And like what some people do now, when they are told that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Do such and such," they say, "Is the command for obligation or for recommendation? Look."

The Shaykh : And like what some people do now, when they are told that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Do such and such," they say, "Is the command for obligation or for recommendation? Look, this is ignorance. I mean, the Messenger said, "Do such and such," and he comes and says, "No, I am not asking if it is for obligation. He is asking if it is for obligation or for recommendation. My brother, glory to Allah! The Messenger of Allah commanded you, and you say, "Is it for recommendation or for obligation?" Do it. If it is for obligation, your conscience is cleared. If it is for recommendation, you have gained the reward. If it is for obligation, your conscience is cleared and you have gained the reward. If it is for recommendation, you have gained the reward. I do not recall any of the Companions, when the Messenger said, "Do it," asking, "Is it for obligation or for recommendation?" Never. What do they say? "We hear and obey." Glory to Allah! Is it not correct that when a person does the act or leaves what he was commanded, he then asks: if the command is for obligation, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him and make a repentance. If it is for recommendation, the matter is lighter. And I do not know that anyone answered the Messenger by saying, "Is your command for obligation or not?" except for one issue. Who knows it? Please.
The student: Barirah.

The Shaykh : Yes, the hadith of Barirah. Barirah was a slave woman, a servant, so she was freed. And when a slave woman is freed, she is given the choice between staying with her husband or dissolving the marriage. And she had a husband named Mughith who loved her intensely. When she was freed, the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) gave her the choice and said, "You are now at your option. If you wish to stay with your husband, stay with him. If you wish to dissolve the marriage, dissolve it," because she now owned herself, whereas before her husband was her master by ownership; he was her owner, and now she owns herself. She said: I do not want him. Yes, she said, "I do not want him." So her husband would pursue her in the markets of Medina, calling for help, saying, "Return to me," and she would say, "No." So he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to intercede. Look, to whom does the Messenger intercede? To Barirah, because she is in the right. So the Messenger interceded for her. And the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) is the most noble of people in his wealth, his body, his status, and everything. (peace and blessings be upon him). O Allah, grant us to follow him outwardly and inwardly. O Allah, send prayers and peace upon him. He interceded to her regarding her husband and said: because the right is hers. She said, "I have no need for him." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say: .