Khuṭba: from Jāhiliyya to Early Islamic Period

Delivering khuṭba to which a considerable attention was paid by Arabs in the Days of Jāhiliyya, after Islam, influenced by the Qurān and teachings of the Prophet, departed from Jāhilī thoughts and paganish implications, colored by monotheistic ideas, and became the most efficient device for propagating new religion and its instructions and revealed doctrines. According to historical sources, in the Islamic invitation environment, khuṭba -especially the Prophet Muhammad's khuṭbas- in addition to the excellence of the subject and content, found a supreme goal. Moreover, it took a definite and fixed form and structure. Above all, since khuṭbas placed in the context of the Friday and the Eids Prayers and became a religious duty, found a thorough Sanctity. These features, obtained through Prophet Muhammad's Propercy, transmigrated khuṭba from being a device for Braggings (mufākhira) and downplayings (munāfira) (in the Days of Jāhiliyya) to the divine level of recitation of God (dhikr-Allāh) (in Islam), which in turn represented the evolution of Arabic literature.