Some students of knowledge, when they see a person among the people contradicting the Sunnah, such as drinking while standing, say: “And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him…”
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Some students of knowledge, when they see a person among the people contradicting the Sunnah, for example if he drinks while standing, they say: [An-Nisa 4:115] and they say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1401 Is this correct, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, it is not correct. If a person rejects the Sunnah of the Messenger in an absolute manner, then yes, he becomes a disbeliever. But in some specific details, he does not become a disbeliever. I have seen this among a group of Africans who were arguing very intensely, with each one saying, “You are disbelievers.” What is the knowledge? They were disagreeing over whether the one praying places his hands on his chest or lets them hang down. Those who say he lets them hang down say, “This is the Sunnah, and if you fold your hands, you have departed from the Sunnah, so you are not from the Messenger, and whoever is not from the Messenger is a disbeliever.” Glory be to Allah. The other group did the same, in reverse, with a strong argument in Mina, until the head of the awareness department came and spoke to them, warning them of Allah. He said, “This issue is a Sunnah; if a person does it, he is rewarded, and if he leaves it, there is no sin on him.” They cited what Abd al-Rahman Jum'ah said:Sahih Muslim 1401 This is a great, great error. Yes.
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance
ومن يشاق الرسول من بعد ما تبين له من الهدىAnd he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
من رغب عن سنتي فليس منيThe Shaykh : No, it is not correct. If a person rejects the Sunnah of the Messenger in an absolute manner, then yes, he becomes a disbeliever. But in some specific details, he does not become a disbeliever. I have seen this among a group of Africans who were arguing very intensely, with each one saying, “You are disbelievers.” What is the knowledge? They were disagreeing over whether the one praying places his hands on his chest or lets them hang down. Those who say he lets them hang down say, “This is the Sunnah, and if you fold your hands, you have departed from the Sunnah, so you are not from the Messenger, and whoever is not from the Messenger is a disbeliever.” Glory be to Allah. The other group did the same, in reverse, with a strong argument in Mina, until the head of the awareness department came and spoke to them, warning them of Allah. He said, “This issue is a Sunnah; if a person does it, he is rewarded, and if he leaves it, there is no sin on him.” They cited what Abd al-Rahman Jum'ah said: