[then] (2) he would greet them. It was recorded by Abu Bakr with his chain of narration (3). From Al-Sha'bi, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), when he ascended the pulpit on Friday, would face the people and say: "Al-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), then he would praise Allah, exalt Him, recite a Surah, then sit, then stand to deliver the sermon. Abu Bakr and 'Umar used to do this. Recorded by Al-Athram (4). Whenever he offered the greeting, the people would respond to him; because responding to the greeting is more emphasized than initiating it. Then he would sit until the mu'adhdhins finished so that he could rest. It was narrated by Ibn 'Umar, who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would deliver two sermons; he would (5) sit when he ascended the pulpit until - I think - (5) the mu'adhdhins (6) finished, then he would stand and preach, then sit without speaking, then stand and preach. Recorded by Abu Dawud (7).
281 - Issue; He said: (And the mu'adhdhins began the adhan, and this is the adhan that forbids selling and makes proceeding [to the mosque] obligatory, except for one whose house is at a distance, for he must proceed at the time by which (1) he will be able to catch the Friday prayer).
As for the legitimacy of the adhan after the Imam ascends, there is no disagreement regarding it; for the adhan used to be called for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Al-Sa'ib bin Yazid said: The call [to prayer] occurred when the Imam ascended the pulpit during the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Abu Bakr, and 'Umar. When it was the time of 'Uthman, the people increased, so he added the third call
(2) Omitted from the manuscripts. (3) Recorded by Al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter on the Imam Greeting the People When He Ascends the Pulpit Before Sitting, from the Book of Friday Prayer. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 3/205. (4) Recorded by 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on the Greeting of the Imam When He Ascends, from the Book of Friday Prayer. Al-Musannaf 3/193. And by Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on the Imam Greeting When He Sits on the Pulpit, from the Book of Prayer. Al-Musannaf 2/114. (5) Omitted from: [A], [M]. (6) In Sunan Abi Dawud: "the mu'adhdhin". (7) In: The Chapter on Sitting When Ascending the Pulpit, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/250, 251. (1) In [A] and [M]: "in it".
