What is the difference between the Sunnahs of custom and the Sunnahs of worship?
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The questioner : Yesterday, when we were in Jeddah, I spoke about the difference between the Sunnah of custom and the Sunnah of worship. We would like, if Allah wills, to review it with a simple explanation so that we understand, meaning, what is the difference between them?
The Shaykh : Do you want the answer to be brief?
The questioner : Meaning, what is the criterion, because we did not understand?
The Shaykh : We have answered. The criterion is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has two personalities: a human personality, in which he shares with humans everything that is permissible for him and the calamities and illnesses that befall them, and so on. He loves and desires things. As he said (peace be upon him) in the authentic hadith:Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 9:629. And he has another personality, which is the personality of prophethood and the message. So, if an action issues from him and is accompanied by something indicating that this action is attached to his prophetic personality, then this action is from the matters of worship. And if nothing is accompanied by this action indicating that it has a connection to the prophetic personality, then the action is attached to his human personality. Is the answer clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : All right, O Shaykh, regarding the action of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) when he used to follow the water skins and say:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 756Sahih (Darussalam).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : And following Ibn 'Umar in wearing the Sabtian sandals, he says:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 756Sahih (Darussalam).
The Shaykh : Yes, we do not forbid this, but it is as if you have now abandoned everything you heard!
The questioner : No, I have not abandoned it.
The Shaykh : We did not say, we did not say that we forbid you from doing what the Prophet did, but do not contradict him in his purpose and in his intention. And when the Prophet used to follow the water skins, was he following the water skins because eating them was better?
The questioner : He desired them.
The Shaykh : So, you. He desired them. So, if you desire them, you eat them, and if not, then no. Is that clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
The Shaykh : Do you want the answer to be brief?
The questioner : Meaning, what is the criterion, because we did not understand?
The Shaykh : We have answered. The criterion is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has two personalities: a human personality, in which he shares with humans everything that is permissible for him and the calamities and illnesses that befall them, and so on. He loves and desires things. As he said (peace be upon him) in the authentic hadith:
I was made to love from your worldly life what is good and women, and I made the coolness of my eyes in prayer
حُبِّب إلي من دنياكم الطيب والنساء ، وجُعلت قرَّة عيني في الصلاةThe questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : All right, O Shaykh, regarding the action of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) when he used to follow the water skins and say:
I did not see the Prophet
رأيت النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يتتبَّعهThe Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : And following Ibn 'Umar in wearing the Sabtian sandals, he says:
I did not see the Prophet
رأيت النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم -The Shaykh : Yes, we do not forbid this, but it is as if you have now abandoned everything you heard!
The questioner : No, I have not abandoned it.
The Shaykh : We did not say, we did not say that we forbid you from doing what the Prophet did, but do not contradict him in his purpose and in his intention. And when the Prophet used to follow the water skins, was he following the water skins because eating them was better?
The questioner : He desired them.
The Shaykh : So, you. He desired them. So, if you desire them, you eat them, and if not, then no. Is that clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
The Shaykh: All right.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.