Page 1 of 12

Comprehending the Shariah Commandments According to the Salaf

and the Fuqaha who Followed Them:

Correcting Modern Literalist Approaches

Is eating or drinking with the left hand Haram?

Is blowing in hot food Haram?
No.

Surprised?

There are 100's of Ayat and Ahadith with:

"DO"s (‫)اﻓﻌﻞ‬, and
"DONT"s (‫)ﻻ ﺗﻔﻌﻞ‬.

According to some people, these are either:

COMPULSORY (‫ )واﺟﺐ‬or
FORBIDDEN (‫)ﺣﺮام‬.

This binary division is incorrect, according to the jurists (‫)اﻟﻔﻘﮭﺎء واﻷﺻﻮﻟﯿﯿﻦ‬.

The jurists divided these "DO"s and "DONT"s into:

1- To do with worship (‫)ﺗﻌﺒﺪﯾﺔ‬

2- To do with ethics (‫)ﺗﺄدﯾﺒﯿﺔ‬

The first one, they declared the "DO"s as compulsory (‫ )واﺟﺐ‬and neglecting the "DONT"s as
forbidden (‫)ﺣﺮام‬.

The second one, they declared the "DO"s as recommended (‫ )اﻻﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎب‬and encouraged (‫)ﻣﻨﺪوب‬.
They declared the "DONT"'s of this category as discouraged/disliked (‫ )ﻛﺮاھﺔ‬and contrary to what
is best (‫)ﺧﻼف اﻷوﻟﻰ‬. However, neglecting these is NOT forbidden (‫)اﻟﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ‬, unless it's done out of
arrogance and opposition to the Sunnah!

Al-Mardawi al-Hanbali said that the "DO"s (‫ )اﻓﻌﻞ‬can be of 36 different types, only ONE of them
is compulsory (‫)واﺟﺐ‬. It can mean, permissibly, encouragement, recommended, better, etc.

Some "DO"s (‫ )اﻓﻌﻞ‬from the authentic Sunnah:

1- Eating with the Right hand (‫) ِٕا َذا َأ َﻛ َﻞ َأ َﺣ ُﺪ ُﻛ ْﻢ ﻓَ ْﻠﯿَْﺎٔ ُﻛﻞْ ﺑِﯿَ ِﻤﯿﻨِ ِﮫ‬
2- Put on your Right Shoe first (‫) ِٕا َذا ا ْﻧﺘَ َﻌ َﻞ َأ َﺣ ُﺪ ُﻛ ْﻢ ﻓَ ْﻠﯿَ ْﺒ َْﺪأ ﺑِ ْﺎﻟﯿُ ْﻤﻨَﻰ‬

Some "DONT"s (‫ )ﻻ ﺗﻔﻌﻞ‬from the authentic Sunnah:

 Page 2 of 12

1- Don't blow in Food (‫اﻻﻧَﺎ ِء َأوْ ﯾُ ْﻨﻔَ َﺦ ﻓِﯿ ِﮫ‬ َ ‫)ﻧَﮭَﻰ َرﺳُﻮ ُل ﷲِ َأ ْن ﯾُﺘَﻨَﻔﱠ‬
ِٕ ْ ‫ﺲ ﻓِﻲ‬
2- Don't walk in One shoe (‫اﺣ ٍﺪ‬ ِ ‫ﺶ ﻓِﻲ ﻧَﻌ ٍْﻞ َو‬ ِ ‫)ﻻ ﺗَ ْﻤ‬َ

All of these are encouraged and/or discouraged, for ethical reasons. Neglecting these is not
forbidden (‫)ﺣﺮام‬, nor a sin (‫)اﻻﺛﻢ‬.

Allah is not going to burn someone in Hell for walking in one shoe or putting on their left shoe
before their right shoe.

A minority of scholars like Ibn Hazm did take the binary approach which led him to some absurd
opinions, but the 4 madhaahib are not on this.

Ibn Abdul Barr al-Maliki says in ("Al-Istidhkaar", 5/288) :

‫وأﺻﻞ اﻟﻨﮭﻲ أن ﺗﻨﻈﺮ إﻟﻰ ﻣﺎ ورد ﻣﻨﮫ وطﺮأ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻠﻜﻚ أو ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺎ ﻟﯿﺲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻠﻜﻚ ﻓﻤﺎ ﻛﺎن ﻣﻨﮫ واردا ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻠﻜﻚ ﻓﮭﻮ ﯾﻤﯿﻦ آداب‬
‫وإرﺷﺎد واﺧﺘﯿﺎر وﻣﺎ طﺮأ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻠﻜﻚ ﻓﮭﻮ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ‬

‫وﻋﻠﻰ ھﺬا ورد اﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮآن واﻟﺴﻨﺔ ﻻ ﻟﻤﻦ اﻋﺘﺒﺮھﻤﺎ‬

