382 – Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “During the sermon the Prophet ﷺ used to recite verses from the Quran, reminding the people.” It was narrated by Abu Dawud, and its principal wording is in Muslim (1).

Hadith grading:
The report is authentic.
It is recorded in Sahih Muslim and the Sunan from Jabir ibn Samurah with the wording: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would deliver the sermon standing, sit between the two sermons, and recite verses, reminding the people.”

Points derived from the two hadiths:
1 – We mentioned earlier the marfūʿ hadith of Abu Hurayrah: “On Friday there is an hour in which no Muslim servant coincides while asking Allah for something except that He grants it,” and Muslim relates: “It is from the time the imam sits until the prayer comes to an end.” This hour begins when the imam rises to deliver the Friday sermon.

2 – Along with the virtue of this blessed hour comes the presence of a large congregation; the imam supplicates for them and they respond with Āmīn. One should seize this blessed opportunity afforded by such a great gathering, so that the imam petitions Allah for important matters, among them: supplicating and seeking forgiveness for the believing men and believing women, living and deceased. This was the Prophet’s sunnah every Friday, and the congregation’s saying Āmīn is counted as their own supplication.

3 – Some scholars regard it as obligatory to supplicate for the believing men and believing women during the sermon, while others deem it recommended rather than obligatory; the latter is the sounder view for two reasons: