Why does the imam hold a staff during the khutbah?
The imam holds a staff during the khutbah because the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have leaned on a staff or a bow while giving the Friday sermon. Most scholars consider it a recommended sunnah, though the Hanafi school sees it differently. It's not required, and the khutbah is valid without it.
Where the practice comes from
Al-Hakam ibn Hazn, who visited Medina with a delegation, said they attended Friday prayer with the Prophet ﷺ, and he stood leaning on a staff or a bow, praised Allah, and gave a short sermon (Sunan Abi Dawud 1096). Before the minbar was built, he used to lean on the trunk of a palm tree while speaking, and the famous story says the trunk wept when he moved to the new minbar. A staff in hand has been part of the Friday sermon in many places ever since.
Prophets before him carried staffs too, as Moses says in this verse. For speakers, a staff is simply practical: something to lean on during a long talk.
What the schools say
- Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali: holding a staff, bow or sword in the left hand during the khutbah is recommended (mustahabb).
- Hanafi: most Hanafi scholars don't count it as a sunnah of the khutbah, and some disliked it. That's why many imams in South Asian and Turkish mosques don't use one.
- All agree: the khutbah is completely valid without it.
Is there a hidden meaning?
You might hear claims that the staff symbolizes conquest or power, especially when some imams hold a wooden sword. Scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim pointed out that the Prophet ﷺ never gave the khutbah holding a sword, and that the staff was simply for support. So there's nothing threatening about it; it's an old, humble habit of a speaker who stands for a while. If you're curious about the rest of the Friday service, see What happens at Friday prayer?
The minbar and the imam's spot
Today the imam usually stands on the minbar, the stepped pulpit to the right of the mihrab, and may hold the staff in one hand and the minbar's rail with the other. See What are the parts of a mosque? In many Western mosques the khutbah is in English or partly in English, with Arabic for the core parts. See Can the Friday khutbah be in English?
- The Prophet ﷺ leaned on a staff or bow during the khutbah.
- Three schools call it recommended; the Hanafi school doesn't.
- The khutbah is valid with or without it.
- It's for support, not a symbol of force.
People also ask
Can a woman give the adhan?
A woman doesn't give the public adhan for men in the four schools, but views differ on adhan and iqamah among women. A clear, neutral guide.
Read the full answer →What if my child doesn't want to go to the mosque?
If your child doesn't want to go to the mosque, don't force it. Find the reason and make visits fun; young kids aren't obliged to go at all.
Read the full answer →Do kids have to attend Jumu'ah?
No, kids don't have to attend Jumu'ah; it becomes obligatory for boys at puberty. Bringing children earlier builds a habit that lasts.
Read the full answer →Is shaking hands after prayer a sunnah?
Shaking hands is sunnah, but shaking hands right after every prayer isn't a specific sunnah. What scholars say and how to respond politely.
Read the full answer →Can I breastfeed in the mosque?
Yes, you can breastfeed in the mosque. Stay covered, use the women's area or a mothers' room, and keep milk off the prayer carpet.
Read the full answer →