Khutbah

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sermon delivered during a congregational prayer, especially on Fridays in Islam
2. A formal oration given in a mosque, often addressing community issues and spiritual guidance
3. A religious discourse intended to educate and inspire worshippers, typically precedes the Friday prayer

Etymology: The Arabic word "khuṭba" (خُطْبَة) meant a speech delivered to an assembly, and in Islamic practice it came to name the sermon given during the Friday congregational prayer. The root is the same as the verb for addressing a crowd, so the noun carries the sense of an address made publicly rather than a private conversation. English borrowed it directly from Arabic, which is why the spelling and sound still follow the Arabic pattern. In English the word stays close to its religious setting. It describes the structured talk that a preacher gives before the midday prayer on Fridays, a sermon meant to instruct and move the congregation. Because the sermon is a fixed part of the service, the term refers to a specific ritual act rather than to preaching in general.

Synonyms: sermon, homily, preaching, oration, address