Abu Sulayman (41), the Imam of Tarsus, said: "When Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was present at a marriage contract and the sermon of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud was not recited, he would stand up and leave them." This was on the part of Abu Abd Allah [in the manner of] (44) exaggeration in its recommendation, not as an obligation (45); for Harb ibn Isma'il said: "I asked Ahmad, 'Is it obligatory that the marriage sermon be like the saying of Ibn Mas'ud?'" He then made the matter flexible. It has been narrated from Ibn Umar that when he was invited to solemnize a marriage, he would say: "Do not cause separation (46) among people for us. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah bless Muhammad. Indeed, so-and-so seeks to propose to you; if you marry her to him, then praise be to Allah, and if you reject him, then glory be to Allah (47)." The recommended practice is one sermon, which the guardian (wali), the groom, or someone else delivers. Al-Shafi'i said: "The Sunnah is two sermons: this one which we mentioned at the beginning, and a sermon from the groom before his acceptance (48)." What has been reported from the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and from the early generations (Salaf) is a single sermon, and it is the most appropriate to follow.

Section: The sermon is not obligatory according to any of the scholars we know, except for Dawud, who made it obligatory due to what we have mentioned. Our argument is that a man said to the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), "O Messenger of Allah, marry her to me." The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "I have married her to you for what you possess of the Quran." This is mutually agreed upon (49). He did not mention