Riyad as-Salihin, 698

Shaqiq bin Salamah reported:

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) used to preach to us once every Thursday. A man said to him: "O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, we love your talk and we wish that you preach us every day." He said: "There is nothing to prevent me from doing so, but I don't lest I bore you. I follow the same method in preaching to you that Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) adopted in preaching to us for fear of boredom." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

عن أبى وائل شقيق بن سلمة قال‏:‏ كان ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه يذكرنا في كل خميس، فقال له رجل‏:‏ يا أبا عبد الرحمن، لوددت أنك ذكرتنا كل يوم، فقال‏:‏ أما إنه يمنعني من ذلك أني أكره أن أملكم وإني أتخولكم بالموعظة، كما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتخولنا بها مخافة السآمة علينا‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 1, Hadith 19

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It is recommended to be brief in preaching people, lest they get bored. Indeed, the dearest deeds to Allah Almighty are those done continuously even if they are little. 2) A preacher is advised not to respond to everything he is asked. Rather, he should give admonition as much as suitable in a specific matter. He sees things from the perspective of his knowledge, while people are prodded by their passions. So, he should give them what is more suitable, not what they request based on their inclination.

Related hadiths1

Sahih al-Bukhari70sahih