Explaining that worship is not in accordance with the Shari'ah unless it agrees with the Shari'ah in six matters: the cause, the type, the amount, the manner, the time, and the place.
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The Shaykh : That is, worship is not in accordance with the Shari'ah unless it agrees with the Shari'ah in six matters: in its cause, its type, its amount, its manner, its time, and its place.
So if a person worships Allah with a worship that has a non-legislated cause, his worship is rejected. For example, if someone worships Allah the Exalted by praising the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of his birth, we say: this is a religious innovation rejected upon the one who performed it. Why? Because the Shari'ah did not make the birth of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a cause for praising him and gathering to send blessings upon him, and the like of that. Now, what is next? The type.
If a person worships Allah with a worship of a type that is not prescribed, for example, if a person sacrifices a horse. A man sacrificed a horse; it is known that a horse is usually more expensive than a cow. So, does the horse suffice as a sacrificial animal?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Why? Because it is not in accordance with the Shari'ah in type, because sacrificial animals are not prescribed except from livestock.
Now, the amount. If a person invents specific dhikr with a specific number and says, "I will glorify Allah a thousand times, say Allahu Akbar a thousand times," and takes that as a religious law, we say: this is a religious innovation. A person is forbidden from it because it does not agree with the Shari'ah in number. What remains?
The student: The manner.
The Shaykh : The manner. If a person worships Allah the Exalted with a worship in a manner other than the prescribed manner, it is not accepted because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner. For example, if he performs wudu' by starting first with his feet, then his head, then his hands, then his face, this wudu' is not accepted. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner. And if he prostrates in prayer before bowing, the prayer is not valid, because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner.
The time remains.
The time. If a person sacrifices or slaughters his sacrificial animal on the Day of 'Arafah before the Day of 'Id, the sacrifice is not accepted. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in time.
Now, the place.
If a person performs i'tikaf in his house during the last ten days of Ramadan, we say: this i'tikaf is not valid. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in place, because i'tikaf is not valid except in a mosque where the congregation is held, in a mosque where the congregation is held in any place on earth. All the mosques on earth are valid for i'tikaf.
So if a person worships Allah with a worship that has a non-legislated cause, his worship is rejected. For example, if someone worships Allah the Exalted by praising the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of his birth, we say: this is a religious innovation rejected upon the one who performed it. Why? Because the Shari'ah did not make the birth of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) a cause for praising him and gathering to send blessings upon him, and the like of that. Now, what is next? The type.
If a person worships Allah with a worship of a type that is not prescribed, for example, if a person sacrifices a horse. A man sacrificed a horse; it is known that a horse is usually more expensive than a cow. So, does the horse suffice as a sacrificial animal?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Why? Because it is not in accordance with the Shari'ah in type, because sacrificial animals are not prescribed except from livestock.
Now, the amount. If a person invents specific dhikr with a specific number and says, "I will glorify Allah a thousand times, say Allahu Akbar a thousand times," and takes that as a religious law, we say: this is a religious innovation. A person is forbidden from it because it does not agree with the Shari'ah in number. What remains?
The student: The manner.
The Shaykh : The manner. If a person worships Allah the Exalted with a worship in a manner other than the prescribed manner, it is not accepted because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner. For example, if he performs wudu' by starting first with his feet, then his head, then his hands, then his face, this wudu' is not accepted. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner. And if he prostrates in prayer before bowing, the prayer is not valid, because it contradicts the Shari'ah in manner.
The time remains.
The time. If a person sacrifices or slaughters his sacrificial animal on the Day of 'Arafah before the Day of 'Id, the sacrifice is not accepted. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in time.
Now, the place.
If a person performs i'tikaf in his house during the last ten days of Ramadan, we say: this i'tikaf is not valid. Why? Because it contradicts the Shari'ah in place, because i'tikaf is not valid except in a mosque where the congregation is held, in a mosque where the congregation is held in any place on earth. All the mosques on earth are valid for i'tikaf.