The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the sermon of need
Authenticعن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: عَلَّمَنَا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خُطْبَةَ الحَاجَةِ: إِنَّ الحَمْدَ للهِ، نَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا الله، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ، {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ والأرحام إن الله كان عليكم رقيبا} [النساء: 1]، {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ} [آل عمران: 102]، {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا (70) يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا} [الأحزاب:70 - 71].
‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the sermon of need: "Praise be to Allah. We seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Him from the evils of our souls. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whoever Allah leads astray, none can guide. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. {O people, fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and created from it its mate, and from both of them created countless men and women. Fear Allah in Whose name you ask one another, and be mindful of your kinship ties, for Allah is ever Watchful over you.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 1] {O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.} [Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 102] {O you who believe, fear Allah and say what is right, He will guide you to righteous deeds and forgive your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will surely achieve a supreme triumph.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 70-71]"
Explanation
Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught them the sermon of need, which is to be said upon the start of sermons and when in need of something, like the marriage sermon, the Friday sermon and others. This sermon comprises sublime meanings, including that Allah is worthy of all kinds of praise, seeking help from Him alone, with no partner, concealment and pardon of sins, and seeking refuge with Him from all evils, the evils of the souls and others. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that guidance lies in the Hand of Allah. So, whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whoever Allah leads astray, none can guide. Then, he mentioned the testimony of monotheistic belief and that none is truly worthy of worship except Allah and the testimony that Muhammad is the servant and Messenger of Allah. He concluded the sermon with these three verses, which contain the command to fear Allah Almighty by observing His commands and prohibitions in pursuit of His pleasure, and state that the reward for those who do so is that they will be guided to righteous deeds and words, their sins and misdeeds will be expiated and forgiven, and they will be given a good life in this world and win Paradise on the Day of Judgment.
Benefits
- It is recommended to commence the sermons on marriage, the Friday prayer, and others with this sermon.
- A sermon should comprise praise of Allah, the two testimonies of faith, and some Qur’anic verses.
- The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his Companions what they needed in their religion.
Source · Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasā’i, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).