‫أﻻ ﺗﺮى إﻟﻰ ﻧﮭﻲ رﺳﻮل ﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ و ﺳﻠﻢ ﻋﻦ اﺟﺘﻨﺎب اﻷﺳﻘﯿﺔ واﻷﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ رأس اﻟﺼﺤﻔﺔ واﻟﻤﺸﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻌﻞ واﺣﺪ وأن‬
‫ﯾﻘﺮن ﺑﯿﻦ ﺗﻤﺮﺗﯿﻦ ﻣﻦ أﻛﻞ ﻣﻊ ﻏﯿﺮه واﻻﺳﺘﻨﺠﺎء ﺑﺎﻟﯿﻤﯿﻦ دون اﻟﺸﻤﺎل واﻷﻛﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﻤﺎل دون اﻟﯿﻤﯿﻦ واﻟﺘﯿﺎﻣﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻟﺒﺎس اﻟﻨﻌﺎل وﻓﻲ‬
‫اﻟﺸﺮاب وﻏﯿﺮ ذﻟﻚ ﻣﻤﺎ ﯾﻄﻮل ذﻛﺮه‬

‫ﻓﮭﺬا ﻛﻠﮫ وﻣﺎ ﻛﺎن ﻣﺜﻠﮫ ﻧﮭﻲ أدب وإرﺷﺎد ﻷﻧﮫ طﺮأ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻠﻚ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﻓﻤﻦ واﻗﻊ ﺷﯿﺌﺎ ﻣﻦ ذﻟﻚ ﻟﻢ ﯾﺤﺮم ﻋﻠﯿﮫ ﻓﻌﻠﮫ وﻻ ﺷﻲء‬
‫ﻣﻦ طﻌﺎﻣﮫ وﻻ ﻟﺒﺎﺳﮫ‬

He mentions some examples like:

- Walking in one shoe

- Washing private parts with the left hand

- Eating and Drinking with the right hand

- Wearing clothes starting from the right

And then says: "We are told to abstain from all of these things because they are contrary to good
manners" ...
 Page 3 of 12

And then he says: "If someone were to do any of these things, it will not be Haram...".

Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal endorced this principle:

Al-Qadi abu Ya’la al-Hanbali says in 'al-‘Uddah', (2/245 – 246):

‫ ﻣﺜﻞ ﻧﮭﯿﮫ أن ﺗﻨﻜﺢ‬،‫ ﻣﺎ ﻧﮭﻰ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ وﺳﻠﻢ؛ ﻓﻤﻨﮫ أﺷﯿﺎء ﺣﺮام‬:‫ﻧﺺ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ اﻹﻣﺎم رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﮫ ﻓﻲ رواﯾﺔ ﻋﺒﺪ ﷲ ﻓﻘﺎل‬
‫اﻟﻤﺮأة ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻤﺘﮭﺎ وﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﺎﻟﺘﮭﺎ وﻧﮭﻰ ﻋﻦ ﺟﻠﻮد اﻟﺴﺒﺎع أن ﺗﻔﺘﺮش؛ ﻓﮭﺬا ﺣﺮام وﻣﻨﮫ أﺷﯿﺎء ﻧﮭﻰ ﻋﻨﮭﺎ ﻧﮭﻲ أدب‬

"Imaam Ahmad has said: Whatever the Prophet told us not to do, among them are things which
are forbidden ... (examples)...

And among them are things which he told us not to do on an ethical basis.”

Ibn Rushd al-Maliki in ("Al-Bayan wa al-Tahseel", 17/387):

[17/387] ، "‫ وﻗﺎل ﻓﻲ "اﻟﺒﯿﺎن واﻟﺘﺤﺼﯿﻞ‬:

" - ‫ ﻻ ﺑﺄس ﺑﺬﻟﻚ‬:‫ ﻓﻤﻌﻨﻰ ﻗﻮل ﻣﺎﻟﻚ‬. «‫ »ﻧﮭﻰ أن ﯾﺄﺗﻲ اﻟﺮﺟﻞ أھﻠﮫ طﺮوﻗﺎ ﺣﺘﻰ ﺗﻤﺘﺸﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺜﺔ وﺗﺴﺘﺤﺪ اﻟﻤﻐﯿﺒﺔ‬:‫ﻓﻲ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻵﺛﺎر‬
‫ ﻧﮭﻲ أدب‬- ‫ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮫ اﻟﺴ َﱠﻼ ُم‬- ‫ وإن ﻛﺎن ﻗﺪ أﺗﻰ ﻣﻜﺮوه ا؛ ﻷﻧﮫ رأى اﻟﻨﮭﻲ اﻟﻮارد ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ‬،‫ ﻻ إﺛﻢ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ وﻻ ﺣﺮج‬:‫أي‬
‫ اﻟﺘﻮﻓﯿﻖ " أھـ‬Š‫ وﺑﺎ‬،‫ ﻻ ﻧﮭﻲ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﻢ‬،‫وإرﺷﺎد‬

[Hadith] The Prophet said that before we arrive home from a journey, we should not go home
before we send someone to inform the family of our arrival.

