Allah `azza wa jall gave us His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam as a sufficient source (of His
Sharee`ah). He revealed to the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam,
during the Farewall Hajj, on `Arafat, "This day I have perfected for
you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved
for you Islam as religion." [Al-Ma'idah (5):3]
Therefore, the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah regulate the life of
individuals as well as societies, guaranteeing happiness in this
world and in the next. Turning away from them is the cause of
suffering in this world and in the next, whether one turns away from
them by replacing them with fabricated narrations and authored verses
(of poetry), or by leaving them completely and applying instead
worldly programs and human laws.
"Then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the
world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]. And whoever turns away from My
remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e. difficult] life,
and We will gather [i.e. raise] him on the Day of Resurrection
blind." [Ta Ha (20):123-124]
The "guidance" (huda) of Allah `azza wa jall, (in the above verse),
is the Book that He sent down and the Sunnah of His Messenger,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. "The remembrance" (adh-dhikr) is also
the Book and the Sunnah.
Therefore all that brings one closer to Allah `aza wa jall must be
within the limits of the legislated. This is a fundamental principle
in the Deen of Islam, and a rule set by the Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, in his saying, "Whoever does an action
which is not in accordance with our matter (Deen), he will have it
rejected." [Muslim 12/16 and al-Bukhari, with the same meaning, 5/301]
Worship a not a self-punishment for the soul. Nor is every type of
self-punishment of the soul worship. Allah's Messenger, sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam, once saw a man walking supported between his sons,
so he asked about him. They said, "O Messenger of Allah, he vowed to
walk." So he said, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, "Allah does not need
this person to suffer" and ordered him to ride.[Al-Bukhari (4/78),
Muslim (11/102), Abu Dawood (3279), at-Tirmidhi (7/20-21), an-
Nasaa'ii (7/30), ad-Daarimi (2/184) and Ahmad (3/106, 114, 183)]
It is related from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "While the Prophet,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, was speaking, there was a man standing,
so he asked about him and they said, "[He is] Abu Israa'il. He vowed
to stand, not to sit, not to seek shade, not to speak and (he also
vowed) to fast." So the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam,
said, "Order him to speak, to seek shade and to sit, and let him
complete his fast." Therefore, he, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam,
acknowledged what is legislated, that is, fasting, and renounced what
is not legislated, that is, leaving of speech and standing in the
sun. [Al-Bukhari (11/586), Abu Dawud (3266)]
So it is not permissible for one to seek closeness to Allah `azza wa
jall by worship which Allah `azza wa jall has not legislated, just
like it is not permissible to exaggerate and overstep the limits set
by Allah `azza wa jall. The guidance of the Prophet, sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam, is the best example in this regard. Iit is not
permissible for anyone from his Ummah to add to it, or to think that
his worship is more complete than that of the Messenger, sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam. The best evidence for this is the hadeeth of the
three individuals who came to the house of the Prophet, sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam, and asked about his worship. So when they were
informed - as if it seemed little to them - one of them said, "How
can we be compared to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam, whom Allah forgave past and future sins? As for me, I will
stand (in prayer) and will not sleep." Another said, "As for me, I
will fast and will not break fast", while the third said, "As for me,
I will not marry women". When the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam, was informed, he said, "What is wrong with people so they say
such and such. Am I not the most knowledgeable of you about Allah and
one who fears Him most of you. As for me, I fast and I break fast, I
spend nights in worship and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever is
not pleased with my Sunnah, he is not of me." [Al-Bukhari (9/89, 90),
Muslim (9/176)]. The main point is that the servant should look for
ways of softening of his heart and work on purifying his soul in
conformity with what Allah `azza wa jall explained in His book and
what has been authentically reported in the Sunnah of His Messenger,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam. [See "Al-Kitab was-Sunnah `aqeedatan wa
manhajan" by `Abdur-Rahman `Abdul-Khaliq for more.] This is the way
followed by the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, for
guidance is that which is from Allah subhanahu wa
ta`ala. "Say, 'Indeed the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allah.'"
[Aal `Imraan (3):73]
It remains to be said that knowledge of purifying of the soul and
softening of the hearts is as essential for students of knowledge –
as well as for other servants – as is water for the fish, or air for
the rest of the living creatures. This in so in order to prepare the
hearts first, as in the saying, "the hearts are prepared for
knowledge, just as land is prepared for farming", so that they would
repent to Allah `azza wa jall every morning and night. As some Salaf
said, "Whoever does not repent to Allah every morning and evening is
from the wrongdoers." Allah `azza wa jall said, "And whoever does not
repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers." [al-Hujurat
(49):11]
[This is important] so that the student of knowledge does not stumble
on the way due to an affliction that he is tried with. For perhaps a
servant is highly intelligent, serious or hardworking in studying of
sciences of the Sharee`ah and then falls into self-admiration, pride
or show-off, and thus becomes destroyed, as in the story of the three
for whom the Fire will be lit first. We seek refuge with Allah from
the state of the inhabitants of the Fire.
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