What is the meaning of following the ambiguous?
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The questioner : ... ؟
The Shaykh : Yes, following the ambiguous means that some people take hold of the ambiguous and leave the clear. An example of this is: It is established in Sahih Muslim from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 187Sahih (Darussalam).
Some people took from this hadith the permissibility of combining prayers without any reason, and they said that Ibn 'Abbas says:Sunan Abi Dawud 1211Sahih (Al-Albani). And in the city, meaning there was no travel, no fear, and no rain, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers. So, our prayer, each prayer in its time, is on the basis of preference; otherwise, it is permissible to combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, without any reason.
So we say: This is following the ambiguous and leaving the clear. What is the clear?
The clear is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:103] "A book" means: an obligation. "Timed" means: at a specific time.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) specified these times and said:. So he defined them and clarified them, and this is a clear, decisive text. How can we bring a doubtful hadith and say it is permissible for the prayer to go out of its time, because combining means either delaying the prayer from its time if the combining is a delay, or advancing it to its time if the combining is an advancement?
And we also say: The hadith of Ibn 'Abbas is explicit that the cause for that is hardship, because Ibn 'Abbas was asked what he intended by that, meaning why did he combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers? He said:Sahih Muslim 706b.
So that indicates that combining does not occur except when there is hardship in leaving it.
And I have seen some imams combine as soon as the rain falls, and this is an error and a mistake, because if Ibn 'Abbas, the narrator of the hadith, says:Sahih Muslim 706b, it is known that combining in the rain only happens, what? When there is hardship in leaving it. As for just a few light drops that do not wet the clothes, this does not necessitate combining, nor does it permit combining. But some people take hold of the ambiguous and leave the clear.
Likewise, in some of the attributes, those who denied that Allah has a Face, a Hand, and an Eye said: Because if we affirmed that, it would contradict the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. And it is not possible to affirm these attributes, and Allah says: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11].
This is from the category of following the ambiguous. Allah says:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11] And He said in the same verse: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11] So He affirmed for Himself hearing and sight, and the created being has hearing and sight.
Is that not so? Good, as Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nahl 16:78]. So you are now following the ambiguous and leaving the clear, and the obligatory thing is to say that Allah has a Face, a Hand, an Eye, hearing, and sight, but you do not liken, what? You do not liken it to what the created being has of that, and by doing so, you have acted according to both texts, and you are not among those who deviated by prioritizing the ambiguous over the clear. And success is from Allah.
The student: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his companions), abundant peace until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows: May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes, following the ambiguous means that some people take hold of the ambiguous and leave the clear. An example of this is: It is established in Sahih Muslim from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said:
Allah's Messenger combined the Zuhr and Asr (prayers), and the Maghrib and Isha (prayers) in Al-Madinah, without being in a state of fear, nor due to rain.
جمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في المدينة بين الظهر والعصر وبين المغرب والعشاء من غير خوف ولا مطرSome people took from this hadith the permissibility of combining prayers without any reason, and they said that Ibn 'Abbas says:
without any danger and rain
من غير خوف ولا مطرSo we say: This is following the ambiguous and leaving the clear. What is the clear?
The clear is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إن الصلاة كانت على المؤمنين كتابا موقوتاAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) specified these times and said:
The time for the midday prayer is when the sun has passed its zenith and the shadow of a man is equal to his height, as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not arrived. The time for the afternoon prayer is as long as the sun has not turned yellow. The time for the sunset prayer is as long as the twilight has not disappeared. The time for the night prayer is until the middle of the night. And the time for the dawn prayer is until the rising of the sun, or he said: as long as the sun has not risen.
وقت الظهر إذا زالت الشمس وكان ظل الرجل كطوله مالم يحضر وقت العصر ووقت العصر ما لم تصفر الشمس ووقت صلاة المغرب ما لم يغرب الشفق ووقت صلاة العشاء إلى نصف الليل ووقت صلاة الصبح إلى طلوع الشمس أو قال مالم تطلع الشمسAnd we also say: The hadith of Ibn 'Abbas is explicit that the cause for that is hardship, because Ibn 'Abbas was asked what he intended by that, meaning why did he combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers? He said:
he (the Holy Prophet) wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.
أراد أن لا يحرج أمتهSo that indicates that combining does not occur except when there is hardship in leaving it.
And I have seen some imams combine as soon as the rain falls, and this is an error and a mistake, because if Ibn 'Abbas, the narrator of the hadith, says:
he (the Holy Prophet) wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.
أراد أن لا يحرج أمتهLikewise, in some of the attributes, those who denied that Allah has a Face, a Hand, and an Eye said: Because if we affirmed that, it would contradict the saying of Allah the Exalted:
There is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءThere is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءThis is from the category of following the ambiguous. Allah says:
There is nothing like unto Him
ليس كمثله شيءand He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
وهو السميع البصيرIs that not so? Good, as Allah the Exalted said:
and He made for you hearing and vision
وجعل لكم السمع والأبصارThe student: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family and his companions), abundant peace until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows: May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.