Imaam Malik said: "There is no problem with (not doing) this".

[Ibn Rushd explaines]: He means, there is no sin or blame in not doing this, but it is discouraged
not to do so, because the Prophet's statement here was a discouragement on an ethical basis
(Nahi Adab) (i.e. it's bad manners to arrive without notice). It was not a discouragement of
prohibition (Nahi Tahrim).”
 Page 4 of 12

When the following hadith is presented by Muslim who narrated from Salamata Ibn Alakwaa,
who related that "A person started eating with his left hand in the presence of the Beloved
Prophet (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) who asked him to eat with his right hand.
He said, 'I am unable to do so'. It was simply his insolence that prevented him to obey the orders
of the Beloved Prophet (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) . After this it so happened
that the said man could not raise his hand up to his mouth”.

al-Munaawi explains this Hadith in 'Faydh al-Qadir':

:‫اھـ ﻛﻤﺎ ھﻮ ﻣﺒﯿﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻮل اﻟﺮاوي‬.‫ ودﻋﺎؤه ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﺟﻞ إﻧﻤﺎ ھﻮ ﻟِ ِﻜﺒ ِْﺮ ِه اﻟﺤﺎﻣﻞ ﻟﮫ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﺮك اﻻﻣﺘﺜﺎل‬:‫ﻗﺎل اﻟﻤﻨﺎوي ﻓﻲ ﻓﯿﺾ اﻟﻘﺪﯾﺮ‬
‫)ﻣﺎ ﻣﻨﻌﮫ إﻻ اﻟﻜﺒﺮ‬

The Prophet's Dua against him was due to his Takabur (pride) and arrogance.

His intention was to oppose the Prophet, as we said in the original post, if someone does any of
these things with this intention, it is Haram and maybe even Kufr.

bn Rushd in another book:

[3/450] ، "‫ ﻓﻘﺪ ﻗﺎل اﺑﻦ رﺷﺪ ﻓﻲ "اﻟﻤﻘﺪﻣﺎت اﻟﻤﻤﮭﺪات‬:

" - ‫ﺻﻠﱠﻰ اﻟﻠﱠﮫُ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮫ َو َﺳﻠﱠ َﻢ‬

َ - ‫ ﻟﻨﮭﻲ رﺳﻮل ﷲ‬،‫اﻟﻤﺸﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻨﻌﻞ اﻟﻮاﺣﺪة ﯾﻜﺮه ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺬھﺐ ﻣﺎﻟﻚ وأﺻﺤﺎﺑﮫ أن ﯾﻤﺸﻰ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻌﻞ واﺣﺪة‬
‫ ﻋﻦ ذﻟﻚ ؛‬- ‫ﺻﻠﱠﻰ اﻟﻠﱠﮫُ َﻋﻠ ْﯿ ِﮫ َو َﺳﻠ َﻢ‬
‫ﱠ‬ َ َ

‫ وﻣﺎ ﯾﻨﺴﺐ إﻟﻰ ﻓﺎﻋﻞ ذﻟﻚ ﻣﻦ ﺗﺮك‬،‫ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺴﻤﺎﺣﺔ واﻟﺸﮭﺮة ﻟﻤﺨﺎﻟﻔﺔ اﻟﻌﺎدة ﻓﻲ اﻟﻠﺒﺎس‬،‫ﻷﻧﮫ ﻋﻨﺪھﻢ ﻧﮭﻲ أدب وإرﺷﺎد‬
‫ ﻻ ﻧﮭﻲ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﻢ ﺧﻼف ﻣﺎ ذھﺐ إﻟﯿﮫ أھﻞ اﻟﻈﺎھﺮ ﻣﻦ أﻧﮫ ﻧﮭﻲ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﻢ " أھـ‬،‫اﻟﻤﺮوءة وﻗﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺤﺼﯿﻞ‬

[Hadith] The Prophet said that we should not walk wearing only one shoe.
 Page 5 of 12

Ibn Rushd says: Walking around in one shoe is discouraged in the Madhab of Maalik and his
companions, because the Prophet said we should not. This is because it's contrary to good
manners, it's bad ethics, and contrary to the customs of people....However, this is not a command
of prohibition (nahi tahrim), contrary to what the Dhahiris (literalists) believe, who say this is
forbidden (nahi Tahrim).”

The Prophet said: "‫ أﺳﺮﻋﻮا ﺑﺎﻟﺠﻨﺎزة‬- Hasten the Funerals." (Sahih Bukhari, 1252)

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani says ("Fath al-Bari", 3/148):

‫ وﺷﺬ اﺑﻦ ﺣﺰم ﻓﻘﺎل ﺑﻮﺟﻮﺑﮫ‬، ‫ ) أﺳﺮﻋﻮا ( ﻧﻘﻞ اﺑﻦ ﻗﺪاﻣﺔ أن اﻷﻣﺮ ﻓﯿﮫ ﻟﻼﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎب ﺑﻼ ﺧﻼف ﺑﯿﻦ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء‬: ‫ﻗﻮﻟﮫ‬

"Ibn Qudamah said that the command here is of encouragement (mustahab), without any
disagreement among the scholars.

