Is it from the Sunnah in the prayer of the festival to go by one path and return by another?
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The questioner : It is appropriate ... on the day of the festival.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : On the day of the festival.
The Shaykh : Well done. This is one of the matters we have pointed out regarding the Sunnah in the prayer of the festival: that one goes out by one path and returns by another. Do you understand? One goes out by one path and returns by another, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and displaying the rites of the festival so that they are seen in all the markets of the town. Some scholars said it is also for the sake of the two paths testifying for him before Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For the earth, my brothers, this inanimate matter we walk upon, this earth, on the Day of Resurrection will report its news; it will speak, saying, "So-and-so did such and such on me, and said such and such." It reports its news by what? The ba indicates causality. Allah inspired it to report its news, so it reported. How does it report while it is inanimate? Ah? By the command of Allah. [Fussilat 41:21] And in the beginning of creation, [Fussilat 41:11] what? [Fussilat 41:11] [Fussilat 41:11]. It says, "The heavens and the earth said, 'We came obeying.'" How did they say "We came obeying" and not "We came obeying (feminine plural)"? Because the heavens are seven and the earths are seven, and the total is fourteen, so the plural is correct, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al-Hujurat 49:9] and He did not say "they fought each other (feminine plural)," and He said: and He did not say "they disputed (feminine plural)," considering the meaning. This is the correct interpretation of the meaning of the verse. [Fussilat 41:11] Al-Jalal, the exegete, said: "We came with those among us who are obeying", and this is questionable because at that time there was no human being on the earth. The correct is "We came obeying" because the heavens are seven and the earths are seven. So, it is recommended for a person on the day of the festival to go out by one path and return by another.
And likewise in the festival of sacrifice. Now, it remains to be said: some scholars analogized going to the Friday prayer to this and said: "It is recommended to go by one path and return by another". Some scholars analogized all prayers to this and said: "One should go to prayer by one path and return by another". Some scholars analogized every walk for obedience to this, even one who goes to visit his brother or visit a sick person, going by one path and returning by another. What is your opinion of these analogies? They are defective analogies. Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Well done. May Allah bless you. Be patient, my brother ... We have mentioned the rule from which we can now say: Does the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) change the path for the Friday prayer? No. For the congregation? For visiting the sick? For visiting a friend? No. So this is an analogy against the Sunnah. Therefore, it is not recommended to change the path except only for going to the prayer of the festival. Yes.
The questioner : The greeting of the mosque ...
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : The greeting of the mosque ...
The Shaykh : And this too, we have mentioned. And glory to the One who does not err and does not forget, and He is Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : On the day of the festival.
The Shaykh : Well done. This is one of the matters we have pointed out regarding the Sunnah in the prayer of the festival: that one goes out by one path and returns by another. Do you understand? One goes out by one path and returns by another, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and displaying the rites of the festival so that they are seen in all the markets of the town. Some scholars said it is also for the sake of the two paths testifying for him before Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For the earth, my brothers, this inanimate matter we walk upon, this earth, on the Day of Resurrection will report its news; it will speak, saying, "So-and-so did such and such on me, and said such and such." It reports its news by what?
that your Lord inspired it
بأن ربك أوحى لهاWe were made to speak by Allah, who has made everything speak
أنطقها الله الذي أنطق كل شيءThen He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion."
ثم استوى إلى السماء وهي دخان فقال لها وللأرض ائتيا طوعا أو كرهاThey said, "We have come willingly."
قالتا أتينا طائعينThey said, "We have come willingly."
قالتا أتينا طائعينAnd if two factions among the believers should fight
وإن طائفتان من المؤمنين اقتتلواThese are two parties who disputed
هذان خصمان اختصمواThey said, "We have come willingly."
قالتا أتينا طائعينAnd likewise in the festival of sacrifice. Now, it remains to be said: some scholars analogized going to the Friday prayer to this and said: "It is recommended to go by one path and return by another". Some scholars analogized all prayers to this and said: "One should go to prayer by one path and return by another". Some scholars analogized every walk for obedience to this, even one who goes to visit his brother or visit a sick person, going by one path and returning by another. What is your opinion of these analogies? They are defective analogies. Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Well done. May Allah bless you. Be patient, my brother ... We have mentioned the rule from which we can now say: Does the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) change the path for the Friday prayer? No. For the congregation? For visiting the sick? For visiting a friend? No. So this is an analogy against the Sunnah. Therefore, it is not recommended to change the path except only for going to the prayer of the festival. Yes.
The questioner : The greeting of the mosque ...
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : The greeting of the mosque ...
The Shaykh : And this too, we have mentioned. And glory to the One who does not err and does not forget, and He is Allah.