and raises one in rank. Take the portion that has been allotted to you and do not neglect your duty toward Allah. Allah has taught you His Book and set out for you His path so that He may distinguish those who are truthful from those who lie. Therefore excel in good as Allah has shown goodness to you; oppose His enemies and strive for Allah as true striving. He has chosen you and named you Muslims—
“so that those who perish may perish upon clear evidence, and those who live may live upon clear evidence” (al-Anfāl 8:42)—
and there is no power except through Allah. Make abundant remembrance of Allah and work for what comes after death (1), for whoever puts right what lies between himself and Allah, Allah will suffice him regarding what lies between him and other people. That is because Allah rules over the people and they do not rule over Him; He has power over them and they have no power over Him. Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power except through Allah, the Most High, the Magnificent.”
Ibn Jarīr recorded it in this form, although the chain of transmission is interrupted.
Al-Bayhaqī said (2): Chapter—The first sermon delivered by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he arrived in Madinah.
Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥāfiẓ related to us; Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Aṣamm informed us; Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār narrated to us; Yūnus ibn Bukayr narrated from Ibn Isḥāq, who said: Mughīrah ibn ʿUthmān ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿUthmān ibn al-Akhnas ibn Sharīq (3) told me, from Abū Salamah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, who said:
The first sermon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered in Madinah was that he stood among them, praised Allah, and extolled Him as He deserves, and then said:
“Now then, O people, send something ahead for your own souls. By Allah, one of you will surely be struck down, leaving his sheep without a shepherd; then his Lord will say to him—without interpreter and without any curtain between them—‘Did My messenger not come to you and convey the message? I granted you wealth and bestowed favors upon you, so what have you sent on ahead for yourself?’ He will look to his right and to his left and see nothing; then he will look before him and see nothing but Hell. Whoever can shield his face from the Fire, even with half a date, let him do so; and whoever cannot, then with a kind word. For a good deed is rewarded tenfold up to seven hundredfold. Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah (4), and the mercy and blessings of Allah.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then delivered another sermon and said:
“Indeed, all praise is for Allah; I praise Him and seek His help. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and from our evil deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can mislead; and whomever He lets go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah [alone, without partner] (5). The finest speech is the Book of Allah. Triumphant is the one whom Allah adorns with it in his heart, brings into Islam after disbelief, and prefers it above all other human discourse; truly it is the most excellent and most eloquent speech. Love those whom Allah loves; love Allah with all your hearts [and do not grow weary of Allah’s words and remembrance, nor let your hearts grow hard toward them] (5), for from every people Allah selects…”