Do we follow the Salaf even in matters for which no evidence has been established?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : We read about some of the Salaf that they used to do things for which we do not know of a Sunnah that came with that command. Is it permissible for anyone to imitate them because of their high status and their knowledge of the Sunnah in that matter for which no Sunnah is known?
The Shaykh : Do you have an example in mind?
The questioner : I have an example regarding Ibn Sirin.
The Shaykh : Ibn Sirin?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Yes, for example,
The questioner : In the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, it is said: If one turns his head frequently in prayer, there is no harm in him closing his eyes.
The Shaykh : If one does what?
The questioner : Turns his head frequently.
The Shaykh : Turning his head in prayer.
The questioner : Yes, so there is no harm in him closing his eyes. It is said that those of us who were present did this.
The Shaykh : Yes, but is this an example of what I said?
The questioner : I mean, we do not know of a Sunnah that came encouraging such a matter.
The Shaykh : But this is not a Sunnah; this is not called a Sunnah. May Allah bless you.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : In any case, keep your question in mind, and I will answer it. The answer regarding the question, and I hope the question is recorded with you so you can link the answer to it. If the thing is not known in the Sunnah narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and if it is from the practice of the Salaf—not from the practice of an individual among the Salaf, but from the practice of a group of the Salaf—then we act upon it and see that we should follow their example, for what I mentioned. Is that clear up to here? The answer is the answer to your question.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Fine, but the example does not serve as an illustration for the question and the answer. Why? It could only have been a valid example for the question if they were worshipping Allah by closing their eyes. But the example is not like that. The example, as you read, is for the one whose looking distracts him and causes him to turn his head to the right and left. In that case, he strives against his soul by closing his eyes, and it is not an act of worship to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). Is there not a difference between the two matters?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine, so does it follow from this precision in discussing the athar that the one who does not turn his head and does not let his gaze distract him in his prayer should not close his eyes? Is that not so?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : So this example does not fit the question.
The questioner : But have you not encountered such an action?
The Shaykh : No
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, we will say: Is it not from the Sunnah that the one praying looks at the place of his prostration?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine, so this is contrary to the Sunnah.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Closing the eyes is contrary to the Sunnah, but I do not say so regarding the example. And all of this is based on the validity of the chain of this athar. Are you confident in its validity?
The questioner : Yes, I am confident in its validity in Ibn Abi Shaybah.
The Shaykh : No, that is not sufficient.
The questioner : No, I am not confident in its validity.
The Shaykh : I mean, did you study its chain?
The questioner : Yes, I saw its chain and studied it.
The Shaykh : Fine, do you know where it is easily?
The questioner : It is a bit difficult. I think it is in the second volume of Ibn Abi Shaybah, but it takes time...
The Shaykh : The Sunnah, as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah establishes in Zad al-Ma'ad in the guidance of the best of people, is that one should not close his eyes. He argues for this with matters, among which is the hadith of Sahl ibn al-Hanaziliyyah, narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent out a scout, and while he was praying, he looked at the valley from which that scout would emerge. And among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as established in the two Sahihs: This also indicates that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not have it as his way to close his eyes in prayer. But the athar here is a specific treatment for the one who is prone to turning his head, saying he should close his eyes. But this is not an example. I return to say what came in the question. Anyone else?
The questioner: Our Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes.
Another questioner : I say that perhaps the action of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in taking what was more than a handful is an example of what our brother is aiming at.
The Shaykh : Certainly, do you know this example?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Yes, fine.
The Shaykh : Do you have an example in mind?
The questioner : I have an example regarding Ibn Sirin.
The Shaykh : Ibn Sirin?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Yes, for example,
The questioner : In the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, it is said: If one turns his head frequently in prayer, there is no harm in him closing his eyes.
The Shaykh : If one does what?
The questioner : Turns his head frequently.
The Shaykh : Turning his head in prayer.
The questioner : Yes, so there is no harm in him closing his eyes. It is said that those of us who were present did this.
The Shaykh : Yes, but is this an example of what I said?
The questioner : I mean, we do not know of a Sunnah that came encouraging such a matter.
The Shaykh : But this is not a Sunnah; this is not called a Sunnah. May Allah bless you.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : In any case, keep your question in mind, and I will answer it. The answer regarding the question, and I hope the question is recorded with you so you can link the answer to it. If the thing is not known in the Sunnah narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and if it is from the practice of the Salaf—not from the practice of an individual among the Salaf, but from the practice of a group of the Salaf—then we act upon it and see that we should follow their example, for what I mentioned. Is that clear up to here? The answer is the answer to your question.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Fine, but the example does not serve as an illustration for the question and the answer. Why? It could only have been a valid example for the question if they were worshipping Allah by closing their eyes. But the example is not like that. The example, as you read, is for the one whose looking distracts him and causes him to turn his head to the right and left. In that case, he strives against his soul by closing his eyes, and it is not an act of worship to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). Is there not a difference between the two matters?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine, so does it follow from this precision in discussing the athar that the one who does not turn his head and does not let his gaze distract him in his prayer should not close his eyes? Is that not so?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : So this example does not fit the question.
The questioner : But have you not encountered such an action?
The Shaykh : No
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, we will say: Is it not from the Sunnah that the one praying looks at the place of his prostration?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine, so this is contrary to the Sunnah.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Closing the eyes is contrary to the Sunnah, but I do not say so regarding the example. And all of this is based on the validity of the chain of this athar. Are you confident in its validity?
The questioner : Yes, I am confident in its validity in Ibn Abi Shaybah.
The Shaykh : No, that is not sufficient.
The questioner : No, I am not confident in its validity.
The Shaykh : I mean, did you study its chain?
The questioner : Yes, I saw its chain and studied it.
The Shaykh : Fine, do you know where it is easily?
The questioner : It is a bit difficult. I think it is in the second volume of Ibn Abi Shaybah, but it takes time...
The Shaykh : The Sunnah, as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah establishes in Zad al-Ma'ad in the guidance of the best of people, is that one should not close his eyes. He argues for this with matters, among which is the hadith of Sahl ibn al-Hanaziliyyah, narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent out a scout, and while he was praying, he looked at the valley from which that scout would emerge. And among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as established in the two Sahihs:
Do not precede me in bowing and prostration, for I see you from behind me as I see you from in front of me.
لا تسبقوني بالركوع والسجود فإني أراكم من خلفي كما أراكم من أماميThe questioner: Our Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes.
Another questioner : I say that perhaps the action of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in taking what was more than a handful is an example of what our brother is aiming at.
The Shaykh : Certainly, do you know this example?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Yes, fine.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.