Is it incumbent upon the khateeb (preacher) to prepare the khutbah (sermon) in advance, or is it merely a fulfillment of an obligation? What is the ruling on delaying its preparation until Thursday or Friday? What is your advice to these khateebs, and how can they be guided in preparing the khutbah?

People vary in the breadth of their knowledge and their ability to prepare material. What is required of the preacher is to consider the circumstances and needs of the people, to connect them to the revelatory texts from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and to meticulously prepare his material from reliable books. He should not view it merely as a job, but rather appreciate the magnitude of this trust, by preparing, equipping himself, dedicating himself sincerely to Allah, following the Sunnah, and being keen on delivering beneficial information to people. Even if he praises Allah, invokes blessings upon His Prophet, admonishes the people, and recites a verse, his sermon would be valid according to the general consensus of jurists. However, the aspiration is to elevate the standard of sermons to change the reality of people and guide them.