IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISM,&?L IBN KATH~R 199people, while they do not pass judgement upon Him. It is He who controls
people, while they do not control Him. God is truly great! There is no power but
with God, the Almighty and Glorious."'
This is the text given by Ibn Jarir; its chain of authorities is not complete.
Al-Bayhaqi's text reads, L'Chapter on theJirst address grven by the Messenger of
God (WS) after hrs amval m Medzna. The Abii 'Abd All& informed us,
quoting Abn al-'Abb~s at-Asamm quoting Ahmad b. 'Abd al-Jabbzr, quoting
Yiinus b. Bukayr, from Ibn Ishsq, who stated, 'Al-Mughira b. Wthmsn b.
Muhammad b. Wthmm related to me, along with al-Akhnas b. Shariq, from
Abn Salama b. 'Abd al-Ralpnsn b. 'Awf, who said, "The first address given by
the Messenger of God (SAAS) in Medina began with him standing before them
and expressing appropriate praise and adoration for God, and then saying, '0
people, send forward for yourselves! You well know that any one of you may be
struck down and so his flock be left with no shepherd. His Lord will then say to
hi - and there will be no interpreter or attendant to come between yourself and
Him - "Did not My Messenger come to you and inform you? Did I not give you
wealth and benefit? What is it you have sent forward for yourself?" And He will
look to right and left but see nothing. Then the man will look in front of him and
see only hell-fire. So, whoever is able to protect his face from the fire, even if only
with a slice of dates, let him do so. If he finds nothing, then let him say one good
word for thereby one good deed will be rewarded by 10 times its like, or even by
700 times. May peace be upon the Messenger of God, and the mercy and the
blessings of God."'"'
Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) proceeded with the second sermon by
saying, "Praise be to God! I praise Him and I seek His help. We seek refuge with
God from the evil of ourselves and of our deeds. Whoever is guided by God will
not be misled while he who is misled shall have no guide. I bear witness that
there is no god but God, Who is unique and without associate. The finest words
are those of God's Book. Successful are those whose hearts have been embel-
lished thereby by Him; those whom He has brought into Islam following
disbelief and who chose these words above all human speech. Love those who
love God and love Him with all your hearts. Do not tire of His words and of
repeating them, nor harden your hearts towards them. From everything that
God creates He makes His selection and choice. He has thus mentioned the best
of these deeds and the best of persons who perform these deeds. He has also
described healthy speech, along with those things He regards as lawful and those
that are forbidden. So worship God and associate no other god or person with
Him and fear Him as is His due. Be faithful to Him in those good things you
utter with your mouths. Love one another, the spirit of God being between you.
God is angry if vows to Him are broken. Peace be upon you, and God's mercy
and blessings."
The chain of authorities for this tradition, though incomplete, does add
strength to the previous address, even if the phraseology differs.