to the supreme authority alone; rather, his supplication should encompass everyone who has been entrusted with any of the Muslims’ affairs—whether those in the highest ranks or those beneath them: ministers, directors, and heads of departments. More important still is to pray for the scholars and judges of the Muslim community, for the well-being of the flock depends on the righteousness of its rulers and scholars, and its corruption comes from the opposite.

9 – The preacher, the imam, and the like should not adhere to every recommended practice in every prayer or every sermon, for the common people will then assume that such an act is obligatory and may never be left out. The better course is to omit it from time to time so that this serves as instruction.

10 – From Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) eloquent description of the Prophet’s state while delivering a sermon, we learn the etiquettes a preacher should embody when he stands before the people.

11 – He must be capable of persuading his listeners of the view he is promoting by means of the proofs and clear evidences he presents.

12 – He should be fully gifted in winning the listeners’ hearts, so that they give him their attention and are convinced by his call.

13 – The axis of his sermon should be to move the emotions toward doing good, avoiding evil, and turning the souls toward Allah Most High. He seeks to elevate the audience, lifting them above the pettiness of worldly life, and to link them with the reward Allah has prepared for His servants. In places of worship, the listeners are readier to accept what the preacher delivers and are more deeply affected by what they hear from him.

14 – He should keep the sermon focused on a single theme, lest shifting from one topic to another scatter the listeners’ thoughts, cool their zeal, and dampen their spirits.

15 – The sermon should address matters that interest the audience, topics that preoccupy them,