Ibn Hazm took an odd view and said: It is compulsory (wajib).

Imam Al-San'aani, says in ("Subul al-Salam", 4/159):

‫وذھﺐ اﻟﺠﻤﮭﻮر إﻟﻰ أﻧﮫ ﯾﺴﺘﺤﺐ اﻷﻛﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﯿﻤﯿﻦ واﻟﺸﺮب ﺑﮭﺎ ﻻ أﻧﮫ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﻤﺎل ﻣﺤﺮم‬

"The majority of scholars say that eating and drinking with the right hand is recommended
(mustahab), and not that it is Haram with the left hand."

Note for integrity purposes: he himself takes the view that it is Haram.

Ibn Abdul-Barr:

(1/397) ‫ و ﻗﺎل اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺒﺮ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﻤﮭﯿﺪ‬: -

 ‫‪Page 6 of 12‬‬

‫ﻓﻲ ﺣﺪﯾﺚ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ و ﺳﻠﻢ ﻧﺤﻮه وأﻛﺜﺮ اﻵﺛﺎر إﻧﻤﺎ ﺟﺎءت ﺑﺎﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻋﻦ اﻟﺘﻨﻔﺲ ﻓﻲ اﻹﻧﺎء وﻗﺪ ﻗﻠﻨﺎ أن اﻟﻤﻌﻨﻰ واﺣﺪ "‬
‫واﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻋﻦ ھﺬا ﻧﮭﻲ أدب ﻻ ﻧﮭﻰ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﻢ ﻷن اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﻗﺪ أﺟﻤﻌﻮا أن ﻣﻦ ﺗﻨﻔﺲ ﻓﻲ اﻹﻧﺎء أو ﻧﻔﺦ ﻓﯿﮫ ﻟﻢ ﯾﺤﺮم ﻋﻠﯿﮫ ﺑﺬﻟﻚ طﻌﺎﻣﮫ وﻻ‬
‫ﺷﺮاﺑﮫ وﻟﻜﻨﮫ ﻣﺴﻲء إذا ﻛﺎن ﺑﺎﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻋﺎﻟﻤﺎ " أھـ‬

‫‪He mentions the narrations about breathing into a vessel and then says:‬‬

‫‪"... This is discouraged on the basis of ethics (nahi adab), and not that it is Haram (nahi tahrim).‬‬

‫‪The scholars are unanimously agreed that whoever breathes into a vessel or blows into it, this‬‬
‫‪does not render his food or drink Haram for him.‬‬

‫”‪It is offensive, if he is aware of the the discouragement.‬‬

‫‪Ibn Rajab Hanbali in ("Jami al-Uloom", 3/158):‬‬

‫وأﻣﺎ اﻟﻨﮭﻲ اﻟﻤﺠﺮد ‪ ،‬ﻓﻘﺪ اﺧﺘﻠﻒ اﻟﻨﺎس ‪ :‬ھﻞ ﯾﺴﺘﻔﺎد ﻣﻨﮫ اﻟﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ أم ﻻ ؟ وﻗﺪ روي ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ إﻧﻜﺎر اﺳﺘﻔﺎدة اﻟﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ ﻣﻨﮫ ‪ .‬ﻗﺎل‬
‫اﺑﻦ اﻟﻤﺒﺎرك ‪ :‬أﺧﺒﺮﻧﺎ ﺳﻼم ﺑﻦ أﺑﻲ ﻣﻄﯿﻊ ‪ ،‬ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ أﺑﻲ دﺧﯿﻠﺔ ‪ ،‬ﻋﻦ أﺑﯿﮫ ﻗﺎل ‪ :‬ﻛﻨﺖ ﻋﻨﺪ اﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ ‪ ،‬ﻓﻘﺎل ﻧﮭﻰ رﺳﻮل ﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ‬
‫ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻋﻦ اﻟﺰﺑﯿﺐ واﻟﺘﻤﺮ ‪ ،‬ﯾﻌﻨﻲ ‪ :‬أن ﯾﺨﻠﻄﺎ ‪ ،‬ﻓﻘﺎل ﻟﻲ رﺟﻞ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻠﻔﻲ ‪ :‬ﻣﺎ ﻗﺎل ؟ ﻓﻘﻠﺖ ‪ :‬ﺣﺮم رﺳﻮل ﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ‬
‫وﺳﻠﻢ اﻟﺰﺑﯿﺐ واﻟﺘﻤﺮ ‪ ،‬ﻓﻘﺎل ﻋﺒﺪ ﷲ ﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ ‪ :‬ﻛﺬﺑﺖ ‪ ،‬ﻓﻘﻠﺖ ‪ :‬أﻟﻢ ﺗﻘﻞ ﻧﮭﻰ رﺳﻮل ﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻋﻨﮫ ‪ ،‬ﻓﮭﻮ ﺣﺮام ؟‬
‫‪ .‬ﻓﻘﺎل ‪ :‬أﻧﺖ ﺗﺸﮭﺪ ] ص‪ [ 159 :‬ﺑﺬاك ؟ ﻗﺎل ﺳﻼم ‪ :‬ﻛﺄﻧﮫ ﯾﻘﻮل ‪ :‬ﻣﻦ ﻧﮭﻲ اﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻣﺎ ھﻮ أدب‬

