BICC | Holy moly... I went to the Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center for Jummah khutbah today. So... it's going to be a short critique. |

Jummah Khutbah Finish.
I'm sorry for the detailed notes on the khutbah I attended today.
If you are confused, I understand, I was too. The entire khutbah was in Bosnian, a language I do not understand. I was aware of other ethnic mosques in Chicago that speak in languages other than English, such as Jame Masjid, Makki Mosque, just to name a couple. I never favored going to such mosques because it seems really silly that we live in America and we don't speak in English.
Now, you can argue, "But there are so many people that don't speak English that come to the mosque for Jummah!"
Yes, this is true, but what about the people that attend a khutbah that is performed in a language they don't speak, not everyone speaks Urdu or Bosnian. But most people surely do speak English. And if you don't, please make a concerted effort to learn, you live in an English speaking country, learn the language.
At the very least, let's come to a compromise. Why not say the khutbah in whatever language you prefer, but then summarize it quickly for the rest in English, doesn't that sound like a plausible idea? Well, then I guess we had better make sure our khatibs, imams, hodzas, whatevers, speak some English. The leaders of our communities, and especially those that give religious discourse (i.e. khutbahs), ought to have a basic grasp of this land's native tongue. Unless you come here to spread religion amongst people who speak your native tongue, which of course sounds ridiculous anyway.
Man... The only thing I understood in today's khutbah were two words: "Imam Ghazali" so I am guessing the khutbah was good, considering he mentioned Imam Ghazali, he must of quoted something by him and built the rest of this talk on that. Oh well. I am sure I won't be penalized for not understanding Bosnian. Haha.