
On language, Imam Abu Hanifa held that a khutbah in Persian or any other language is valid. Even so, the Companions and those after them gave the khutbah in Arabic in Persia, Africa and beyond, even where the people did not speak it. For this reason the Deobandi and many South Asian Hanafi scholars say the khutbah should stay in Arabic and that a non-Arabic khutbah is makruh tahrimi. The practical solution in many masjids is a talk in English or the local language before the adhan, then the two Arabic khutbahs.
Other scholars, including many in the West, allow the khutbah in the local language so that people understand it, keeping the Arabic praise, salawat and Quran. This is a genuine difference among scholars, and the prayer behind either kind of khutbah is valid according to Abu Hanifa. Follow your masjid's practice and do not make it a cause of argument.
Whatever the language, listen in silence; see talking during the khutbah and how to pray Jummah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
The khutbah and prayer are called the remembrance of Allah.
Sahih Muslim 862
Sahih... كانت للنبي خطبتان يجلس بينهما يقرأ القرآن ويذكر الناس ...
"The Prophet used to give two khutbahs, sitting between them, reciting the Quran and reminding the people."
The form and content of the Jumuah khutbah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on Jumuah. A khutbah in Persian is valid according to Abu Hanifa, and only for one unable in Arabic according to his two students.
- Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Chapter on Jumuah, the khutbah. A khutbah in a non-Arabic language is against the continuous practice and makruh tahrimi; advice in the local language is given before it.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Chapter on Jumuah. The Shafi'i condition that the khutbah be in Arabic.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.