Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he quoted from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Meaning: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended by this parable to clarify his condition with his Ummah (peace and blessings be upon him). He mentioned that this condition is like the condition of a man in a wilderness who kindled a fire Sahih Muslim 2285 The *janadib* are a type of locust called *jakhadib* in our language, while moths are well known. They fall into it because this is the habit of moths, locusts, and small insects when a person kindles a fire in the wilderness; they are drawn to this light. He said: Meaning: I will prevent you from falling into it. In this is evidence of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) eagerness, and may Allah reward us for him with good, to protect his Ummah from the Fire. He holds them by their shoulders and tightens his grip so that they do not fall into this fire, but we slip out of that. We ask Allah to treat us with His forgiveness. A person should submit to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and be willing to follow it, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) only guides to good and the avoidance of evil, like one who holds your shoulder to keep you from falling into the fire. For the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as Allah described him: [At-Tawbah 9:128] May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.
In this hadith, there are benefits: It is necessary for a person, indeed it is obligatory, to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in everything He commanded, everything He prohibited, everything He did, and everything He left. Meaning: One must adhere to it and believe that he is the Imam to be followed. However, it is known that some matters of the Shari'ah are obligatory, and a person sins by leaving them; some are forbidden, and a person sins by doing them; and some are recommended, so if one does them, it is good and a reward, and if one leaves them, there is no sin. Similarly, some matters of the Shari'ah are disliked with a light dislike (*makruh tanziyah*), so if a person leaves them, it is better for him, and if he does them, there is no blame on him. But the important thing is that you adhere to the Sunnah in general, and that you believe that your Imam and the one you follow is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), just as the owner of this fire that he kindled, into which the locusts and moths fell, is holding us. And among the benefits of this hadith is the clarification of the greatness of the right of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) over his Ummah, and that he spares no effort in preventing and deterring them from everything that harms them in their religion and worldly affairs. Based on this, if you see the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding something, know that doing it is evil for you. Do not keep asking whether it is disliked or forbidden. Leave what He prohibited, whether for dislike or prohibition, and do not expose yourself to harm, because the default ruling regarding the prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is that it is for prohibition, unless there is evidence that it is for a light dislike (*makruh tanziyah*). Similarly, if He commands something, do not ask whether it is obligatory or not. Do it, for it is better for you. If it is obligatory, you have cleared your conscience and obtained the reward. If it is recommended, you have obtained the reward and been a complete follower of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). We ask Allah to grant us and you the ability to follow Him outwardly and inwardly.
My example and your example are like the example of a man who kindled a fire
مثلي ومثلكم كمثل إنسان أوقد نارًاand insects and moths began to fall in it
فجعل الجنادب والفراش يقعن فيهاAnd I am holding you by your shoulders
وأنا آخذ بحجزكمBut you slip out of my hand
ولكنكم تفلتون من يديThere has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.
لقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌIn this hadith, there are benefits: It is necessary for a person, indeed it is obligatory, to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in everything He commanded, everything He prohibited, everything He did, and everything He left. Meaning: One must adhere to it and believe that he is the Imam to be followed. However, it is known that some matters of the Shari'ah are obligatory, and a person sins by leaving them; some are forbidden, and a person sins by doing them; and some are recommended, so if one does them, it is good and a reward, and if one leaves them, there is no sin. Similarly, some matters of the Shari'ah are disliked with a light dislike (*makruh tanziyah*), so if a person leaves them, it is better for him, and if he does them, there is no blame on him. But the important thing is that you adhere to the Sunnah in general, and that you believe that your Imam and the one you follow is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), just as the owner of this fire that he kindled, into which the locusts and moths fell, is holding us. And among the benefits of this hadith is the clarification of the greatness of the right of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) over his Ummah, and that he spares no effort in preventing and deterring them from everything that harms them in their religion and worldly affairs. Based on this, if you see the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding something, know that doing it is evil for you. Do not keep asking whether it is disliked or forbidden. Leave what He prohibited, whether for dislike or prohibition, and do not expose yourself to harm, because the default ruling regarding the prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is that it is for prohibition, unless there is evidence that it is for a light dislike (*makruh tanziyah*). Similarly, if He commands something, do not ask whether it is obligatory or not. Do it, for it is better for you. If it is obligatory, you have cleared your conscience and obtained the reward. If it is recommended, you have obtained the reward and been a complete follower of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). We ask Allah to grant us and you the ability to follow Him outwardly and inwardly.