English Translation

Abu Mu'awiyah told us, Al-A'mash told us, from Isma'il ibn Raja', from his father, and from Qays ibn Muslim, from Tariq ibn Shihab — both of them from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri — who said: Marwan brought out the pulpit on the day of a festival, though it had not been customary to bring it out, and he began with the sermon before the prayer, though it had not been customary to begin with it. A man stood up and said: "O Marwan, you have opposed the Sunnah. You brought out the pulpit on the day of a festival, though it was not customary to bring it out on the day of a festival, and you began with the sermon before the prayer, though it was not customary to begin with it." Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: "Who is this?" They said: "So-and-so, son of so-and-so." Abu Sa'id said: "As for this man, he has discharged what was upon him. I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: 'Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand if he is able' — and he said another time: 'let him change it with his hand — and if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.'"