Sunan Abi Dawud

People came to Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi, when they were doubtful about the kind of wood of the pulpit (in the mosque of the Prophet). They asked him about it. He said: By Allah, I know (the wood) of which it was made; I saw it the first day when it was placed there, and the first day when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent for a woman whom Sahl named and asked her: Order your boy, the carpenter, to construct for me a wooden pulpit so that I sit on it when I deliver a speech to the people. So she ordered him and he made a pulpit of a wood called tarfa taken from al-Ghabah (a place at a distance of nine miles from Medina). He brought it to her. She sent it to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He ordered and that was placed here. I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying on it: he said: "Allah is most great"; he then bowed while he was on it; then he returned and prostrated in the root of the pulpit; he then returned (to the pulpit). When he finished (the prayer), he addressed himself to the people and said: O people, I did this so that you may follow me and know my prayer.

When the Prophet (ﷺ) became fat, Tamim al-Dari said to him: Should I make for you pulpit, Messenger of Allah, that will bear the burden of your body ? He said: Yes. So he made a pulpit consisting of two steps.

The space between the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the wall (of the mosque) was such that a goat could pass.

The Prophet (ﷺ) disapproved of the offering of prayer at the meridian except on Friday. The Hell-fire is kindled except on Friday. Abu Dawud said: This is a mursal tradition (i.e. the successor is narrating it directly from the Prophet). Mujahid is older than Abu al-Khalil, and Abu al-Khalil did not hear (any tradition from) Abu Qatadah.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to offer the Friday prayer when the sun declined.

We used to offer the Friday prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and return (to our homes) while no shade of the walls was seen (at that time).

We had a siesta or lunch after the Friday prayer.

During the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr and 'Umar the call to the Friday prayer was first made at the time when the imam was seated on the pulpit (for giving the sermon). When the time of 'Uthman came, and the people became abundant, 'Uthman ordered to make a third call to the Friday prayer. It was made on al-Zaura' (a house in Medina). The rule of action continued to the same effect.

The call to the (Friday) prayer was made at the gate of the mosque in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he sat on the pulpit, and of Abu Bakr and 'Umar. The narrator then repeated the same tradition as reported by Yunus.

There was no other mu'adhdhin (pronouncer) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) except Bilal. The narrator then reported the tradition to the same effect.

There was no other mu'adhdhin of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then narrated the tradition which is incomplete.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) seated himself on the pulpit on a Friday he said, Sit down. Ibn Mas'ud heard that and sat down at the door of mosque, and when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw him, he said: Come here, 'Abd Allah b. Mas'ud. Abu Dawud said: This tradition is known as mursal (the successor reports directly from the Prophet, omitting then name of the Companion). The people narrated it from the Prophet (ﷺ) on the authority of 'Ata'. Makhlad is his teacher.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to deliver two sermons. He would sit down when he ascended the pulpit till he (I think he meant the mu'adhdhin) finished. He would then stand up and preach, then sit down and say nothing, then stand up and preach.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to deliver the sermon standing, then he would sit down, then stand and preach standing. If anyone tells you he preached sitting, he is lying. I swear by Allah that I offered along with more than two thousand prayers.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave two sermons between which he sat, recited the Quran and gave the people an exhortation.

I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) would deliver the sermon standing, then sit down without saying anything. The narrator then reported the tradition in full.

I sat with a man who had been in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He was called al-Hakam ibn Hazn al-Kulafi. He began to narrate a tradition to us saying: I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in a delegation consisting of seven or nine persons. We entered upon him and said: Messenger of Allah, we have visited you, so pray Allah what is good for us. He ordered to give us some dates. The Muslims in those days were weak. We stayed there for several days and offered the Friday prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He stood leaning on a staff or a bow. He praised Allah and exalted Him in light, pure and blessed words. Then he said: O people, you have no power to obey or you cannot obey what you are ordered. But be straight and give good tidings. Abu 'Ali said: Did you hear Abu Dawud ? He said: Some of my companions reminded me of some words that were omitted from writing on the paper.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed, he would say: Praise be to Allah, from Whom we seek help and pardon,and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls. He whom Allah guide has no one who can lead him astray, and he whom He leads astray has no one to guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and apostle. He sent him before the coming of the last hour with truth giving good tidings and warning. He who obeys Allah and His Apostle follows the right path; and he who disobeys them shall harm none except himself, and he will not harm Allah in the least.

Yunus asked Ibn Shihab about the address of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Friday. He mentioned it in like manner. He added: Anyone who disobeys them (Allah and His Apostle) goes astray. We beseech Allah, our Lord, to make us from those who obey Him and obey His Apostle, and follow what He likes, and abstain from His anger; we are due to Him and we belong to Him.

A speaker delivered a speech in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: Anyone who obeys Allah and His Apostle, and one who disobeys them. He said: Go away, you are a bad speaker.