‫وﻗﺪ ذﻛﺮﻧﺎ ﻓﯿﻤﺎ ﺗﻘﺪم ﻋﻦ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء اﻟﻮرﻋﯿﻦ ﻛﺄﺣﻤﺪ وﻣﺎﻟﻚ ﺗﻮﻗﻲ إطﻼق ﻟﻔﻆ اﻟﺤﺮام ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺎ ﻟﻢ ﯾﺘﯿﻘﻦ ﺗﺤﺮﯾﻤﮫ ﻣﻤﺎ ﻓﯿﮫ ﻧﻮع ﺷﺒﮭﺔ أو‬
‫‪ .‬اﺧﺘﻼف‬

‫وﻗﺎل اﻟﻨﺨﻌﻲ ‪ :‬ﻛﺎﻧﻮا ﯾﻜﺮھﻮن أﺷﯿﺎء ﻻ ﯾﺤﺮﻣﻮﻧﮭﺎ‬

‫‪People were with Ibn Umar when he said, "The Prophet disapproved of mixing raisins and‬‬
‫"‪dates.‬‬

‫"?‪Someone in the back asked, "What did (Ibn Umar) say‬‬

‫"‪A man answered, "That the Prophet forbade the mixing of raisins and dates.‬‬
 Page 7 of 12

Then Ibn Umar said, "You lied."

The man said, "You said he disapproved of this, does that not mean it's forbidden?"

Ibn Umar said, "Can you attest to that (i.e. are you 100% sure that he was referring to
prohibition)?"

[Ibn Rajab comments] It was as if he is saying: There are things that the Prophet disapproved of
out of ethics (not out of PROHIBITION, or sin).

Ibrahim al-Nakhai' said: They (sahaba & salaf) used to disapprove of things, without declaring it
Haram."

Ibn Nujaym al-Hanafi also endorses this principe in 'al-Bahr al-Raiq':

(1/30) ‫ ﻗﺎل اﻹﻣﺎم اﺑﻦ ﻧﺠﯿﻢ اﻟﺤﻨﻔﻲ‬:

‫ وأﻣﺎ إذا ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺒﯿﻞ اﻟﻌﺎدة ﻓﺘﻔﯿﺪ اﻻﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎب واﻟﻨﺪب ﻻ اﻟﺴﻨﯿﺔ‬،‫ﻟﻜﻦ اﻟﻤﻮاظﺒﺔ ﻻ ﺗﻔﯿﺪ اﻟﺴﻨﯿﺔ إﻻ إذا ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺒﯿﻞ اﻟﻌﺒﺎدة‬
‫ﻛﻠﺒﺲ اﻟﺜﻮب واﻻﻛﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﯿﻤﯿﻦ‬،

٥٦ ‫ اﻟﺼﻔﺤﺔ‬- ١ ‫ ج‬- ‫ اﺑﻦ ﻧﺠﯿﻢ اﻟﻤﺼﺮي‬- ‫اﻟﺒﺤﺮ اﻟﺮاﺋﻖ‬

Persistence on anything doesn't proves it being a Sunnah, except if done on the way of Ibadah.

As for if its on the way of Aadah, so it just proves encouragement not Sunnah like wearing
clothes and eating with right hand
 Page 8 of 12

Hafidh al-Iraaqi in ("Tarh al-Tathrib", 8/117):

‫ ﻗﺎل أﺑﻮ‬،(‫ ﻋﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻋﻤﺮ رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﮭﻤﺎ ﻣﺮﻓﻮﻋﺎ ً ﻻ ﺗﺘﺮﻛﻮا اﻟﻨﺎر ﻓﻲ ﺑﯿﻮﺗﻜﻢ ﺣﯿﻦ ﺗﻨﺎﻣﻮن‬:8/117 "‫ﻓﻲ "طﺮح اﻟﺘﺜﺮﯾﺐ‬
‫" وأﺷﮭﺪوا إذا ﺗﺒﺎﯾﻌﺘﻢ" واﻟﻔﺮق ﺑﯿﻨﮫ‬:‫ھﺬا اﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻟﯿﺲ ﻟﻠﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ وﻻ ﻟﻠﻜﺮاھﺔ وإﻧﻤﺎ ھﻮ ﻟﻺرﺷﺎد ﻓﮭﻮ ﻛﺎﻷﻣﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻮﻟﮫ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ‬:‫زرﻋﺔ‬
‫ واﻹرﺷﺎد ﯾﺮﺟﻊ ﻟﻤﺼﻠﺤﺔ دﻧﯿﻮﯾﺔ‬،‫وﺑﯿﻦ ﻣﺎ ﻣﺎ ﻛﺎن ﻟﻠﻨﺪب ﻓﻲ اﻟﻔﻌﻞ واﻟﻜﺮاھﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﺮك أن ذﻟﻚ ﻟﻤﺼﻠﺤﺔ دﯾﻨﯿﺔ‬

[Hadith] The Prophet said that we should not leave the fire on in our homes when we go to sleep.

