The Manner of Addressing the Audience in a Sermon

Question

Many scholars, when addressing their listeners, say: “You did such-and-such, you did such-and-such — that is why the punishment came down.” Have they, then, already obtained for themselves a guarantee of forgiveness?

Answer

Addressing an assembly in such a way that all the fault and sin appear to belong to the listeners, while the preacher considers himself faultless and the most sinless of all, is not correct. Such preaching does not have a good effect.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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