English Translation

Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us, Ma'mar informed us, from Ali b. Zayd b. Jud'an, from Abu Nadrah, from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led us in the afternoon prayer one day while it was still daylight, then he stood and addressed us until the sun set. He left nothing that would happen up until the Day of Resurrection except that he told us of it - whoever remembered it remembered it, and whoever forgot it forgot it. Among what he said was: "O people, this world is green and sweet, and Allah has made you successors in it, and He is watching how you will act. So beware of this world, and beware of women. Indeed, every betrayer will have a banner on the Day of Resurrection according to the extent of his betrayal, planted at his backside, by which he will be recognized, and there is no betrayer greater than a ruler over the general public." Then he mentioned character traits and said: "A man may be quick to anger and quick to return to calm - so this offsets that; and a man may be slow to anger and slow to return - so this offsets that. The best of them is the one who is slow to anger and quick to return, and the worst of them is the one who is quick to anger and slow to return." He said: "Anger is an ember in the heart of the son of Adam that blazes. Have you not seen the redness of his eyes and the swelling of his veins? So if one of you experiences that, let him sit down" - or he said, "let him lie flat on the ground." He said: Then he mentioned demanding one's due, and said: "A man may be good at demanding and bad at repaying - so this offsets that; and he may be good at repaying and bad at demanding - so this offsets that. The best of them is the one who is good at both demanding and repaying, and the worst of them is the one who is bad at both." Then he said: "People were created in ranks: a man is born a believer, lives as a believer, and dies a believer; a man is born a disbeliever, lives as a disbeliever, and dies a disbeliever; a man is born a believer, lives as a believer, and dies a disbeliever; and a man is born a disbeliever, lives as a disbeliever, and dies a believer." Then he said in his speech: "There is nothing more excellent than a word of justice spoken before an unjust ruler; let not the fear of people prevent any of you from speaking the truth when he sees it or witnesses it." Then Abu Sa'id wept and said, "By Allah, that has indeed prevented us." He said: "You complete seventy nations, and you are the best of them and the most honored before Allah." Then the sun drew near to setting, and he said: "What remains of this world compared to what has passed of it is like what remains of this day of yours compared to what has passed of it."