 |
| LIBRARY > Two Important Islamic Principles |
|
Two Important Islamic Principles ___________________________________________________ Compiled by: Rasheed Ahmed People's actions fall into two categories: `aadaat and `ibaadaat. `Aadaat refers to customary practices required for day-to-day living such as eating and drinking, working, playing, talking, buying and selling, wearing different types of clothes, travelling and so on. `Ibaadaat refers to acts of worship which are performed to bring one closer to Allaah and attaining His reward such as performing salaah, giving charity, fasting, performing hajj performing wudoo', reciting the Qur’aan, performing dhikr (remembrance of Allaah), supplicating to Allaah (du`aa') and so on. With regards to `aadaat the basic principle governing it is that of permissibility. That is, all `aadaat are permissible (halaal) unless proven otherwise with evidence from the Qur’aan, the authentic hadeeth, consensus (ijmaa`) or correct analogy (qiyaas). The scholars of Islam derived this principle of the permissibility of things from many evidences such as the statement of Allaah (the meaning of which is): "It is He Who created all that is on the earth for you…" (2:29), and: "He has subjected to you, from Himself, all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth…" (45:13), and: "He has explained to you what he has made unlawful (haraam) for you…" (6:119), and the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam): "What Allaah has made lawful in His Book[1] is halaal and what He has forbidden you is haraam and that concerning which He is silent is allowed as His favour, so accept from Allaah His favour, for Allaah is not forgetful of anything." He then recited the Verse, "And your Lord is not forgetful." (19:64)[2] As for `ibaadaat, the basic principle regarding it is that of tawqeef. That is, all acts and forms of worship are restricted to what is mentioned in the texts of the Qur'aan and the authentic hadeeth. The scholars based this principle of the prohibition of all acts of worship except those that are proven on the Qur'aan and the Sunnah on many evidences such as the statement of Allaah, the Most High: "Do they have partners (with Allaah) who have prescribed for them in religion that concerning which Allaah has given not permission?!" (42:21), and the statement of the Messenger (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam): "Whoever introduces in this Sharee`ah of ours that which is not in it will have it rejected."[3] What has been mentioned above of these two important principles is what the Salaf[4] were upon and it is what they understood from the teachings of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), as is shown by the following two examples. The first example, regarding the principle on `aadaat, is that of the Companion Jaabir ibn `Abdillaah (radiyallaahu `anhumaa). He said: “We used to practice Al-`Azl[5] during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) when the Qur’aan was being revealed. If it was something to be prohibited, the Qur’aan would have prohibited it.”[6] The second example, regarding the principle on `ibaadaat, is that of the Companion `Abdullaah ibn `Umar (radiyallaahu `anhumaa). Naafi` narrated that a man sneezed beside Ibn `Umar and said: “Praise be to Allaah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah (Al-Hamdulillaah was-Salaamu `alaa Rasoolillaah).” Ibn `Umar said: “I do say that praise be to Allaah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah, but this is not how the Messenger of Allaah taught us! He taught us to say (after sneezing): “Praise be to Allaah in all situations (Al-Hamdulillaahi `alaa kulli haal).”[7] In conclusion, upon encountering differences of opinion on the legal status[8] of anything from the `aadaat, a person should ask for evidence concerning its prohibition, since all `aadaat are originally permissible unless proven otherwise. And if the differed upon matter is from the `ibaadaat, then a person should ask for evidence concerning its permissibility, since all acts and forms of worship are originally prohibited unless proven otherwise. May Allaah, the Most High, grant us all the true understanding of His religion, according to His Book and the authentic hadeeth of His Messenger upon the methodology of the Salaf. All praises and thanks are due to Allaah, and may Allaah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet, his companions and all those who follow them. _________________________________ [1] That is, either specifically such as His statement, "Prohibited to you are dead (creatures), blood, the flesh of swine, that which has been dedicated to other than Allaah…" (5:3), or generally such as his statement, "And whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you refrain from it." (59:7). See also: Riyaad-us-Saaliheen (Chapter 296, #1645). [2] An authentic hadeeth, graded authentic by Al-Bazzaar (4087), Al-Haakim (2/315), Ibn-ul-Qayyim (I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 2/459), Al-Haithamee (Al-Majma`, 1/171, 7/55), Al-Albaanee (Ghaayat-ul-Maraam, 2; As-Saheehah, 2256), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Mushkil-ul-Aathaar, 2/226-227), Sa`d Al-Humayyid (Mukhtasar Istidraak-idh-Dhahabee, 872), Al-Hilaalee (Bahjat-un-Naazireen, 3/299; As-Sunnah lil-Marwazee, p.667-672) and Mashhoor Salmaan (Al-I`tisaam, 1/179; I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 2/429). It is also supported by another hadeeth that was authenticated by Al-Haakim (2/317, 4/115), Ibn Katheer (Irshaad-ul-Faqeeh, 1/368), Al-Albaanee (Ghaayat-ul-Maraam, 34/1; Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 4074), Al-Waadi`ee (As-Saheeh-ul-Musnad, 646), Shu`aib Al-Arna'oot (Jaami`-ul-`Uloom, 2/152; Mushkil-ul-Aathaar, 2/228), Al-Hilaalee (As-Sunnah, p.672) and Mashhoor Salmaan (I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 2/461-462). [3] Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (2697) and Muslim (4467, 4468) in their Saheehs. See also: The Book of Sunnah of the Hadeeth Encyclopedia. [4] Salaf: the first three generations of Muslims; the Companions (Sahaabah), their following generation (Taabi`oon) and their followers (Al-Atbaa`). They were the best of this Ummah (nation) who understood and followed Islam the best, and who loved Allaah and His Messenger the most. See: The Excellence of the Salaf and the Obligation of following them from the Book of Sunnah of the Hadeeth Encyclopedia. [5] Al-`Azl: coitus interruptus, or withdrawal before ejaculation during intercourse. [6] Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (5208) and Muslim (3544-3546) in their Saheehs. [7] An authentic narration; authenticated by Al-Haakim, Ibn Muflih, Al-Albaanee, Al-Hilaalee, Al-Halabee, Faisal Al-`Uqayyil, Hamdee `Abdul-Majeed and others. See Hadeeth Encyclopedia for details. For more examples, see: The Salaf's Attitude towards Bid`ah and its People from the Book of Sunnah of the Hadeeth Encyclopedia. [8] Ar. Hukm Shar`ee, i.e., whether something is waajib (obligatory), mustahabb (recommended), mubaah (permitted), makrooh (detested) or haraam (prohibited). |
 |