The Shaykh’s explanation of the current state of the general Muslim population, stating that one should not expect more from them than the implementation of what Allah has made obligatory upon them, no more, just as the Bedouin who said

The Shaykh : I mention this regarding some people—and peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you—not regarding the general population, because the general population has a specific address. For I see that the general people should be satisfied by the caller, or the one who reminds, or the teacher, to guide them in the manner of that Bedouin or desert dweller. When he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about what Allah had made obligatory upon him of obligations and duties? He mentioned to him (peace and blessings be upon him), as you know, five prayers in every day and night, fasting one month in the year, Ramadan, and so on. He said.

The questioner : O Messenger of Allah, is there anything upon me besides them? He said: except if you volunteer. So the man was straightforward. I wish the general Muslims today would be as straightforward as he was, first, and then commit to what he stated, second, where he said to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): "By Allah—O Messenger of Allah—I will not add to them nor subtract from them." Five prayers in every day and night, I will not add to them nor subtract from them. My purpose in mentioning this hadith is: Considering what has befallen the Muslims in their neglect of implementing the rulings of their religion, in knowledge first, and then in conduct second, for this reason we are satisfied with the Muslims, the general Muslims, that they perform only what Allah has made obligatory upon them, and that they be like the school of that Bedouin who said: "By Allah—O Messenger of Allah—I will not add to them nor subtract from them." We are satisfied with this with the general people, but we do not accept this or this satisfaction for all people, that one of us performs only what Allah has made obligatory upon him. Rather, as it is said: And some people thought that this which is said is a hadith, and it is not so, but it is from the wisdom: "High ambition is from faith, high ambition is from faith": It is not a hadith, but it is wisdom. Therefore, it is not befitting for the complete Muslim to be satisfied with what that Bedouin or desert dweller was satisfied with, to restrict himself only to what Allah has made obligatory upon him of obligations of all types of obligations. Rather, he should increase in obedience and nearness to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), as came in the Holy Hadith: to the end of it.