al-Ajwibah al-Nafiah an Asilat Lajnat Masjid al-Jamiah - Nasir al-Din al-Albani - (98)

The report also shows that it is recommended for the preacher (khatib) to raise his voice when delivering the khutbah, to use weighty and eloquent language, and to employ succinct, comprehensive expressions of encouragement and warning. He should likewise introduce the sermon with the phrase, “ammā baʿd” (to proceed).

The apparent sense is that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, adhered to this formula in all of his sermons. He would do so after praising and extolling Allah and reciting the tashahhud, as the version alluded to by the words, “In another narration he said…,” makes clear.

The narration further suggests that he, peace and blessings be upon him, consistently followed the phrase with: “ammā baʿd: the best discourse is the Book of Allah…,” in every sermon.¹

It is also authentically reported that he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Every sermon in which the tashahhud is absent is like a severed hand.”²

(1) I add: It is regrettable that this hadith has nowadays been all but forgotten; hardly any of the preachers, teachers, or spiritual guides in Syria, Egypt, the Hijaz, or elsewhere recite it at the start of their sermons or lessons—save those whom Allah has protected, and they are few. I therefore remind them of it—for, as the verse says, fa-inna al-dhikra (indeed, the reminder benefits)—and I urge them to revive this sunnah, just as some of them have already revived the khutbat al-hajah mentioned earlier. Allah is the One who grants success. (2) Reported by Abu Dawud and Ahmad; also cited in Al-Sahihah, no. 169.

وفيه دليل على أنه يستحب للخطيب أن يرفع بالخطبة صوته ويجزل كلامه ويأتي بجوامع الكلم من الترغيب والترهيب. ويأتي بقول: "أما بعد" وظاهره أنه كان ﷺ يلازمها في جميع خطبه. وذلك بعد الحمد والثناء والتشهد كما تفيدها الرواية المشار إليها بقوله: "وفي رواية له" الخ. وفيه إشارة إلى أنه كان ﷺ يلازم قوله: "أما بعد فإن خير الحديث" الخ في جميع خطبه١ وثبت أنه ﷺ قال: "كل خطبة ليس فيها تشهد فهي كاليد الجذماء" ٢

١ قلت ومما يؤسف له أن هذا الحديث قد أصبح اليوم نسيا منسيا فلا أحد من الخطباء والمدرسين والمرشدين في سوريا ومصر والحجاز وغيرها يقوله بين يدي خطبته ودرسه إلا من عصم الله وقليل ما هم فأنا أذكرهم بهذا ﴿فإن الذكرى﴾ وأدعوهم إلى إحياء هذه السنة كما أحيى بعضهم خطبة الحاجة التي سبقت الإشارة إليها والله الموفق. ٢ رواه أبو داود وأحمد وهو في الصحيحة رقم ١٦٩.