Abu Zur'ah said: This is not prohibited (nahi tahrim), nor is it disliked (nahi kirahah) - this is just
guidelines/counselling/advise (irshaad).

Licking fingers after a meal:

Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger said (Sahih Muslim):

‫" ِٕا َذا َأ َﻛ َﻞ َأ َﺣ ُﺪ ُﻛ ْﻢ طَ َﻌﺎ ًﻣﺎ ﻓَﻼَ ﯾَ ْﻤ َﺴﺢْ ﯾَ َﺪهُ َﺣﺘﱠﻰ ﯾَ ْﻠ َﻌﻘَﮭَﺎ َأوْ ﯾ ُْﻠ ِﻌﻘَﮭَﺎ‬

"When any one of you eats food he SHOULD NOT wipe his hand until he has licked it himself
or has given it to someone else to lick."

Al-Munaawi says ("Faydh Al-Qadir", 1/297):

‫ و َﺣ َﻤﻠَﮫُ اﻟﻈﺎھﺮﯾﺔُ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻮﺟﻮب‬،‫ واﻷﻣﺮ ﺑﻠﻌﻖ اﻷﺻﺎﺑﻊ ﺣﻤﻠﮫ اﻟﺠﻤﮭﻮر ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻨﺪب واﻹرﺷﺎد‬:‫ﻗﺎل اﻟﻌﺮاﻗﻲ‬

"al-Iraqi said: The majority of scholars declared this command to lick the fingers as a
recommendation (mandoob) and a guideline (irshaad) - but that Dhahiris took this as an
obligation!!"
 Page 9 of 12

In another authentic narration, the Prophet said: "‫ ﺗﺴﺤﺮوا‬- EAT SUHOOR" (Bukhari & Muslim):

This can be taken as a command, but none of the fuqaha took this as an obligation:

Ibn Mulqin in ("Al-'Ilaam", 5/188):

‫ وإﻧﻤﺎ اﻷﻣﺮ ﺑﮫ أﻣﺮ إرﺷﺎد‬،‫ وأﻧّﮫ ﻟﯿﺲ ﺑﻮاﺟﺐ‬،‫أﺟﻤﻊ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﻋﻠﻰ اﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎب اﻟﺴﺤﻮر‬

"The scholar have a consensus that Suhur is recommended and that is is not an obligation. This
command is a guidance/recommendation (irshaad).”

This Ijmaa has been confirmed by other fuqaha, such as Badrudin 'Ayni Hanafi in ("Umdat al-
Qari", 10/428):

‫ وﻗﺎل اﻟﻘﺎﺿﻲ ﻋﯿﺎض )) أﺟﻤﻊ اﻟﻔﻘﮭﺎء‬، ‫ﻓﺈن ﻗﻠﺖ ﻗﻮﻟﮫ )) ﺗﺴﺤﺮوا (( أﻣﺮ وﻣﻘﺘﻀﺎه اﻟﻮﺟﻮب ؟ ﻗﻠﺖ أﺟﯿﺐ ﺑﺄﻧﮫ أﻣﺮ ﻧﺪب ﺑﺎﻹﺟﻤﺎع‬
‫ﻋﻠﻰ أن اﻟﺴﺤﻮر ﻣﻨﺪوب إﻟﯿﮫ وﻟﯿﺲ ﺑﻮاﺟﺐ‬

And other fuqaha such as:

Ibn Qudamah Hanbali in ("Al-Mughni", 3/54):

‫ وﻻ ﻧﻌﻠﻢ ﻓﯿﮫ ﺑﯿﻦ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﺧﻼﻓﺎ‬. ‫ﻓﻲ اﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎﺑﮫ‬

Ibn Al-Mundhir in ("Al-Ijmaa", 58):

ّ ‫وأﺟﻤﻌﻮا ﻋﻠﻰ‬
‫أن اﻟﺴﺤﻮر ﻣﻨﺪوب إﻟﯿﮫ‬

Al-Nawawi Shafi'ee in ("Sharh Sahih Muslim", 7/213):

 Page 10 of 12

‫ وأﻧﮫ ﻟﯿﺲ ﺑﻮاﺟﺐ‬،‫وأﺟﻤﻊ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﻋﻠﻰ اﺳﺘﺤﺒﺎﺑﮫ‬

