upon the people during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said, ‘This morning, some people are grateful and others ungrateful.’ Some said, ‘This is Allah’s mercy,’ while others said, ‘Such-and-such star has indeed proved true.’ He continued: Then this verse was revealed: ‘So I swear by the positions of the stars’—continuing as far as—‘And you repay your provision with denial.’” Narrated by Muslim.

Also in Sahīh Muslim, Abū Hurayrah reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“No blessing is sent down from heaven without some people responding to it with ingratitude. Allah sends down rain, yet someone says, ‘Such-and-such star.’” In another wording narrated by Muslim: “Through such-and-such star.”

In the two Sahīhs, Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhanī said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led us in the dawn prayer after rain had fallen during the night. He said, ‘Do you know what your Lord has said?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘He has said: “This morning, some of My servants believe in Me and others disbelieve. Whoever says, ‘We were given rain by Allah’s grace and mercy,’ believes in Me and disbelieves in the star. But whoever says, ‘We were given rain through such-and-such star,’ disbelieves in Me and believes in the star.”’”

This occurs very frequently in the Quran and Sunnah: He, glorified be He, condemns those who attribute His blessings to others and associate them with Him. Some of the early generations said: “It is like their saying, ‘The wind was favorable, and the sailor was skillful.’”

For this reason, He has joined gratitude with the affirmation of His oneness in al-Fātihah and elsewhere: its opening expresses gratitude, and its middle affirms His oneness. Likewise, the prescribed sermons must include praise of Allah and affirmation of His oneness. These two form the foundation of every address. The speaker then sets out whatever serves his purpose, whether commands, prohibitions, encouragement, warnings, or other matters.