—and the two testimonies of faith, along with the recitation of an entire surah. Yet the true objective is the admonition conveyed through the Quran and the presentation of as many of its deterrent verses as circumstances allow, and that aim is not restricted to the recitation of a whole surah.

Jabir ibn ʿAbd Allah—may Allah be pleased with him—reported:

“When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivered a sermon, his eyes would redden, his voice would grow loud, and his anger would intensify until he seemed like a warner standing before an army, crying out, ‘The enemy may strike you in the morning or in the evening!’ Then he would say:

‘To proceed: the best speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the worst affairs are those newly introduced, and every innovation is misguidance.’”

Muslim narrated this ḥadīth. In another version recorded by him it states:

“The Prophet’s Friday sermon began with praising Allah and extolling Him; then, immediately thereafter—and his voice had risen—he would say…”