The Sunnah that makes Lectures Beneficial

Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Every sermon that is devoid of tashahhud is like an amputated hand [that is devoid of benefit].”  As-Saheehah, no. 169

Shaykh al-Albaanee (may Allaah have mercy on him) commented on the above hadeeth thus: “I believe that the intended meaning of tashahhud in this hadeeth is Khutbatul-Haajah (the Sermon of Need), which Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to teach his companions:

إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلا هادي له وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله

‘Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from our souls’ evils and our wrong doings. He whom Allaah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allaah, the One Who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is his servant and messenger’

Perhaps, this is the reason or at least one of the reasons why most of the lessons and lectures that are delivered to students lack benefit, since they are not commenced with the aforementioned tashahhud in spite of the eagerness of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to teach it to his companions…”

Source:  Nudhum al-Faraa’id mimma fee Silsilati al-Albaanee min Fawaa’id, vol. 2, p. 356-357 by Abdul-Lateef bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abee Rabee’