Doubt: Some People Leave the Sunnah for Worldly Gain

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These people think that following the Sunnah is difficult. For example, Ribaa has been made Haraam but they feel like they need it for their business (or buying property etc.) or that they need it to make a profit, and a result of this they leave off the following of the Sunnah.

Some people leave obeying the ruler because they want to gain power. By doing this, they leave obedience to the ruler and by extension honouring the Sunnah. This is in order to please people or gain power for themselves.

“Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah though it displeases the people, then Allah becomes pleased with him and He will make the people pleased with him. Whoever seeks the pleasure of the people and it displeases Allah, then Allah becomes displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him.” [Classed as Saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh at-Targheeb (2250)]

Another example is the Hijaab. Some people leave wearing (and ordering the wearing of) the Hijaab and try to feminise women. Their argument is that they want to seek reform, they want to advance (i.e. claiming Islaam is backward), and as a result they leave the honouring of the Sunnah (TN: these are examples but the ruling upon those who have such ideas may differ, some falling into sin and others perhaps into Kufr – and Allaah’s Protection is Sought).

The point here is that in order to honour the Sunnah, one must be following it and submitting to the revelation, to accept it all, not remaining upon it with any form of doubt, spreading and teaching it, refuting innovations and to rule by it in all our affairs.

End of Lecture.

Doubt: Some people have partisanship in following their Madhab and they Deny the Sunnah

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This is one of the  worst ways of how Fitnah is being introduced into the religion.

What is upon us is to give precedence to the Sunnah before anyone else’s statement, otherwise ones Eemaan may become tainted. The Imaams of Islaam have commanded their followers to follow the Sunnah, so creating this partisanship (based one ones school of thought, or splitting off based on ones ‘Aqeedah etc.) in their name would be something they are completely disassociated from.

Imaam Abu Hanifah (May Allaah have Mercy on him)  said, "When a Hadeeth is found to be Saheeh, then that is my Madhhab." 

[Reported by Ibn 'Aabideen in al-Haashiyah (1/63)]

Imaam Maalik (May Allaah have Mercy on him) said, “The view of any one of us may be accepted or rejected, except the occupant of this grave (meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is to be followed regardless), and then he pointed at the grave. 

[Reported by Ibn 'Abdul-Barr in Jaami' (2/91), originally from the statement of Ibn 'Abbaas (May Allaah be Pleased with him)]

Likewise partisanship in ‘Aqeedah is also a problem. For example, some deny the Names and Attributes of Allaah (or some of them). They reject what is clear in the Sunnah which explains our ‘Aqeedah and they resort to giving it meanings or they do Ijtihaad (analogy, derive a judgement etc.) and thus have decided to dishonour the Sunnah of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].

A party (or a Hizb) is defined as a sect that when the Sunnah comes to them, they don’t leave the Hizb they are part of. These people deny the Sunnah and they try to make Ta’weel (give an alternative explanation to what is clear in the texts), and they end up blindly sticking to their Manhaj (methodology) and misguidance in order to support their Hizb. This is completely contrary to the Sunnah.

Doubt: Some Say that The Sunnah Can Be Misinterpreted, So They Follow the Linguistic Meaning or the Meaning Their Desires Dictate

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

This is clearly a wrong perception and is from the ways partisanship appears in the Ummah.

Some people say, ‘I will act upon my intellect and then accept the Sunnah if it conforms.’

But we say; intellects differ and some people will agree with one thing and not another. Some people will understand something but others won’t. Some people's intellect may increase in different times in their life and at times they may waver. As a result, intellect is not dependable and not constant throughout the ages.

If this is the case, how can we reject the Sunnah, rely upon the intellect, especially when there is no benchmark?

However, the Sunnah is clear, if it Saheeh we accept it and if it is not, then we don’t.

“Then We have put you (O Muhammad ) on a plain way of (Our) commandment [like the one which We commanded Our Messengers before you (i.e. legal ways and laws of the Islamic Monotheism)]. So follow you that (Islamic Monotheism and its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not” [al-Jaathiyah 45:18]

Likewise, honouring the Sunnah is not specified for certain days and doing this creates Bid’ah (innovation, a major sin). For example, some people take the date they presume that the Israa’ and Mi’raaj occurred or they take the Mawlid an-Nabawee as days of ‘Eid and honouring of the Sunnah. As for the rest of year, they have no Sunnah and have no interest in learning or acting upon the Seerah.

This is evidently against Sunnah. They leave the Sunnah for the whole year and on a day where there is no proof, they start to innovate. This is from the very essence of dishonouring the Sunnah and ridiculing it.

Doubt: Some Narrations are Ahaad and They say Ahaad Narrations are Not Certain

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Narrations that are Ahaad (narrations narrated in a chain of narrators which has fewer than four narrators at any stage of the narration) are from the Sunnah and we are commanded to follow the Sunnah and protect it. It is not possible for there to be a Hadeeth except we know it to be either Saheeh or Da’eef, therefore, once it is proven to be authentic, we accept it.

“O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done.” [al-Hujaraat 49:6]

So this Aayah shows that if person who is 'Aadil (trustworthy) and Daabit (precise in what they narrate) comes with information, we accept it.

As Allah, the Most High, says:

“And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out to fight (Jihad) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may get instructions in (Islamic) religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil).” [at-Tawbah 9:122]

So what are these people warning against? In actuality, they are warning against the evidences from the Quraan and the Sunnah and following them. So it is Waajib for us to act upon ‘Ilm that has come to us even if it is a small group of people narrating it. 

Doubt: Some May Say that The Quraan is Enough and There is No Need for The Sunnah

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Those who call to following the Quraan exclusively use Aayaat (proofs) from the Quraan such as;

“We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).” [Nahl 16:89]

Therefore, the Quraan explains everything, so according to them, we don’t need the Sunnah. This is their doubt.

But we say that this is a mistake, why? The Quraan has told us to follow the Sunnah and that it is a proof in and of itself. In fact, the Quraan can’t be complete without having the Sunnah.

For example, Allaah the Most High, says;

“…pay the due thereof (its Zakat, according to Allah's Orders 1/10th or 1/20th) on the day of its harvest…” [An’aam 6:141]

So how can we pay Zakaat on our harvest? What is the day of harvest? What is the Nisaab (threshold)?

We need to go back to the Sunnah. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “There is no zakaah due (i.e. the nisaab or the threshold) on less than five wasqs (an amount of measurement, approximately 612Kg depending on the type of food that is being weighed)…” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1405; Muslim, 979.

Therefore, it is not possible to rely on the Quraan alone as the Sunnah explains it.

A Doubt: How Do we Act Upon the Sunnah When Some of it is Weak?

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Allaah, the Most High, has honoured this Ummah. We have those who are able to decipher between what is authentic and weak. Those who have studied and are able to look at chains of narrations, its narrators and the text they are narrating. They have the ability to scrutinise with detail, narrator by narrator, chain by chain, to the extent that they have reached the level of being firm upon the Sunnah and in its understanding. This is because of the fact that they have sought to understand it, how it is derived and thus gaining expertise in it.

So there is a need for us all to follow the scholars in finding the Sunnah. There is a need for us to act upon the Saheeh (authentic) and leave the Da’eef (weak), and this can only be done by relying upon those who are experts in this field. 

Honouring the Sunnah Means We Do Not Give Precedence to Our Intellect

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Many people have doubts in the Sunnah because it doesn’t correspond with their intellect, so they are left with reservations in (all or some of) it. However, our way is not do Taqleed of them (i.e. blindly follow such false ideas).

For instance, the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] explained a ruling on sighting the moon to us, where he said:

“Fast when you see it and break the fast when you see it, and if it is too cloudy then complete the number (of days) of Sha’baan as thirty.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (2324) and al-Tirmidhi (697); classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi

In this Hadeeth we learn that our worship is based on seeking the reward of Allaah, the Most High, and this is done by is following the Sunnah. Included in this is submitting and following what is apparent without relying on what people deem to be nonintellectual.

This Hadeeth is an example of submitting to what the Prophet informed us of and leaving the need for calculations and predictions.

Some people are hesitant about the Sunnah and they wish to follow predictions and think that they are more precise. However, standing on Day of Judgment in front of Allah, the Most High, you will be asked about the Sunnah and whether you followed it, and you will not be asked about your predictions and opinions.

Did you follow it or did you reject the following of it? Did you prefer your intellect and submit to your doubts, whilst being concerned with what other people said and did?

So the believer is one who submits to the Sunnah in all affairs.

Honouring the Sunnah by Following its Commands and Staying Away from its Prohibitions

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Honouring the Sunnah is by fulfilling the commands within it and staying away from prohibitions without having doubt in it.

