“The Messenger of
Allah
(ﷺ) delivered a sermon to us and said: ‘O people! Repent to
Allah
before you die. Hasten to do good deeds before you become
preoccupied
(because of sickness and old age). Uphold the relationship
that
exists between you and your Lord by remembering Him a great deal
and
by giving a great deal of charity in secret and openly. (Then) you
will be granted provision and Divine support, and your condition will
improve. Know that Allah has enjoined Friday upon you in this place
of
mine, on this day, in this month, in this year, until the Day of
Resurrection. Whoever abandons it, whether during my lifetime or
after
I am gone, whether he has a just or an unjust ruler, whether he
takes
it lightly or denies (that it is obligatory), may Allah cause
him to
lose all sense of tranquility and contentment, and may He not
bless
him in his affairs. Indeed, his prayer will not be valid, his
Zakat
will not be valid, his Hajj will not be valid, his fasting will
not be
valid, and his righteous deeds will not be accepted, until he
repents.
Whoever repents, Allah will accept his repentance. No woman
should be
appointed as Imam over a man, no Bedouin should be
appointed as Imam
over a Muhajir, no immoral person should be
appointed as Imam over a
(true) believer, unless that is forced upon
him and he fears his sword
or whip.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 5, Hadith 279