‘I have heard the words of soothsayers, sorcerers, and poets, but I have never heard anything like these words of yours. Indeed, I have reached the nāʿūs (depths) of the sea.’ He then said, ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you upon Islam.’ He pledged allegiance to him, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘And on behalf of your people?’ He replied, ‘And on behalf of my people.’” Muslim narrated this in his Sahīh.

For this reason, beginning with this prescribed Prophetic address is recommended and has been practised when addressing people on matters of knowledge, in both general and specific settings: teaching the Book and the Sunnah and fostering an understanding of them, exhorting people, and debating with them.

The scholars of our time whom we met and studied under, as well as others, would begin their lessons in Quranic commentary or jurisprudence, in congregational mosques, schools, and elsewhere, with a different address, such as:

“Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May Allah bless Muhammad, the Seal of the Messengers, and all his family and Companions. May Allah be pleased with us, with you, with our teachers, and with all Muslims”—or, “with the esteemed people present and all Muslims.”

Likewise, I have seen people deliver marriage addresses other than the prescribed address, each group having a form different from that of others. Yet the hadith of Ibn Mas‘ūd did not single out marriage. Rather, this is an address for every occasion on which people need to address one another, and marriage is one such occasion.

Observing the prescribed Sunnah in speech and action, in all acts of worship and everyday practices, constitutes complete adherence to the straight path. As for anything else, even if it is not