IMAMS, intellectuals and activists working with Muslims will meet here on Sunday to discuss how the khutba, or the small sermon that the Imam delivers after Friday afternoon prayers, can be used to carry social messages.

Several national Urdu dailies have carried advertisements for the meeting organised on October 4 and 5 by the Zakat Foundation.

Zakat Foundation secretary Dr Najmus Salam Jalali said: “The conference is meant as an interface between a hundred imams, activists and intellectuals — to discuss how to use sermons by Muftis and Imams after Friday prayers to educate Muslims against social ills. When Imams speak after weekly prayers, people listen quietly for 10 minutes. This can be used more productively if Imams are taught to focus on certain specific issues.”

Khutbaat-e Jumaa, a reprint of an earlier edition published by the Hamdard group, has 52 chapters or ‘suggestions’ for 52 Fridays in a year.

Islamic scholar and civil servant Dr Zafar Mehmood said, “The world has woken up to infotech in the 21st century but Muslims have known it for the past 1,400 years through the khutba. It’s a unique institution we can use to propagate good behaviour and values.”

In the past, the khutba has been used to spread messages that go beyond the domain of religion. Sometimes it has also been used for political ends — when Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid took a stand against Emergency, the Friday prayers were followed closely for their political message.