The Shaykh’s clarification of the Prophet’s approval of the Companions’ actions and that this is part of the Sunnah.

The Shaykh : Therefore, I say: In conclusion to this talk, it is impossible for a Muslim—and this is the summary of this lecture, which is an explanation of the insight that a Muslim must have in his religious life—it is impossible for a Muslim, ever, to be guided by his Lord, even if he claims that he returns to the Book and the Sunnah and does not follow the path of the believers. Such a person is not among the guided, and consequently, he is not among the saved sect. Why? Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) addressed the Companions with the previous hadith: . They conveyed to us how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed, in words, deeds, and approval; in words, deeds, and approval. As for words and deeds, I gave an example of each earlier. Now, it is necessary—and we will stand for prayer soon, if Allah wills—that I give you an example concerning the path of the first believers, which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) approved of them. It is reported in "Sahih al-Bukhari" from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said one day, when the prayer had been called for: , . There is no doubt that in this hadith there is a specific miracle for our Prophet (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him), which is that he could see behind him as he could see in front of him. However, there is a point that must be remembered, because this miracle mentioned in this verse has been misunderstood, or its understanding has been expanded—this is the least that can be said. Many people think that the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) miracle was in all his states, meaning not just in prayer, but that if he walked, he could see behind him as he could see in front of him! This has not been established, nor has it been transmitted in the Sunnah. Rather, this authentic text was transmitted in al-Bukhari, where he (peace be upon him) said: . It is as if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is saying: Do not leave gaps in the rows, straighten them as I have commanded you, and close the ranks, for I do not miss your movements, nor your obedience to my command or your disobedience to it. The point is—and this phrase is an interjection—the point is that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), after narrating the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), said: Here is the point: "So one of us, when he stood in prayer, would press his shoulder against his brother’s shoulder and his foot against his brother’s foot." We do not have a text from the words of the Messenger (peace be upon him), nor from his actions, regarding how the closing of ranks in the rows should be. There is no such text, but we have this report from Anas ibn Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), where he said that after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded them to straighten the rows and close the ranks, he said: "So one of us would press his shoulder against his brother’s shoulder and his foot against his brother’s foot." This is a Sunnah, because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says in the previous verse, which was the subject of this last discussion: . So, are the Muslims today, at least in their prayer in general, and in their straightening of their rows in particular, on the path of the believers? I am very sorry to say: The answer is no. They are not on the path of the believers, because the first believers, whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to as the best generation, the first century, used to do this in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It did not occur to anyone to say: These people were arranging this row and closing these ranks, and the Messenger of Allah had no knowledge of it! No, for that reason he said to them: . So, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw this closing of ranks with shoulders and feet, and he approved of it, so it became a Sunnah of approval. Therefore, the scholars who wrote on the principles of jurisprudence divide the Sunnah into three categories: words, deeds, and approval. This is the clearest example of what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) saw and approved of. So we must not contradict the path of the believers, lest we be included in the warning of His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): .
In conclusion, I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to make us know the guidance of our Prophet (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him), and the Sunnah of our righteous predecessors, foremost among them the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). I ask Him to make us know all of that, and to grant us success in acting upon all of that. May Allah send prayers and peace upon Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.