The Shaykh's discussion regarding his labeling the placing of the hands on the chest after rising from bowing as a religious innovation.

The Shaykh: Ah, let us return now to the first of the three or four issues.

The questioner: Yes, that is right, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh: We say: that placing the hands on the chest after raising the head from bowing is a religious innovation. Why? Why do we not say, as Abu Faris or others want: that we say, for example: "It is recommended" or "It is not recommended," what do you say?

The questioner: The placement?

The Shaykh: That you are suggesting to me, meaning: that we do not say it is a religious innovation, what do we say? That we say - for example - "It is recommended" or "It is not recommended"?

The questioner: The discussion was not about this, the word "recommended."

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you!

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: Answer me!

The questioner: Meaning, it is recommended!

The Shaykh: We just say it is recommended?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: Meaning, we are being gentler, meaning!

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: Mmm, okay, those who suggest this suggestion to us: is the recommended (mustahabb) an act of worship or is it not an act of worship?

The questioner : It is an act of worship.

The Shaykh: Okay, and what is above the recommended (mustahabb) is the Sunnah, is it an act of worship or is it not an act of worship?

The questioner: Yes, it is an act of worship.

The Shaykh: It is not enough for you to say: Yes...

The questioner: It is an act of worship!

The Shaykh: It is not enough for you to say: Yes, it is an act of worship, you have to say: a fortiori...

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Correct?

The questioner: A fortiori, yes.

The Shaykh: So if the recommended (mustahabb) is an act of worship, is the recommended (mustahabb) established except by a text?

The questioner: It is not established except by a text.

The Shaykh: Except by a text!

The questioner: Correct.

The Shaykh: So from this perspective, is there a difference between the recommended (mustahabb) and the Sunnah?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh: So then, why did you find it gentler if we said "recommended"?!

The questioner : I mean.

The Shaykh: It is not finished yet in any case, so if there is a matter that is said to be recommended (mustahabb), and there is no legal evidence for it, what will it be?

The questioner : A religious innovation.

The Shaykh: Okay, and if there is an issue that is said to be Sunnah, and there is no legal evidence for it, what will it be?

The questioner : A religious innovation.

The Shaykh: A religious innovation! So we have not benefited from anything with this suggestion that you are making: that...

The questioner: It is playing with words!

Another questioner: Why playing with words, this is the hadith of Wail, O Shaykh, Wail ibn Hujr?!

The Shaykh: You are being hasty!

The questioner: What are you being hasty about?

The Shaykh: You are being hasty, the issue now is not in researching the issue fundamentally, the issue now is in researching the suggestion: that O Al-Albani, instead of saying about this placement that it is a religious innovation, say: "It is recommended," so I am now researching with you, my brother, there is no difference if we say it is gentler, meaning we say: that it is recommended, or we say it is Sunnah, it is not permissible, neither this nor that, except with evidence, so the suggestion is not applicable in this field at all, why? Because the one who says it is Sunnah or recommended (mustahabb), must bring evidence, if he brings evidence, it is not permissible for the opponent to say it is a religious innovation, and if he does not bring evidence, then the statement of the one who says it is a religious innovation remains standing, so why does he suggest to him to say -this is heavy, lighten it a bit- and say that this is not recommended! Do you know now where the point is?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: All right.