What is the criterion for determining whether an act is prohibited, permissible, or not permissible?

The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the criterion by which we know that an act is prohibited and invalid, given that we see some scholars validating an act that is prohibited and invalidating another?

The Shaykh : Like what?

The questioner : By Allah, it does not come to my mind right now, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : We must know that the original ruling for acts of worship is prohibition. Therefore, anyone who worships Allah with something, whether in belief, speech, or action, their act is invalid unless they present evidence that it is prescribed. This is the original ruling. The evidence for this is the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, rebuking those who legislate what Allah has not sent down authority for: He rebuked them. And the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): This is the rule: the original ruling for acts of worship, what is the original ruling? Prohibition, forbiddance, and invalidity, unless evidence is presented for it, valid evidence for it. As for other than acts of worship, the original ruling is permissibility, such as transactions conducted among people, customs practiced among people, and morals practiced among people; the original ruling for them is permissibility until evidence is presented for prohibition. With these two rules, all actions for which no precedent is known are weighed. For example, the prayer of tasbih; the hadith regarding it is not authentic, but rather invalid, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) explicitly stated. Accordingly, it is not prescribed, meaning we cannot perform an act that brings us closer to Allah except with evidence. Likewise, the prayer of need; if a person has a need, he prays two rak'ahs and then asks Allah in a specific, known manner. This is also not authentic. Likewise, celebrating the Prophet's birthday, as they claim; this is also invalid and not correct. First, from a historical perspective, it is not correct, because historians differed on eight or seven opinions regarding the birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Some contemporary scholars have verified that it was on the ninth day of Rabi' al-Awwal, contrary to what is currently known as the twelfth day. And even if we hypothetically assume the birth was established on this day, it is not permissible to make it a festival. Do you understand?

The questioner : I mean the act that is prohibited, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : There is no prohibited act except in the divine laws.

The questioner : That which has not come, meaning.

The Shaykh : The original ruling for acts of worship is prohibition and prevention until evidence is presented that they are prescribed. For example, let us give you an example: if a person circumambulates the Ka'bah and starts touching all four corners, we say: as for the Black Stone and the Yemeni Corner, this is prescribed. As for the other two, touching them is not prescribed, so it is prohibited and an innovation. Therefore, when Mu'awiyah and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) circumambulated the House, Mu'awiyah started touching all the corners. Ibn Abbas rebuked him, and Mu'awiyah said: .

The questioner : Now an example comes to my mind: This is an act that is prohibited. Does this mean it invalidates the prayer, and what is the criterion for it?

The Shaykh : We return to the rules Why? Is the question for you?

The questioner : Due to distraction.

The Shaykh : Due to distraction. So, if a person prays while not caring about this food and it does not disturb him, does it fall under the prohibition? As long as we know the cause, it does not fall under the prohibition. However, if it occupies his mind and he is hungry, wanting to eat, we say: the most it amounts to is the distraction of the heart. Most scholars say that the distraction of the heart does not invalidate the prayer, and they cite the hadith And according to the opinion of those who say that khushu' (humility) is obligatory in prayer, they say: if the presence of the food he desires leads to his heart being distracted from the prayer such that he does not know what he is saying, then his prayer is invalid. Yes.