It is reported that Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) would relieve himself in the same place where the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did. What is your guidance on this?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, the questioner says that some people cite a report from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he would preserve the locations of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), including that he would relieve himself in the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. What is the response to them?

Answer:
Yes, Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), out of his eagerness to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), would do these things. However, he was not agreed with; the senior Companions, including his father 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, did not agree with him on these matters. This was merely his independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) (may Allah be pleased with him), which was not approved of. Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was a scholar who exerted effort in all acts of obedience and worship, and he was a worshipper and pious, but he exerted effort and sought out these locations as an act of his independent legal reasoning. However, the innovators today are excessive in their acts of obedience. Some of them do not even pray the five daily prayers.
They seek out these locations and revive these traces, yet they are deficient in the obligatory duties and fard requirements, while they are eager for religious innovations and newly invented matters. There is no power and no strength except with Allah. They are not like Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and grant him satisfaction). Yes.