Similarly, the Prophet told us not to shave part of our hair and leave the other part:

َ ‫( ﻋ َْﻦ اﺑ ِْﻦ ُﻋ َﻤ َﺮ رﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﮭﻤﺎ َأ ﱠن َرﺳُﻮ َل اﻟﻠﱠ ِﮫ‬2120) ‫ وﻣﺴﻠﻢ‬، (5921) ‫روى اﻟﺒﺨﺎري‬
‫ﺻﻠﱠﻰ اﻟﻠﱠﮫُ َﻋﻠَ ْﯿ ِﮫ َو َﺳﻠﱠ َﻢ ) ﻧَﮭَﻰ ﻋ َْﻦ‬
ْ
( ‫ ) أن ﯾﺤﻠﻖ ﺑﻌﺾ رأس اﻟﺼﺒﻲ وﯾﺘﺮك ﺑﻌﻀﮫ‬: ‫ ﻗﺎل‬: ‫ ﻣﺎ اﻟﻘﺰع ؟‬: ‫َع ( ﻗﯿﻞ ﻟﻨﺎﻓﻊ‬ ِ ‫ اﻟﻘَﺰ‬.
I don't know of a single classical scholar, who said this is Haram.

As far as I'm aware, they all say this is disliked because it's bad manners (absurd, weird, strange):

Al-Nawawi in ("Sharh Sahih Muslim", 14/101):

‫ } وأﺟﻤﻊ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﻋﻠﻰ ﻛﺮاھﺔ اﻟﻘﺰع إذا ﻛﺎن ﻓﻲ ﻣﻮاﺿﻊ ﻣﺘﻔﺮﻗﺔ إﻻ أن ﯾﻜﻮن ﻟﻤﺪاواة‬14/101 ‫ﻗﺎل اﻟﻨﻮوي ﻓﻲ ﺷﺮﺣﮫ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ‬
‫وﻧﺤﻮھﺎ وھﻲ ﻛﺮاھﺔ ﺗﻨﺰﯾﮫ‬

"The scholars are unanimous that Qaza' is disliked - when (hairs) are shaved from different parts
of the head (and other parts left), except it is for medical reasons etc. And it is Makroeh-
Tanzhihi."

So not Makroh Tahrimi , it's not Haram , it's disliked.

Ibn Muflih Hanbali says (3/297):

‫ و ﻓﻲ آداب اﺑﻦ ﻣﻔﻠﺢ‬:

‫ وذﻛﺮ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﺒﺮ واﺑﻦ ﺣﺰم أن اﻷﻛﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﻤﺎل ﻣﺤﺮم‬، ‫ واﻷﻛﻞ واﻟﺸﺮب ﺑﺸﻤﺎﻟﮫ إﻻ ﻟﻀﺮورة‬، ‫وﯾﻜﺮه أﻛﻠﮫ ﻣﺘﻜﺌﺎ أو ﻣﻀﻄﺠﻌﺎ‬
‫ﻟﻈﺎھﺮ اﻷﺧﺒﺎر‬
 Page 11 of 12

"It is disliked (MAKROOH) to eat while reclining or laying down, and to eat or drink with the
left hand, except in case of a necessity. Ibn Abdul-Barr and Ibn Hazm mentioned that eating with
the left hand is Haram due to the apparent meaning of these narrations."

There are hundreds of examples we can look at, another example:

[Chapter] Nahi on Cleaning Private Parts with the Right Hand

Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalaani in 'Fath al-Baari':

‫ َو َﻋﺒﱠ َﺮ‬, ‫ ﺑِ ْﺎﻟﯿَ ِﺪ ْاﻟﯿُ ْﻤﻨَﻰ‬: ْ‫ﯿﻦ ( َأي‬ِ ‫ ) ﺑَﺎب اﻟﻨﱠﮭْﻲ ﻋ َْﻦ ِاﻻ ْﺳﺘِ ْﻨ َﺠﺎء ﺑِ ْﺎﻟﯿَ ِﻤ‬: ‫ " ﻗَﻮْ ﻟﮫ‬: " ‫ﻗﻮل اﻟﺤﺎﻓﻆ اﺑﻦ ﺣﺠﺮ رﺣﻤﮫ ﷲ ﻓﻲ " ﻓﺘﺢ اﻟﺒﺎري‬
‫ﻚ‬ َ ِ‫ َو ِھ َﻲ َأ ﱠن َذﻟ‬, ُ‫َﻈﮭَﺮ ﻟَﮫ‬ ْ ‫ﱠﺎرﻓَﺔ ﻟِﻠﻨﱠﮭ ِْﻲ ﻋ َْﻦ اﻟﺘﱠﺤْ ِﺮﯾﻢ ﻟَ ْﻢ ﺗ‬ َ َ َ ْ َ‫ﺑِﺎﻟﻨﱠﮭ ِْﻲ ِٕا َﺷﺎ َرة ِٕاﻟَﻰ َأﻧﱠﮫُ ﻟَ ْﻢ ﯾ‬
ِ ‫ﻈﮭَﺮ ﻟَﮫُ ھَﻞْ ھُ َﻮ ﻟِﻠﺘﱠﺤْ ِﺮ ِﯾﻢ أوْ ﻟِﻠﺘﱠ ْﻨ ِﺰﯾ ِﮫ أوْ أ ﱠن ْاﻟﻘَ ِﺮﯾﻨَﺔ اﻟﺼ‬
َ
‫َﺐ أ ْھﻞ اﻟﻈﱠﺎ ِھﺮ ِٕاﻟَﻰ أﻧﱠﮫُ ﻟِﻠﺘﱠﺤْ ِﺮ ِﯾﻢ " اﻧﺘﮭﻰ‬ َ َ ‫ َو َذھ‬, ‫ َوﺑِ َﻜﻮْ ﻧِ ِﮫ ﻟِﻠﺘﱠ ْﻨ ِﺰﯾ ِﮫ ﻗَﺎﻟَﮫُ ْاﻟ ُﺠ ْﻤﮭُﻮر‬, ‫أدَب ِﻣ ْﻦ ْاﻵدَاب‬ َ

