The default ruling for acts of worship is prohibition, except for what evidence has established as prescribed, and the default ruling for everything else is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as prohibited
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The Shaykh : Here is a useful rule in this chapter, which is that the default ruling for acts of worship is prohibition, except for what evidence has established as prescribed.
The default ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as prohibited. So the default ruling for acts of worship is prohibition, except for what evidence indicates is prescribed, and the default ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as prohibited. This rule is, in reality, a jurisprudential principle that benefits a person in many matters.
If two men dispute over the permissibility of something to eat, and one says it is forbidden and the other says it is lawful, whose opinion do we follow, the one who said it is lawful or the one who said it is forbidden? We follow the one who said it is lawful, because Allah said[Al-Baqarah 2:29].
Two men concluded a sales contract, and one person said it is forbidden, while another said it is lawful. Whose opinion do we follow? O people!
The student: ...
The Shaykh : We follow the one who said it is lawful. If a person says that this contract is forbidden, we ask: where is the evidence? Because the default ruling is permissibility.
If a man worships Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with a form of worship and another person objects to him, saying: what is the evidence that this is an act of worship? Whose opinion do we follow, the one who prohibited this act of worship without evidence or the one who permitted it? We follow the one who prohibited it. For this reason, anyone who worships Allah with a form of worship is required to provide evidence, and it is said to him: where is your evidence for this? Because Allah rebuked those who prescribed for the worship of Allah what He has not authorized. Therefore, it is the one who prescribes the worship who is required to provide evidence.
As for when a person concludes a contract, consumes something, or does something similar to these matters other than acts of worship, the default ruling is permissibility. Therefore, the one who performs the act is not required to provide evidence; rather, the one who prohibits it is required to provide evidence, because the default ruling is permissibility.
This is a rule that I wish the students of knowledge would memorize, because many issues fall under it that only Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows.
Let us now devote our time to the questions, considering that time is short and people want to go to their schools.
A question? Yes, and you are standing!
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, take a rest.
The default ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as prohibited. So the default ruling for acts of worship is prohibition, except for what evidence indicates is prescribed, and the default ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as prohibited. This rule is, in reality, a jurisprudential principle that benefits a person in many matters.
If two men dispute over the permissibility of something to eat, and one says it is forbidden and the other says it is lawful, whose opinion do we follow, the one who said it is lawful or the one who said it is forbidden? We follow the one who said it is lawful, because Allah said
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth
هو الذي خلق لكم ما في الأرض جميعاTwo men concluded a sales contract, and one person said it is forbidden, while another said it is lawful. Whose opinion do we follow? O people!
The student: ...
The Shaykh : We follow the one who said it is lawful. If a person says that this contract is forbidden, we ask: where is the evidence? Because the default ruling is permissibility.
If a man worships Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with a form of worship and another person objects to him, saying: what is the evidence that this is an act of worship? Whose opinion do we follow, the one who prohibited this act of worship without evidence or the one who permitted it? We follow the one who prohibited it. For this reason, anyone who worships Allah with a form of worship is required to provide evidence, and it is said to him: where is your evidence for this? Because Allah rebuked those who prescribed for the worship of Allah what He has not authorized. Therefore, it is the one who prescribes the worship who is required to provide evidence.
As for when a person concludes a contract, consumes something, or does something similar to these matters other than acts of worship, the default ruling is permissibility. Therefore, the one who performs the act is not required to provide evidence; rather, the one who prohibits it is required to provide evidence, because the default ruling is permissibility.
This is a rule that I wish the students of knowledge would memorize, because many issues fall under it that only Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows.
Let us now devote our time to the questions, considering that time is short and people want to go to their schools.
A question? Yes, and you are standing!
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, take a rest.