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Understanding the Sunnah
For anything to be obedience it has to
be legislated by Allah or His Messenger and it must be in
agreement with the Sharee'ah in the following six points:
1. Its Reason (Sabab)
If Allah is worshipped for a particular reason, then you must be
sure that that is the reason, that Allah or His Messenger has
given for that particular worship. It must not be a reason that
you or some other human being come up with. Based on this
principle, therefore, if regular virtuous acts like Prayer,
Fasting, Dua'a (Supplication), Dhikr (remembrance of Allah),
Recitation of the Qur'an are done for the wrong reason i.e. any
reason that had not been established by Allah or His Messenger,
then that action will not be valid and therefore not accepted by
Allah.
The following are some examples of this: many Muslims in various
parts of the world gather together to commemorate "Maulid an
Nabbie" (the birth of the Prophet), "Al- Israa wal Mir'raaj"
(the night of the Prophet's journey to the heavens), the night
of the 15th of Shaabaan, etc. they come together at these times
and make optional prayers, recite Qur'an, do Dhikr, give
speeches etc.
However, a close analysis would show us that these
commemorations are invalid, because the reason for establishing
them were not established by either Allah or His Messenger nor
practiced by the companions i.e. there is no reason for such
celebrations because they are not sanctioned by Allah's
Sharee'ah.
If we are commemorating such events, then definitely it must
have some basis in the Deen (Religion) because Allah said:
"This day have I perfected for you your
Deen, and completed my favours upon you, and pleased for you as
deen Islam." (Qur'an 5:3)
If anything is completed, does it need any additions? Does it
need any subtractions? Does it need anything to be altered in
it? The answer to all three of these question is no.
Therefore, all the above celebrations have to be proven in
either the Qur'an or the authentic Hadeeth of the Messenger
otherwise they would be additions to the "deen" that Allah
completed over 1400 years ago with the passing away of Muhammad
(peace be on him). Now, if it is not found therein, would it be
correct for us to claim that it is a good action? Definitely
not.
However, if we continue these practices due to stubbornness or
because it is what our forefathers did or because of what some 'Shaikh'
said, then what we are implying from our actions is that Allah's
religion (Islam) is not complete. Therefore it follows that
Allah (Glory be to Him) is lying, because He said that He
completed for us our "deen". In addition we witness that Allah
is above all imperfections and above lying.
Looking at this from the point of the Messenger (PBUH), is there
any proof that he celebrated these events? So, did he not know
that this was a good reason for celebration? If we say that he
did not know, then we are accusing him of ignorance. If it is
said that he knew but he did not inform us, he is now being
accused of cheating, and the Messenger of Allah is above both of
these evil traits.
He (PBUH) himself said: "Why do the people refrain from doing
something that I did? By Allah, I know Allah more than they
(do), and I am more fearful of Allah than them." [Bukhari]
So this negate the claim of those who might feel that he does
not know. As for the claim of those who said he knew but did not
inform us, let them listen to the following hadeeth, he (PBUH)
said: "There is nothing that will take you closer to Allah and
away from the fire except that I have commanded you to do it…."
Other actions that also fall in this category are the
following:: Qur'anic reading for the dead 40 days after death or
on a yearly basis, Qur'anic reading for any regular event in
life like acquiring a new car or house , a birthday, a raise at
our job, etc. Definitely if we do not find something established
in the religion of Allah, it is better to leave it out and not
to dot it.
2. Type or Kind (Jins)
Allah must be worshipped with the type or (jins) of a thing if
that is what is prescribed by Him or his Messenger (PBUH). For
instance, Allah's Messenger had commanded that food items be
given for Zakat-ul-Fitr (zakat given after the fast of Ramadhan).
However, it is now a regular practise to give this Zakat in
monetary value. Because of this some of the recipients reject if
they are given food and demand money instead.
Giving money instead of food does not agree with the Sharee'ah
in the type that is prescribed by the Lawgiver thus making it
invalid according to most Imams and scholars.
3. Way or Method (Kaifiyyah)
Allah must be worshipped in the way he prescribed in His Book or
on the tongue of His Messenger (PBUH). We must constantly praise
Allah to show how grateful we are because he did not leave us to
figure out what methods to use to worship Him. All the different
acts of worship had been described in details for our benefit.
Based on this principle, it follows that no one can come along
and tell us how to worship Allah unless he has proof to do so,
regardless of his position and\or knowledge, may he be a Sahabi
(Companion of the Prophet), an Imam, a walee or whatever title
he holds.
For instance, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) commanded us
relative to the prayer: "Pray as your see me pray". We know that
prayer has a prescribed format which follow a prescribed order
set by Allah and His Messenger, viz., opening takbeer (saying
Allahu Akbar) to start the prayer, Qiyaam (Standing for
recitation), Rukoo' (Bowing), Standing after bowing, Sajda
(Prostrating) etc.
Now if anyone decides to perform his Salat and start from the
last act first like starting with Sajda, then standing, then
make Rukoo', then stand to recite the Qur'an and then end with
the Takbeer, would this prayer be accepted by Allah? Obviously
not and that is because it violates the principle of the method
which was prescribed by Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). The same
applies to any other act of worship that has prescribed method
like Dhikr, Du'aah, etc.
4. Amount (Qadr)
Allah has to be worshipped based on the amount He or His
Messenger prescribes. There are certain acts of worship that had
been prescribed by amount like five times daily prayer, 2
raka'ah (cycles) for the Fajr Prayer, 4 raka'at for Dhuhr, 'Asr
and 'Eshaa, and 3 raka'at for Maghrib. If anyone tries to
increase a raka'at or decrease a raka'ah without a reason
prescribed by the Sharee'ah, then it will not be accepted from
him.
The same principle can be applied form any acts of worship like
zakat which has a prescribed amount of 2.5%. Fasting in Ramadhan
is for a prescribed number of Days, if this is increased or
decreased, then it would not be accepted. Anyone who does this
knowing the reality would be subjecting himself to Allah's
wrath.
5. Time (Zaman)
There are other acts of worship that can only be done at
prescribed times. If they are done in any other time that is not
approved by the Sharee'ah then they would not be accepted.
The prayer is a very good reference for this. Allah said:
"Indeed the Salat is enjoined on the believers at prescribed
times." [Nisaa 4:103]
Now if someone wants to pray the Five compulsory Salat but he
decides that because it would be difficult to do during the day,
so he will combine them all instead at an appropriate time,
would these prayers be accepted? Definitely not.
6. Place (Makan)
Place is another thing for some aspects of worship that had been
already established by Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). For
instance, can anyone circumambulate (make Tawaaf) around another
building other than the Ka'aba or can he\she stand on any other
place than Arafat and say it is like standing at Arafat during
the Hajj? Definitely not.
These various principles have been discussed to give us
guidelines for worship. If we are really sincere about
worshipping Allah then, for everything we do, we should look to
these six principles and apply them.
If after applying them we find that everything is fine, then we
can conclude that particular act is an act of worship and we
should hasten to it. If not then we should avoid it.
[Excerpts from: Hudaa]
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