Early this year, I was in Milwaukee in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. I performed Jum’ahs (Friday prayers) at the masjid of ISM Main Center at 4707 S.13th Street.

ISM stands for the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and has two other branches: one in Brookfield and the other near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

I noticed a trend among Muslims in Milwaukee—especially those who go to ISM masjids for Jum’ahs—that they do not want to miss the khutbah (Friday sermon). Everyone tries to arrive at the masjid before the khatib (sermon preacher) starts delivering his address to the congregation.

After listening to a few khutbahs, I came to realize that the reason why nobody wants to miss them is the greater relevance of their content to practical life. The khatibs choose down-to-earth topics closely connected with the real world and human relations.

Needless to say, the style of delivering khutbahs is also a reason why congregants are drawn to them.

But let me describe a slightly different experience.

A few weeks ago, I performed Jum’ah at a masjid in a Muslim-majority country. I went there well ahead of time, as I wanted to listen to the khutbah from the beginning. It didn’t take long for me to regret my decision to go to the masjid early. I felt disappointed, thinking that I could have done what I was doing at home a bit more.

The khutbah touched on a routine topic that is discussed recurrently during such addresses but has little relevance to the everyday life of those who were listening. I didn’t see any sense of fascination, curiosity, or amazement on the faces of those around me. All seemed to have been sitting down and listening like robots, apparently under the impression that it was a religious duty to do so.

Many may think that it is a small problem. But it is hard to deny that the institution of khutbah offers a great opportunity to educate the community. Not making the best of it is a waste of time and resources. In an earlier essay titled “Are Friday Khutbahs Fit for Purpose?” I wrote:

“Given that large crowds attend masjids on Fridays, the khutbah is a godsend opportunity to spread awareness and impart knowledge to the community. It is perhaps the only source of education for those Muslims who cannot afford to receive it in other ways.”

However, this opportunity is being wasted. As I observed:

“Drawing on my experiences of listening to khutbahs in different countries, I can say that most khutbahs are calendar-based and their topics predictable…. People in the congregation do not find much guidance on how to manage their day-to-day interactions.”

If khutbahs do not address issues affecting people now and into the future, there will always be a disconnect between them and the congregation. As a result, the congregants may not show much interest in what is conveyed to them from the pulpit.

One important concern that is rarely touched on during Friday khutbahs is the curse of smoking addiction. Whenever we go to a public place where smoking is not banned, we get exposed to passive smoking and health risks as there is a preponderance of smokers around.

There are public buildings with no smoking signs inside; but entering such facilities is a challenge, as the smokers pollute the entire atmosphere surrounding the entrance.

I mention below a couple of other subjects that imams and khatibs may consider covering during Friday khutbahs.

I have seen many masjid-going men wearing scanty clothing. Although it may sound oxymoronic, many hijab-wearing women also do the same. The length of their shirt or top is barely down to the waist.

As a result, when they bend for ruku (genuflection) and sujud (prostration) or for any other reason, their backs (even buttocks) are exposed. The practice has gained greater prevalence and is at risk of being normalized.

Interactions between unrelated men and women in public life have become a common phenomenon. While Islam does not exclude women from public life, the religion has wholesome rules and regulations that its adherents are obligated to follow when interacting with members of the opposite gender.

Many Muslim men and women do not seem to understand that, in interactions with the opposite gender, they are not supposed to engage in activities that can potentially lead to intimate relationships. The Qur'an (17:32) commands: “Do not go near adultery. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way.”

Ostensibly observant Muslim men as well as hijab-wearing and masjid-going Muslim women are seen to establish informal relations with colleagues of the opposite gender. The availability of various social networking sites facilitates such—often unnecessary—informal interactions.

In some cases, such irresponsible behavior leads to the breakdown of families. The worst sufferers of such outcomes are children if the men and women involved have any.

In the above discussion, I have mentioned only a few topics that khatibs can choose while preparing their Friday khutbahs. There are many other down-to-earth issues—such as irresponsible use of social media—that they can consider while selecting the topics of their Friday addresses.

I also believe that masjid authorities or management committee members have a role to play in addressing matters of topic selection for khutbahs.