Clarifying the meaning of something being permissible but not prescribed
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Clarifying the meaning of something being permissible but not prescribed
I heard on some tapes that you say: A thing may be permissible but not prescribed.
This has been difficult for me to understand, because a permissible thing usually derives its permissibility from the Lawgiver, whether by explicit text, derivation, or otherwise. I have found this matter difficult due to my limited knowledge, so I hope for clarification. May Allah reward you with good.
This is illustrated by an example: A thing may be permissible, meaning: it is allowed for a person to do it, but it is not prescribed for the community.For example: The man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent on a military expedition used to recite for his companions in their prayer and conclude with (Say: He is Allah, the One). When this reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not disapprove of it. But is it prescribed for us to conclude our recitation in prayer with (Say: He is Allah, the One) every time? It is not prescribed. For this reason, the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, nor did he guide the community to it.
And similarly: The Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) permitted Sa'd ibn Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) to give in charity to his mother from his date palm grove—Meaning: his garden that bears dates—when he sought his permission to do so.But he did not say to the community: Do this.
The questioner: If he does it and persists in it, is it considered a religious innovation?The Shaykh: No.
It is not a religious innovation. If, for example,A person recited: (Say: He is Allah, the One) is recited consistently, it is not a religious innovation, because the Messenger permitted it. However, it is not part of the Sunnah, and not doing it is better.
I heard on some tapes that you say: A thing may be permissible but not prescribed.
This has been difficult for me to understand, because a permissible thing usually derives its permissibility from the Lawgiver, whether by explicit text, derivation, or otherwise. I have found this matter difficult due to my limited knowledge, so I hope for clarification. May Allah reward you with good.
This is illustrated by an example: A thing may be permissible, meaning: it is allowed for a person to do it, but it is not prescribed for the community.For example: The man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent on a military expedition used to recite for his companions in their prayer and conclude with (Say: He is Allah, the One). When this reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not disapprove of it. But is it prescribed for us to conclude our recitation in prayer with (Say: He is Allah, the One) every time? It is not prescribed. For this reason, the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it, nor did he guide the community to it.
And similarly: The Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) permitted Sa'd ibn Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) to give in charity to his mother from his date palm grove—Meaning: his garden that bears dates—when he sought his permission to do so.But he did not say to the community: Do this.
The questioner: If he does it and persists in it, is it considered a religious innovation?The Shaykh: No.
It is not a religious innovation. If, for example,A person recited: (Say: He is Allah, the One) is recited consistently, it is not a religious innovation, because the Messenger permitted it. However, it is not part of the Sunnah, and not doing it is better.