Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As salamu alaikum,
Can you please tell me how RasoolALLAH used to give the khutba? I heard that his eyes used to get red when delivering a khutba. If true, was this the case at all times?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

How did the Prophet saws give sermon?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

When Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) delivered the ‘khutba’ (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 (saws) would also say: "The last Hour and I have been sent like these two," and he (saws) would join his forefinger and middle finger. He (saws) would continue: "The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Muhammad (saws). The most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is an error." He (saws) would add: "I am dearer to a Muslim than even his self. He who has left behind property, that is for his family, and he who dies in debt or leaves children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me."

Your Question: If true, was this the case at all times?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 28 Surah Qasas verse 46: Yet (art thou, O Mohammed (saws) sent) as a Mercy from thy Lord to give warning to a people to whom no warner had come before thee: in order that they may receive admonition.

In several Aayahs of the Quran Allah Subhanah declares that He sent Prophet Mohamed (saws) as a mercy to all mankind, and as a warner (to the disbelievers) and as a giver of good news (to the believers). The Messenger of Allah (saws), unlike the majority of the government-paid ‘khateebs’ (sermon givers) of this day, took his duty extremely seriously and as a sincere brother and well-wisher of mankind warned them of the impending danger of the Day of Judgment. In doing his this prime duty, he (saws) more often than not got extremely passionate and excited when giving admonition….so much so that it is reported in several narrations that his eyes would become red, his voice would raise, and his anger and fear was so apparent and recognizable on his blessed face that he (saws) was like one giving a warning against the immediate attack of an impending enemy! Such was his (saws) love and passion and the desire to save mankind from the everlasting and eternal Hell Fire, which Allah Subhanah has prepared for those who refuse to believe in His Message.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan