Khuṭba, premodern - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Jones, Linda G.
Leiden
Brill
(1,479 words)
The khuṭba (Ar. pl. khuṭab ) is a ceremonial oration, address, or sermon delivered by an orator/preacher (khaṭīb) before an audience. It is characterised by its eloquent rhetorical style (balāgha) , ritualising features, and persuasive functions. In pre-Islamic Arabia the khuṭba was pronounced by an authoritative figure-a judge, tribal leader, or soothsayer-on momentous occasions. The prophet Muḥammad appropriated the khuṭba for use in the spread of Islam, ritual celebrations, and civic proclamations. The khuṭba was the most important form of Arabic prose until the third/ninth century and