what is the ruling of someone who rejects something from the sunnah even if its not considered obligatory?
In light of the fact that it is from the sunnah yet someone rejects it, what is the ruling on that. im not asking in respect to whether that particular thing maybe obligatory or not, but the simple fact that it is approved byand part of the sunnah and yet one rejects it?
i hope that makes sense.
im sort of looking for more details such as books, articles, etc that discuss this, rather then mere personal opinion (sorry, but its important and preferred that personal opinion is left out).
"Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. And if you turn away [know that] verily Allah does not love the unbelievers." (Aal Imraan, 32)
In fact, this disbelief extends to denying anything that one hears from the Prophet :saws: while the person is convinced that the statement did actually come from the Prophet :saws:. Sulaimaan ibn Sahmaan wrote, "There is no difference of opinion among the scholars that if a person believes in the Prophet :saws: in some matters and belies him in another matter, he does not enter into Islam; he is like one who rejects an obligatory or mandatory act..."(1) . Ibn Battah stated, "If a person believes in everything that the Messenger :saws: brought except for one thing, and he rejects that thing, then he is a disbeliever according to all of the scholars."(2) Again, the person does not have the right to choose between what he wants to believe of the Prophets :saws: statements and what he does not want to believe. His belief in the Prophet mandates that he believes in everything that the Prophet :saws: stated.
Doubting the authenticity of a hadeeth, may not be a case of disbelief depending on how well established is the particular hadeeth. In any case judging the authenticity of a hadeeth is the job of the experts. A non-scholar or non-specialist is not free to make his own judgement about hadeeth.
Genuine ignorance of a hadeeth may also be excused, until proofs are shown.
It should not be forgotten that the door to repentance is always open.
(1) Muhammad al-Wuhaibi, Nawaaqidh al-Imaan al-Itiqaadiyah wa Dhawaabit al-Takfeer ind al-Salaf (Riyadh: Daar al-Muslim, 1996, Vol 2 ,p57)
(2) Abdul Azeez al-Abdul Lateef, Nawaaqidh al-Imaan al-Qauliyyah wa al Amaliyyah (Riyadh, Daar al-Watan, 1414 AH, p250)
Extracted from Source: The Authority and Importance of the Sunnah, by Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, Al-Basheer Publications, Denver, 2000
