among Muslims, a sermon delivered by a special personage, the khatib, on Fridays at noon prayer, on such important holy days as Kurban-Bayram and Uraza-Bayram, and on special occasions—for example, when a Muslim army has been granted victory or the people have been delivered from drought, famine, or an epidemic. In the Middle Ages the khutbah was also a prayer for the health of the caliph and the local ruler.