206 – (Sahih) ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, taught us the khutbat al-hajah (sermon of necessity):

“Praise belongs to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils within ourselves and from the consequences of our misdeeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can mislead, and whomever He lets go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

(In another narration there is the addition: ‘He sent him with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner before the Hour. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has been rightly guided, and whoever disobeys them harms only himself and does not harm Allah in the least.’)

‘O mankind, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul and created from it its spouse, and from the two of them spread many men and women. Fear Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another, and (honor) the ties of kinship. Surely Allah is ever watchful over you.’ (Quran 4:1)

‘O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except in a state of submission to Him.’ (Quran 3:102)

‘O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak words that are straight; He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has achieved a tremendous success.’ (Quran 33:70-71)

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