"In his Khutbah the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to praise Allah as He deserves to be praised, then he would say: 'Whomsoever Allah (SWT) guides, none can lead him astray, and whomsoever Allah sends astray, none can guide. The truest of word is the Book of Allah and best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of things are those that are newly invented; every newly-invented thing is an innovation and every innovation is going astray, and every going astray is in the Fire.' Then he said: 'The Hour and I have been sent like these two.' Whenever he mentioned the Hour, his cheeks would turn red, and he would raise his voice and become angry, as if he were warning of an approaching army and saying: 'An army is coming to attack you in the morning, or in the evening!' (Then he said): 'Whoever leaves behind wealth, it is for his family, and whoever leaves behind a debt or dependents, then these are my responsibility, and I am the most entitled to take care of the believers.'"
The Book of the Prayer for the Two 'Eids
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1578
Structure of the Prophetic Khutbah
The noble hadith demonstrates the established format of the Prophet's sermons, beginning with proper praise of Allah, affirming divine guidance and misguidance being solely in Allah's hands, then establishing the two fundamental sources of Islam: the Quran and the Prophet's Sunnah.
Condemnation of Religious Innovations
The phrase "every newly-invented thing is an innovation and every innovation is going astray" establishes the principle that any religious practice not rooted in the Quran or authentic Sunnah is rejected. This protects the purity of Islamic teachings from human alterations and preserves the religion as revealed.
Prophetic Concern for the Hour
The Prophet's physical reaction - reddening cheeks, raised voice, and anger - when mentioning the Day of Judgment demonstrates the gravity of this matter. His comparison to warning of an imminent army emphasizes the urgency of preparation for the Hereafter through righteous deeds.
Responsibility Toward the Muslim Ummah
The final portion establishes the Islamic state's responsibility toward its vulnerable members. The Prophet's declaration that debts and dependents of deceased Muslims are his responsibility establishes the communal obligation (farḍ kifāyah) for the Muslim ruler to care for those without providers.