Hadeeth (9) Obligations are according to Ability
By Hanan Basher
On the authority of Abu Hurairah ‘Abd-ur-Rahmaan ibn Sakhr (radiAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayi wa sallam) say: “What I have forbidden for you, avoid. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. For verily, it was only the excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed [the nations] who were before you”. [Related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
In this hadith we discussed two issues:
- Obligations in Islam
- Questioning
Obligations in Islam:
- Rulings in Islam fall under one of five categories: Fard (obligatoryl), Sunnah (recommended), Mubah (permissible), Makrooh (disliked) & Haram (forbidden).
a) In general: matters of the dunya (this life) are halal unless there’s evidence to the contrary and matters of the deen (worship of Allah) are haram unless there is evidence to the contrary.
- This hadith is a clear order from the Prophet to avoid ALL that he has forbidden.
a) All that has been forbidden by the Shariah is so because of the haram it brings even if there’s a perceived benefit e.g. Alcohol
b) For a matter to be classified as makrooh (disliked) should be enough for a believer to avoid for the sake of Allah and gain reward in doing so.
c) Not doing something is easier than actively doing something and this an example when Allah does not burden us beyond our capabilities in ordering us to leave all that has been prohibited.
- However, we have been ordered to fulfil the obligations according to our abilities e.g. the Prayer of one who is unable pray standing then he is allowed to pray sitting. In the case of removing evil, then if one is not able to remove it entirely then they remove what they can.
Questioning
- Imam Nawawi in his explanation classified questions into three categories:
a) Asking about religious obligations such the prayer, fasting, etc. This is an individual obligatory (fard ayn); how can we worship Allah without this knowledge. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim. Here knowledge refers to Islamic knowledge.
b) Asking not just to act but also to know of a matters e.g. the scholars and judges. This is a communal obligation (fard kifayah); if some of the community has this knowledge it suffices the rest.
c) To ask about what Allah has not obligated upon a person or others and that is what the hadith referring to in terms of excessive questioning.
What did you learn?
Share the benefits you gained.
How about listening to this lecture by Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki on Seeking Knowledge
http://www.islamictube.net/watch/e496be8b1b701e540d56/Seeking-knowledge
Hendon Halaqah 