Abdullah narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī narrated to us; he said: Muʿāwiyah ibn Ṣāliḥ narrated to us, from Sulaym ibn ʿĀmir al-Kalāʿī, from Awsat ibn ʿAmr, who said:

I reached Madinah one year after the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had passed away, and I found Abu Bakr addressing the people from the pulpit. He said:

“Last year the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—stood among us…” Emotion choked him three times, then he went on:

“O people, ask Allah for muʿāfāh (well-being), for after well-being no one is granted anything equal to yaqīn (firm certainty), and no riybah (doubt) is more grievous than the doubt that follows disbelief. Adhere to truthfulness, for it leads to birr (righteousness), and both of them are in Paradise. Beware of lying, for it leads to wickedness, and both of them are in the Fire.”