Conditions for the Imam of Friday prayer
K) It is befitting that the imam is dressed in a turban and cloak and that he should lean against a walking stick or similar objects, and before delivering the sermon, he should salute the audience by saying salamun alaykum. It is also befitting that he covers important political, social, and moral issues of Muslims and the Muslim world as well as the region to the people. He should make them aware of their duties with respect to these issues. He should warn them about enemy plots and conspiracies.In short, the imam should take the utmost benefit from the sermons in spiritually refining the people and informing them about the important current issues, which is one of the main goals of the two sermons.The sermons should be delivered in fluent, expressive, eloquent, and effective expressions so that they may have the necessary effect on the hearts of the Muslims and they gain perfect benefit from this politico-religious obligation. The imam should not discuss issues which cause disunity; rather he should invite the Muslims to unite against the enemies.The obligatory precaution is that the participants in the Friday prayer should be in the state of ṭahārah and sit facing the imam. They should observe silence and listen to the sermons. However, if they engage in talking intentionally, their prayers are valid, though they should not act in such a way again.
