Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said, regarding what he quoted from Abu Sufyan Sakhr ibn Harith (may Allah be pleased with him). Abu Sufyan was a polytheist who did not embrace Islam until late, between the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Conquest of Makkah. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was in the sixth year of the Hijrah, and the Conquest of Makkah was in the eighth year of the Hijrah. Abu Sufyan came with a group of Quraysh to Heraclius in Sham. Heraclius was the king of the Christians at that time, and he had read in the Torah and the Gospel and knew the previous scriptures. He was a clever king. When he heard about them, meaning Abu Sufyan and those with him who were coming from the Hijaz, he summoned them and began to ask them about the condition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), his lineage, his companions, their respect for him, and his (peace and blessings be upon him) fulfillment of his word. Whenever he mentioned something, they informed him. He realized that he was the Prophet whom the previous scriptures had informed about, but, seeking refuge in Allah, he was stingy with his kingdom and did not embrace Islam for the wisdom that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) intended. However, he asked Abu Sufyan what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to command them to do. He informed him that he said:Sahih Muslim 30b Worship is for Allah alone. And this is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, and all the messengers brought this. All the messengers brought this tawhid (the oneness of Allah). Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Anbya 21:25], and He said: [An-Nahl 16:36]: Worship Allah and avoid shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is the call of the messengers.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came with what the prophets before him came with, which is the worship of Allah alone, with no partner for Him.: Look how he spoke the truth. Leave what your fathers used to do. Whatever their fathers used to do of worshipping idols, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded them to leave it. As for what their fathers used to do of noble morals, he did not command them to leave it, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:28]. So Allah the Exalted said, refuting them: [Al-A'raf 7:28].
So the result is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his ummah (the Muslim community), those whom he directly called to his message, to leave what their fathers used to do, meaning: associating partners with Allah. And he commanded us to pray, the prayer which is a connection between the servant and his Lord, and it is the most emphatic pillar of Islam after the two testimonies. By it, the believer is distinguished from the disbeliever. So it is the covenant between us and the polytheists and disbelievers, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam), meaning: disbelief that takes one out of the religion. Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam): So this is a dividing line between the believers and the disbelievers.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said, regarding what he quoted from Abu Sufyan Sakhr ibn Harith (may Allah be pleased with him). Abu Sufyan was a polytheist who did not embrace Islam until late, between the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Conquest of Makkah. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was in the sixth year of the Hijrah, and the Conquest of Makkah was in the eighth year of the Hijrah. Abu Sufyan came with a group of Quraysh to Heraclius in Sham. Heraclius was the king of the Christians at that time, and he had read in the Torah and the Gospel and knew the previous scriptures. He was a clever king. When he heard about them, meaning Abu Sufyan and those with him who were coming from the Hijaz, he summoned them and began to ask them about the condition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), his lineage, his companions, their respect for him, and his (peace and blessings be upon him) fulfillment of his word. Whenever he mentioned something, they informed him. He realized that he was the Prophet whom the previous scriptures had informed about, but, seeking refuge in Allah, he was stingy with his kingdom and did not embrace Islam for the wisdom that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) intended. However, he asked Abu Sufyan what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to command them to do. He informed him that he said:
they should worship Allah and should not associate anything with Him
يأمرهم أن يعبدوا الله ولا يشركوا به شيئاAnd We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِAnd We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut."
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَSo the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came with what the prophets before him came with, which is the worship of Allah alone, with no partner for Him.
And he says: Leave what your fathers used to do
ويقول : اتركوا ما كان عليه آبائكمAnd when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it."
وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَاSay, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality.
قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِSo the result is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his ummah (the Muslim community), those whom he directly called to his message, to leave what their fathers used to do, meaning: associating partners with Allah. And he commanded us to pray, the prayer which is a connection between the servant and his Lord, and it is the most emphatic pillar of Islam after the two testimonies. By it, the believer is distinguished from the disbeliever. So it is the covenant between us and the polytheists and disbelievers, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: