Addendum: A benefit from the Shaykh regarding the ruling on shaving the beard entirely, and mentioning some of the rules and methods of argumentation in this issue and others.

The Shaykh : We do not say, "My brother, the Messenger prohibited the addition." We have nothing of that. All we have is what we know, which is that it was practiced in the first and second eras, and so on, until this religious innovation occurred. Therefore, from the methodology of the scholars: if it were good, they would have preceded us to it. This is taken from basic rules. Therefore, if we want to draw near to Allah by shaving the beard entirely, we must be preceded to this drawing near, because first, they are more knowledgeable than us about the Shari'ah of our Lord, and second, they are more mindful of our Lord (Mighty and Majestic). These two facts are not doubted by any Muslim, even by these innovators, but they are stubborn, argue, and follow their desires.

The questioner : He only likes to follow up and emphasize the words I said.

The Shaykh : We love to hear!

The questioner : So, what can be inferred is that it is not the methodology of the Salaf to merely take the evidence from *Sahih al-Bukhari* or *Muslim* and apply it practically. There is a step between them, which is researching what the Companions knew and how the Companions interpreted it.

The Shaykh : You have done well.

The questioner : There is something else: for example, if a person comes with a religious innovation and then a hadith is brought for it, is that the correct way to deter that innovator, or by saying, "The Salaf applied this"?

The Shaykh : Both of them.

The questioner : Both of them.