Abu Firas says that once Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon and said: O people! As long as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was among us, revelation continued to descend and Allah kept informing us about your conditions, so we recognized you accordingly. Now, since the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has departed and the series of revelation has ended, we will now recognize you by those things which we tell you. Whoever among you displays goodness, we will think well of him and love him, and whoever displays evil, we will not think well of him and will dislike him on that basis. Your hidden secrets will be between you and your Lord. Remember! There was a time upon me when I used to think that whoever recites the Noble Qur’an to attain Allah and His blessings, he presents the imagination of the Hereafter before me. Remember! There are some people who seek the wealth and riches of people through the recitation of the Noble Qur’an. You should seek Allah through your recitation, seek Allah through your deeds, and remember! I have not sent my appointed governors to you so that they may flay your skins and seize your wealth and riches. Rather, I have sent them to you so that they may teach you your religion and the Sunnahs of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). If anyone has been dealt with otherwise, he should present it before me. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I will surely take retribution for him. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) jumped forward and said: O Commander of the Faithful! If a man is made responsible over the people and he gives some punishment to teach them manners, will you also take retribution from him? He replied: Yes! By the One in Whose Hand is Umar’s soul, I will take retribution from him as well. I have seen the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself giving retribution on his own behalf. Remember! Do not humiliate the Muslims by beating them, do not put them on coals so as to put them to trial, do not withhold their rights so as to force them to adopt disbelief, and do not anger them so as to ruin them.