Short answer
No. In the Hanafi school, once the imam comes out for the khutbah, both talking and praying are makruh tahrimi; you sit and listen in silence, even if you arrive late. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say a latecomer should pray two short rakats of greeting the mosque during the khutbah.
From the time the imam comes out for the khutbah until the prayer, talking, greeting, replying, eating and voluntary prayer are all makruh tahrimi, even telling someone to be quiet. One listens attentively; when the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned, one sends salawat in the heart.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A latecomer prays two short rakats of tahiyyat al-masjid during the khutbah; talking is disliked but not haram in the relied view.
- Hanbali
- A latecomer prays two short rakats during the khutbah; talking is haram for those who can hear it.
- Maliki
- Like the Hanafis: no prayer once the imam has started, and talking is forbidden.
Explanation
The khutbah (sermon) is part of the Friday worship. The Prophet ﷺ said that if you tell your neighbour "be quiet" while the imam is speaking, you have engaged in idle talk (laghw). He also said that whoever fiddles with the pebbles during the khutbah has done the same, which today includes playing with your phone.
- Talking: not allowed, even to tell someone to stop talking. Use a gesture if you must.
- Salam: do not give or reply to salam during the khutbah.
- Your phone: silence it before you sit. Do not read or reply to messages.
- Praying: in the Hanafi school, if you arrive after the imam has started, sit down and listen. Do not pray tahiyyat al-masjid.
- Hearing the Prophet's name: send salawat silently in your heart, without moving your lips.
- The pause between the two khutbahs: make du'a in your heart.
The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools rely on a hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ told a man who sat down during the khutbah to stand and pray two short rakats. The Hanafis and Malikis read that as a special case and rely on the command to stay silent. If you follow another school, pray two short rakats as that school teaches.
Arrive early to pray your sunnah and listen to the whole khutbah. See how to pray Jummah and how many rakats in Jummah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:204
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُوا۟ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿٢٠٤﴾
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
Listening in silence to the Quran and reminder is commanded.
Sahih al-Bukhari 934
Sahih... إذا قلت لصاحبك يوم الجمعة أنصت والإمام يخطب فقد لغوت ...
"If you say to your companion on Friday 'be quiet' while the imam is giving the khutbah, you have engaged in idle talk."
Even telling someone to be quiet is not allowed.
Sahih Muslim 857
Sahih... ومن مس الحصى فقد لغا ...
"And whoever touches the pebbles has engaged in idle talk."
Fiddling during the khutbah is also forbidden.
Sahih Muslim 875
Sahih... إذا جاء أحدكم يوم الجمعة والإمام يخطب فليركع ركعتين ...
"When one of you comes on Friday while the imam is giving the khutbah, let him pray two rakats."
The evidence of the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools for praying two rakats.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on Jumuah. When the imam comes out, people stop praying and talking until he finishes the khutbah.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Chapter on Jumuah. All that is forbidden in prayer is forbidden during the khutbah; salawat is said in the heart.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Chapter on Jumuah. The Shafi'i view on tahiyyat al-masjid during the khutbah.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. 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.