Hazrat Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf narrates that when Prophet Muhammad stood up to deliver a sermon in Medina for the first time, he began by duly praising Allah. Thereafter, he said:
“O people! Send good deeds ahead for yourselves to the Aakhirah (Hereafter).
By Allah! You must know that each one of you shall definitely die, leaving his flock of goats without a shepherd. There will then neither be any interpreter or negotiator to come between him and his Rabb when his Rabb will ask him, “Have my messengers not come to you and conveyed the message to you? Have I not granted you wealth and blessed you with favours? Now with the guidance and means at your disposal, what good deeds have you sent ahead?”
The man will then look to his right and left, but will see nothing. He will then look in front of him but will see nothing but Jahannam (Hell).
Therefore, whoever can save himself from Jahannam even by giving a piece of a date as Sadaqah (charity), should do so.
Whoever cannot afford even this, should at least say a good word because every good deed is rewarded ten times up to seven hundred times. May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon Allah’s messenger.”
Prophet Muhammad then delivered another sermon saying:
“I praise Allah to Whom belongs all praise. We seek Allah’s protection from the evil of our souls and from our evil actions.
There is none to mislead the one whom Allah guides and there is none to guide the one whom Allah does not guide.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship but the One Allah Who has no partner.
The best of all speech is the Book of Allah and successful is the person whose heart Allah has decorated with it, whom Allah guides to Islam after Kufr (disbelief) and who chooses it rather than all other talks. Apart from it being the most beautiful speech, it is also the most effective.
Love those who love Allah and love Allah with all your heart.
Never grow weary of Allah’s Book and His Dhikr (remembrance) because your hearts will then harden.
From what (deeds)Allah has chosen and selected, He has named the recitation of the Quran as the best of all good deeds, the best of all acts of worship, the most relevant of all speech and of all that explains what is lawful and unlawful.
You should therefore worship Allah without ascribing any partners to Him. Fear Him as He ought to be feared and let everything righteous that you speak with your mouths be sincerely for Allah.
Love each other for the pleasure of Allah and always remember that Allah does not like that any pledge made with Him should be broken. May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you all.” 1
1. Bayhaqi, as quoted in Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah (Vo1.3 Pg.214).