An appraisal of Shaykh Kishk’s khuṭbah presentation

Abstract

Shaykh Kishk’s pulpit sermons dominated the political scene in Egypt and beyond. For 20 years (1961–1981) when he held sway at the ‘Ayn al-Ḥayāt Mosque in Cairo as the Imam, Kishk’s fearless sermons were a reference point to his admirers and the less privileged. He was actively involved in the campaigns for socio-political justice in Egypt. This blind Egyptian scholar was imprisoned twice because of his powerful Friday sermons that often led to public outrage against the despotic governments throughout the Middle East. Though the Egyptian Government appointed him as an employee Imam, he refused to be silenced by the government-prepared sermons until he was sacked in 1981. The significance of his khuṭbah (sermon) lies in their relevance to the socio-political situations in most Gulf countries. This paper navigates the content and style of Kishk’s khuṭbah presentation.