SIFAT SALAAT AN NĀBI ﷺ (The Prophet's Prayer Described From The Beginning To The End As Though You See It) Episode 2

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*SIFAT SALAAT AN NĀBI ﷺ*

*(The Prophet's Prayer Described From The Beginning To The End As Though You See It)*

*Episode 2*

*METHODOLOGY OF THIS BOOK* 

Since the purpose of this book is to convey the guidance of the Prophet

(Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) regarding Prayer, it was elementary that I

would not limit myself to a particular Madhhab, for the reasons

mentioned previously. Therefore, I would give whatever is authentically

proved from him (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam), as has always been the way of the scholars of Hadeeth13, whether of old or of the recent past14,

as the excellent saying goes: 

The People of Hadeeth are the People of the Messenger, although They

accompany him not, they are with his every movement.15

Thus this book would, Allaah Willing, gather whatever is relevant to each

topic from the various contents of the books of Hadeeth and the books on

the differences between the Madhhabs, such that the correct verdicts

found in this book would not be found totally in any one Madhhab. Hence

the one acting on it, Allaah Willing, would be among those whom Allaah

had guided "by His Grace to the Truth concerning that in which

they differed, for Allaah guides whom He will to a path that is

straight."16

When I adopted these principles for myself, i.e. to adhere to the

authentic Sunnah, and to implement them in this book as well as others,

I knew for sure that this would not satisfy every group of people or sect;

in fact, it would result in some, if not most of them, insulting or criticising

me. This does not matter to me, for I also know that to please everyone

is an unattainable notion, and that "He who pleases the people by

angering Allaah, Allaah will entrust him to the people", as the

Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) said.17 The reward is

with Allaah for the author of the following lines:

Nor could I ever escape from abuse, Even were I in a cave in a rugged

mountain; For who can escape from the people unharmed, Even if he

hides behind the eagle's wings?

It is enough for me that I believe that this is the most upright way, which

Allaah has commanded the believers to take; which our Prophet

Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam), Chief of the Messengers, has

explained. This is the path which was trodden by the Pious Predecessors:

the Companions, their Successors and those after them, including the

four Imaams to whose Madhhabs the majority of Muslims today attribute

themselves. All of them were agreed on the obligation to stick to the

Sunnah and to refer to it; to ignore every view contradictory to it, no

matter how great the holder or propounder of that view, for the status of

the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa Sallam) is far greater, and

his example is far truer. Because of this, I have acted on their guidance,

followed in their footsteps and carried out their commands to stick to the

authentic hadeeth, even if this opposes their view. These commands of

theirs have influenced me greatly in my perusal of this path, and my

rejection of blind taqleed (following of opinion). I ask Allaah Exalted to

reward them greatly. 

13 Abdul Hayy Al-Lucknowi says in Imaam al-Kalaam fimaa yata'allaq bil-Qiraa'ah Khalf al-Imaam (p. 156), as follows:

"Whoever dives into the oceans of fiqh and the fundamentals of jurisprudence with an open mind, and does not allow

himself to be prejudiced, will know with certainty that in most of the principal and subsidiary issues in which the

scholars have differed, the madhhab of the scholars of Hadeeth is firmer than other madhhabs. Every time I go into the

branches of difference of opinion, I find the view of the muhadditheen nearest to justice - their reward is with Allaah,

and He will thank them. How could it be otherwise, when they are the true inheritors of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi

wa sallam), and the sincere agents of his Law; may Allaah include us in their company and make us die loving them."

14 Subki says in al-Fataawaa (1/148):

"The most important affair of the Muslims is the Prayer, which every Muslim must care about and ensure its performance

and the establishment of its essentials. Related to Prayer are issues on which there is consensus and there is no

escaping the truth, and other issues in which the scholars have differed. The correct approach is either to keep clear of

dispute if possible, or to look for what is authentically- proven from the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and

adhere to that. When one does this, his Prayer will be correct and righteous, and included in the words of the Exalted,

"So whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work correct, righteous deeds." (Al-Kahf, 18:110)

I say: The latter approach is superior, nay, obligatory; this is because the former appeoach, as well as being impossible

many issues, does not fulfil his command (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), Pray as you have seen me praying, but instead

leads to one's prayer being decidedly different to that of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).

15 From the poetry of Hasan ibn Muhammad an-Nasawi, as narrated by Haafiz Diyaa' ad-Deen al-Maqdisi in his article on

the excellence of the Hadeeth and its People.

16 Baqarah, 2:213

17 Tirmidhi, Qudaa'i, Ibn Bushraan & others.