The Refutation of Those Who Cite What Is Narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) That He Said: "What the Muslims See as Good"

The Shaykh: And there remains a third important point that must be pointed out, and with that I conclude this speech; this important point is what has become common on the tongues of the common people, and indeed many of the specialists, in their saying: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , And the answer to this is from two angles:
The first: That this is not a hadith traced to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), so attributing it to the Prophet is a clear error that a Muslim must not fall into. Rather, it was narrated by a group of hadith masters, such as Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi and Imam Ahmad in their "Musnads," and others, with a good chain, from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud, stopping at his statement and not being from the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is answer number one.
Answer number two: That this hadith, even though it is mawquf (stopping at a Companion), its indication is not general for all Muslims in every time and place. Rather, its indication is specific to a group of Muslims whom the Lord of the Worlds addressed directly in the Noble Qur'an with His saying: And they are the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). These are the ones intended by the saying of Ibn Mas'ud: "What the Muslims see." So the "al" in "al-Muslimun" (the Muslims) is not for totality and comprehensiveness, but for the definite article of known reference; because this hadith, even though it is mawquf, has a context. If we know this context, the correct meaning of this phrase is determined. That is because Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said this word on the occasion of the Companions choosing Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and electing him as Caliph without disagreement or conflict among them. So Ibn Mas'ud said: "Indeed, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) sent to us our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as a Messenger, and He made for him ministers and supporters. So what the Muslims see as good; it is good in the sight of Allah."
So the Muslims here were mentioned on the occasion of referring to the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the Muhajireen and the Ansar, who are the elite of the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So, so that not every Companion is included in this phrase, even if he came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and believed in him, then returned to his desert and did not mix with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) much, such that he would gain a broad understanding of the religion; this hadith does not include except the ministers and the supporters whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made a strength and support for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in his call: the former in his homeland, and the latter in the land of his migration. The Muhajireen in Makkah, and the Ansar in Madinah. So Allah (Mighty and Majestic) supported His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with these two groups. So these gathered to choose Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) as Caliph over them. So Ibn Mas'ud said: "So what the Muslims see"; meaning: these Muhajireen and Ansar. "As good"; meaning: from the choice of al-Siddiq as Caliph. "It is good." So where is the argument with this hadith?! The most ignorant person sees something good in his mind, with his deep ignorance of the Shari'ah, and he will say to you: My brother, the Muslims are doing this!!
Which of these Muslims?! It may be the common people without the specialists. Then, if there are specialists, whatever... these specialists are those who closed the door of ijtihad in understanding the religion; they are not the righteous Salaf...
For two reasons: The first: That it is mawquf, and a mawquf report does not serve as a proof. And the other reason: That he meant by "the Muslims" a specific group of the Companions, a class of the Companions, namely the Muhajireen and the Ansar. So including this hadith in every innovation that some people innovate, and then people follow one another; this is including the hadith in what its speaker, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud himself (may Allah be pleased with him), did not intend.
And perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.