Rhetorical Practices of Imams in Delivering the Friday Khutbah: Challenges and Coping Strategies
Year: 2026
Type: book
Abstract: This study explored the rhetorical practices of Imams during the delivery of the Friday Khutbah, focusing on the communicative challenges they encounter and the coping strategies they employ in selected Muslim communities in Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi. Although religious discourse has received increasing scholarly attention, limited qualitative research has examined how Imams prepare for and negotiate the rhetorical demands of khutbah delivery within the Philippine Muslim context. Employing a descriptive qualitative research design, the study involved eight (8) purposively selected Imams who regularly deliver Friday sermons. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the rhetorical practices of Imams are shaped by three major challenges: congregational expectations, theological responsibility in communicating Islamic teachings, and the need for linguistic precision during sermon delivery. These challenges influenced the participants' emotional readiness, cognitive organization, and physical composure while delivering the khutbah. To sustain effective religious communication, the Imams employed integrated preparation strategies that included spiritual grounding through du'a and dhikr, cognitive preparation through reflection, visualization, and message internalization, and behavioral preparation through rehearsal, content mastery, controlled breathing, and deliberate pacing. The study concludes that effective khutbah delivery is sustained through the integration of spiritual commitment, theological understanding, and communicative competence.
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7204822166