MUHAMMAD AS A PREACHER

JAbir b. �Abdullah draws for us a pen-portrait of Muhammad delivering a sermon.  He reports: �When Allah�s Messenger 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 Gust as there is no other finger between these two, similarly there will be no new Prophet between Muhammad and the Day of Resurrection) and would further say: �The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad.  And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error� � (1885).

There are other eyewitness accounts of Muhammad�s sermons.  One report says: �Allah�s Messenger stood up [to pray] and we heard him say: �I seek refuge in Allah from thee,� Then said: �I curse thee with Allah�s curse three times,� then he stretched out his hand as though he was taking hold of something.� When asked to throw fight on this unusual behavior, he replied: �Allah�s enemy IblIs came with a flame of fire to put it in my face.� But even though cursed, he did not retreat.  �Thereafter, I meant to seize him. I swear by Allah that had it not been for the supplication of my brother SulaimAn he would have been bound, and made an object of sport for the children of Medina� (1106).

author : ram swarup