. I '/ } (cont.)

2 • This hadith is clearly related to the diseases that are afflicting the Muslims of today, even those who claim to be practicing Islam and following the way of the Salaf Instead of taking the teachings of Islam and applying them to the best of their ability, they sit, do little works and, instead, talk 1Al-Tabari, vol. 14, part 28, p. 127. 2 Cf., ibn Hajr, Fath, vol. 1 5, p. 192. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi about theoretical issues that most Muslims can do little or nothing about. When they talk about these issues, they disagree with one another about those theoretical points. When they disagree, they begin to hate one another and call each other names, such as heretic and so forth. They are weak and on the verge of destruction. This is all because they are not heeding the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this very important hadith. One should understand and apply what is found in the Quran and sunnah. One should do his best to fulfill what he is ordered and always remain away from what is forbidden. He should not indulge too much in questioning, theorizing and differing with others. Instead, he should concentrate on doing what he is able to do. • If the Quran and sunnah have prescribed a specific way to do something, one should do it in that fashion. Any way that the person fulfills it will be sufficient if that is all that is stated in the Quran and sunnah. One need not even go beyond that and try to determine even further details if they are not mentioned in the Quran and sunnah. This furthering questioning was exactly the behavior of the Tribe of Israel that was condemned in the Quran. Summary of the Hadith • If something is prohibited, one must stay away from it completely. The only exception to that is the true cases of necessity. Due to necessity, an act may no longer be considered prohibited. • If something is ordered, one must perform it to the best of his ability. It is not possible to completely and excellently perform everything that one is ordered to do. Hence, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has stated the cases of prohibition and order in different tones. • Asking too many questions, beyond what is needed and not with the real intent of application, is blameworthy. It was one of the reasons that prior peoples were destroyed. • Similarly, differing with any prophet is completely blameworthy. Instead of accepting and submitting, prior peoples showed some form of opposition to what their prophets requested of them. This was the second major cause for their destruction. Hadith #1 0: "A11ah is pure and accepts only .. " Hadith #1 0 "Allah is pure and accepts only . . . " • • p , ... ... ઎ ... p r, ... J J,, o,. ,,. ... p r· ... ઍ ... t# ... \J ࢊ ...