It has already been mentioned that some scholars do not stipulate the recitation of a verse; accordingly, this objection does not arise at all.
Nor is it stipulated that the one who delivers the two sermons be the one who leads the prayer. .......
His statement, “Nor that the one who delivers them be the one who leads the prayer,” means that it is not a condition for the one who delivers the two sermons also to lead the prayer. Thus, if one man delivers the sermon and another leads the prayer, both the sermon and the prayer are valid.
But is it a condition that one person deliver both sermons, or may one person deliver the first sermon and another the second?
The answer is that this is permissible; that is, it is not a condition that one person deliver both sermons. If one man delivers the first sermon and another man delivers the second, this is valid.
But is it a condition that a single person deliver each individual sermon? For example, if a man begins the first sermon and, during it, remembers that he is not in a state of ablution, so he steps down and another man rises and completes the sermon—I have not, up to now, seen anyone discuss this matter. However, the jurists have mentioned regarding the call to prayer that it is not valid when performed by two men; that is, it is not valid for one person to give the beginning of the call to prayer and another to complete it, because it is a single act of worship. Just as it is not valid for one person to pray one unit and for another to complete the second unit, likewise it is not valid for one person to give the beginning of the call to prayer and another to complete it.
As for the sermon, it may be said that it is like the call to prayer: one person must deliver each sermon, and it is not valid when delivered by two people, whether there is an excuse or not. If there is no excuse, the matter is evidently clear, because this amounts to frivolous conduct.
If there is an excuse—for example, the one who began the sermon remembers that he is not in a state of ablution, then steps down to perform ablution—then we say that the more cautious course is for the second person to begin