Question
I have read where the Prophet (peace be upon him) supposedly once gave a sermon in which he only said “fear Allah”. Is this correct? Would such a short phrase suffice as a sermon?
Answered by
Sheikh Muhammad al-Qannâs
I have not come across a sermon of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which he only said: “Fear Allah”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to give sermons that were balanced and of moderate length.
Jâbir b. Samurah said: “I used to pray with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his prayer would be of a moderate length as would be his sermon.” [Sahîh Muslim (866) and Sunan al-Tirmidhî (507)]
Abû Wâ’il relates: `Ammâr delivered to us the sermon. It was short and eloquent. When he (`Ammâr) descended (from the pulpit) we said to him: “0 Abû al-Yaqzân! You have delivered a short and eloquent sermon. Would that you had prolonged it.”
`Ammâr b. Yâsir then said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: “The length of a man’s prayer and the shortness of his sermon bears witness to his erudition. So lengthen your prayers and shorten your sermons, for indeed in eloquence there is magic.” [Sahîh Muslim (869)]
This shows that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not prolong his sermon. Instead, he would deliver a sermon of modest length but carefully crafted to be rich in meaning.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) had the ability to say few words that conveyed many meanings.
The person who intends to give a sermon should follow the way of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and make his sermon of modest length, selecting language that conveys his intended meaning clearly, concisely, and eloquently.
And Allah knows best.
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