“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment” [al-Hasr 59:7]

Therefore we can’t worship Allaah except with what the [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] has instructed us with. So any act of worship a slave wants to do then they are absolutely reliant upon the Sunnah. Without this we cannot act and if one does do an act without Prophetic guidance, then they have fallen into innovation (a major sin).

“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?”[al-Shoora 42:21] 

“Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2697; Muslim, 1718). 

Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal from the hadeeth of al-‘Irbaad ibn Saariyah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs. Adhere to it and bite onto it with your back teeth (i.e., cling firmly to it). And beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going-astray.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, al-Sunnah, 3991. Al-Albaani said in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood, no. 3851, it is saheeh)

Fath al-Majeed: The Definition of a God

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Shaykh al-Islaam [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

An Ilaah (God) is something that is worshipped and obeyed, it is a deity that we turn to, deserved of our worship. It is the deity that deserves to be attributed with perfection which will create love for the one worshipping it. It creates humility for the one who worships Him. 

So a deity is something that is loved, worshipped, a thing that the hearts are turned to with love. A thing that makes the hearts tranquil and filled with humility towards it. A thing that the worshippers fears but is also balanced with hope in it. You return to this deity when times are difficult and you supplicate to it with whatever concerns you. A deity which is the object of you reliance and you seek from it assistance. A deity is something you resort to and you find peace when remembering it.

You live loving it and nothing can comprise all of these except Allaah Alone, therefore we submit and testify with the statement, ‘There is no God but Allaah’, the truest of statements.

Those who believe in this statement and uphold it are the party of Allaah and they deny and reject anything that conflicts the statement they ardently believe in.

If you truly uphold this statement in yourself then all your affairs will become easy and you will truly taste the sweetness of what it means to say it. If you have not actualised its meaning and not upheld it in your life then you are a deprived slave and it becomes obligatory upon you to learn and live by it. End Quote.

[Fath al-Majeed Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed (Pg 25)] 

Opposing and Rejecting the Sunnah is Refusing to Accept Hikmah

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

The Sunnah has been described as being Hikmah (i.e. wisdom), resulting in whatever opposes the Sunnah not being Hikmah.

“…teaching them the Book (this Qur'an and Islamic laws) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship). And verily, they had been before in mainfest error…” [Jumu’ah 62:2]

The Hikmah here in this Ayaah refers to the Sunnah of The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] (i.e. before it came to us we were in manifest error).

Therefore, the way of the Salaf is to accept it unrestrictedly, submitting to it, not having any doubt in it and if they had any problems in understanding it, then they sought to learn the Sunnah so that any doubts will be removed and end up submitting to it. They would leave their own opinions and Ijtihaad once the Sunnah had been explained to them.

For example, ‘Umar al-Khattab [May Allaah be Pleased with him] was of the view that the blood money for each finger was different. So if one had his finger damaged by another, the person who damaged his finger must pay blood money. The view of ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] was that the thumb was different to the other fingers, based on the reason that we use it more. So he dictated that it was more important than the small finger and the ring finger, so the Diyah (blood money) for the thumb was more than the other fingers. From his Ijtihaad, he ruled that the thumb was worth 30 camels, the middle finger was 10 camels, the index finger was 10, the ring finger was 8 and the small finger was worth 7 camels.

However, when the Hadeeth came to him that every finger was worth 10 camels, he left his Ijtihaad and judged people based on this hadeeth.

This incident also shows that the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] would honour and venerate the Sunnah, they would follow it unrestrictedly and they would ask each other for it, seeking and finding the Sunnah from each other.

Another incident saw a grandfather come to Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq [May Allaah be Pleased with him], asking him about the inheritance from his deceased grandson. So Aboo Bakr judged that the grandfather doesn’t get anything because there is no text to prove that he gets a share. However, when he asked the other Companions about this issue and Muhammad bin Maslamah proved that he heard that the grandfather actually does inherit (in the absence of the father). As a result, Aboo Bakr  submitted and ruled that the questioner would get a sixth.

Also, Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] didn’t allow stoning and pelting at Hajj on the behalf of children. In fact, he would prevent his children from going to do the pelting during the Hajj but when he found out that some of his children were doing it, he admonished then and he said, “I inform you about a Hadeeth but you don’t listen to the Hadeeth!? I won’t speak to you until you repent and come back to the Sunnah.”

So whatever has been narrated in the Sunnah, we submit, believe, act upon, spread and honour it.