The Shaykh’s return to answering regarding the reconciliation between the hadith of the two Sabbath-breakers and the hadith: “He hears the clatter of their sandals,” and his explanation that there is no contradiction between them.

The Shaykh: But it must be clarified that there is no contradiction here between these two hadiths: the hadith of the two Sabbath-breakers and the hadith: . First, the hadith of the two Sabbath-breakers is a legislative text, where he said: , which is a command, and the minimum implication of this command is that it is recommended. As for the second hadith, the most correct one being the hadith of Anas, it is not a legislative text, but rather a report. Not everything the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) reports means it is a permissible command, let alone that it is recommended or more than that. No, it is merely a report. Therefore, what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) reported must be weighed against other pieces of evidence from the Shari'ah, and this reported matter must be examined through the truthful report of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) using the evidence of the Shari'ah. If the evidence of the Shari'ah indicates that this reported matter is permissible, we say it is permissible; if it is disliked, we say it is disliked; or if it is forbidden, we say it is forbidden.
As for the mere fact that he reported it, this does not give us a ruling, because it is a report.