Chapter: Keeping the prayer and khutbah short

Jabir bin ahadeeth reported: I used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and both his prayer and sermon were of moderate length.

Jabir bin ahadeeth reported: I used to observe prayer with the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) and his prayer was of moderate length and his sermon too was of moderate length.

Jabir bin 'Abdullah (RA) said: When Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his voice rose. And his anger increased so that he was like one giving a warning against the enemy and saying:" The enemy has made a morning attack on you and in the evening too." He would also say:" The last Hour and I have been sent like these two." and he would join his forefinger and middle finger; and would further say:" The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error." He would further say: "I am more dear to a Muslim even than his self; and he who left behind property that is for his family, and he who dies under debt or leaves children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me."

Ja'far bin Muhammad said on the authority of his father: I heard Jabir bin 'Abdullah saying that in the sermon of the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) he praised Allah, lauded Him (and subsequently said [other words] and raised his voice, and the rest of the hadith is the same).

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) , while delivering the sermon to the people, praised Allah, and lauded Him for what He deserves, and would then say: "He whom Allah guides aright, there is none to mislead him, and he who is led astray, there is none to guide him (aright)", and the best of the talk is embodied in the Book of Allah. And the rest of the hadith is the same.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: Dimad came to Makkah and he belonged to the tribe of Azd Shanu'a, and he used to protect the person who was under the influence of charm. He heard the foolish people of Makkah say that Muhammad (ﷺ) was under the spell. Upon this he said: "If I were to come across this man, Allah might cure him at my hand.". He met him and said: Muhammad, I can protect (one) who is under the influence of charm, and Allah cures one whom He so desires at my hand. Do you desire (this)? Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, ask His help; and he whom Allah guides aright there is none to lead him astray, and he who is led astray there is none to guide him, and I bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allah, He is One, having no partner with Him, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger". Now after this he (Dimad) said: "Repeat these words of yours before me", and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) repeated these to him thrice; and he said: "I have heard the words of soothsayers and the words of magicians, and the words of poets, but I have never heard such words as yours, and they reach the depth (of the ocean of eloquence) ; bring forth your hand so that I should take oath of fealty to you on Islam". So he took an oath of allegiance to him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "It (this allegiance of yours) is on behalf of your people too". He said: It is on behalf of my people too. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent an expedition and the flying column passed by his people. The leader of the flying column said to the detachment: Did you find anything from these people? One of the people said: I found a utensil for water. Upon this he (the commander) said: Return it, for he is one of the people of Dimad.

Abu Wa'il reported: 'Ammar delivered to us the sermon. It was short and eloquent. When he ('Ammar) descended (from the pulpit) we said to him: O Abdul Yaqzn, you have delivered a short and eloquent sermon. Would that you had lengthened (the sermon). He said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: The lengthening of prayer by a man and the shortness of the sermon is the sign of his understanding (of faith). So lengthen the prayer and shorten the sermon, for there is charm (in precise) expression.

'Adi bin Hatim reported that a person recited a sermon before the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) thus: He who obeys Allah and His Apostle, he in fact follows the right path, and he who disobeys both of them, he goes astray. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "What a bad speaker you are; say: He who disobeys Allah and His Apostle". Ibn Numair added: He in fact went astray.

Safwan bin Ya'la reported on the authority of his father that he heard the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) reciting (verses of the Qur'an) on the pulpit. and" They cried: O Malik."

'Amrah daughter of Abdul Rahman reported on the authority of the sister of Amra, I memorised (surah) Qaf Surah "By the glorious Qur'an" from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Friday for he recited it on the pulpit on-every Friday."

The daughter of Haritha b. Nu'man said: I did not memorise (Surah) Qaf but from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) as he used to deliver the. sermon along with it on every Friday. She also added: Our oven and that of the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) was one.

Umm Hisham bint Haritha b. Nu'man said: Our oven and that of the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) was one for two years, or for one year or for a part of a year; and I learnt" Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an" from no other source than the tongue of Allah's Messenger (صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) who used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when he delivered the sermon to the people.

Umm Hisham bint Haritha bin Nu'man said: Our oven and that of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was one for two years, or for one year or for a part of a year; and I learnt "Qaf. By the Glorious Qur'an" from no other source than the tongue of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when he delivered the sermon to the people.

Umara bin Ruwaiba said he saw Bishr bin Marwan on the pulpit raising his hands and said: Allah, disfigure these hands! I have seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gesture no more than this with his hands, and he pointed with his forefinger.

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters on the authority of Husain bin Abdul Rahman.