In Sunni Islam, an imam khatib (or just imam Arabic: إمام plural أئمة A'immah‎‎, Persian: امام‎‎) is a leader, often the leader of prayers in the masjid, and the Muslim community. This compound title is merely a common combination of two elementary offices: leader (imam) of the congregational prayer, which in larger mosques is performed at the times of all daily prayers; and preacher (khatib) of the sermon or khutba at the required congregational prayer on Friday. Although either duty can be performed by anyone who is regarded as qualified by the congregation, at most well-established mosques imam khatib is a permanent (part-time or full-time) position. He may be elected by the local community, or appointed by an outside authority—e. g., the national government, or the waqf which sustains