Is guidance given at the beginning, or can it be given during the work?

The questioner : It can be given at the beginning. And if not? What? Yes, indeed.

The Shaykh : Sometimes it is given at the beginning, where one says, for example, "Do this in this manner." Sometimes it is given later, after he has done it and presented it, saying, "If you had done it such and such," or for the future, "Do it such and such."

The questioner : And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did so.

The Shaykh : He did not say "this" because he had no reason to speak about something else. He wanted to indicate that he never rebuked him. There is no doubt that the Messenger would guide him to what is better, but his meaning was that he did not rebuke him, unlike others. Someone other than the Messenger might rebuke him and even hit him.