"... And the majority said that cleaning the private parts with the right hand is disliked Tanzihi,
but the Dhahiris took this as a prohibition (Tahrim)."

Ibnul-Uthaymin called this a "‫ ﻣﺴﻠﻜﺎ ﺟﯿﺪا‬- good methodology":

‫ ﺛﻢ ﻗﺎل‬،‫ذﻛﺮ اﻟﺸﯿﺦ رﺣﻤﮫ ﷲ اﺧﺘﻼف اﻷﺻﻮﻟﯿﯿﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺎ ﯾﻘﺘﻀﯿﮫ اﻷﻣﺮ واﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻋﻨﺪ اﻹطﻼق‬:

‫ﺳﻠﻚ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎء ﻣﺴﻠﻜﺎ ﺟﯿﺪا وھﻮ أن اﻷواﻣﺮ ﺗﻨﻘﺴﻢ إﻟﻰ ﻗﺴﻤﯿﻦ‬:

• ‫أواﻣﺮ ﺗﻌﺒﺪﯾﺔ‬.

• ‫ ﻣﻦ ﺑﺎب اﻵداب وﻣﻜﺎرم اﻷﺧﻼق‬،‫وأواﻣﺮ ﺗﺄدﯾﺒﯿﺔ‬.

 ‫‪Page 12 of 12‬‬

‫ﻓﻤﺎ ﻗﺼﺪ ﺑﮫ اﻟﺘﻌﺒﺪ ﻓﺎﻷﻣﺮ ﻓﯿﮫ ﻟﻠﻮﺟﻮب‪ ،‬واﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻟﻠﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ‪ ،‬ﻷن ﷲ ﺧﻠﻘﻨﺎ ﻟﻌﺒﺎدﺗﮫ‪ ،‬وﻣﺎ ﻗﺼﺪ ﺑﮫ اﻟﺘﺄدب ﻓﺈن اﻷﻣﺮ ﻓﯿﮭﺎ أﻣﺮ إرﺷﺎد ﻻ‬
‫إﻟﺰام‪ ،‬واﻟﻨﮭﻲ ﻓﯿﮭﺎ ﻟﻠﻜﺮاھﺔ ﻻ ﻟﻠﺘﺤﺮﯾﻢ‪ ،‬إﻻ إذا ورد ﻣﺎ ﯾﺪل ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻮﺟﻮب ﻓﮭﻮ ﻟﻠﻮﺟﻮب‪ .‬واﺳﺘﺪل رﺣﻤﮫ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺘﻔﺮﯾﻖ ﺑﯿﻦ‬
‫اﻟﻌﺒﺎدة واﻷدب ﻣﻊ اﻟﻨﺎس ﺑﺄن اﻟﻌﻼﻗﺔ ﻓﯿﻤﺎ ﻛﺎن ﻣﻦ ﺑﺎب اﻷدب ﺗﻜﻮن ﻣﻊ اﻟﻨﺎس ﺑﻌﻀﮭﻢ ﻣﻊ ﺑﻌﺾ‪ ،‬ﻓﺈذا أﺳﻘﻂ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﺣﻘﮫ ﻓﻘﺪ‬
‫ﺑﺮئ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﻣﻨﮫ‪ ،‬وﻣﺎ ﻛﺎن ﻣﻦ ﺑﺎب اﻟﻌﺒﺎدة ﻓﺈن اﻟﻌﻼﻗﺔ ﺗﻜﻮن ﺑﯿﻦ اﻟﻨﺎس وﺑﯿﻦ ﷲ ﻋﺰ وﺟﻞ‪ .‬ﺛﻢ ﻣﺜﻞ ﻟﻸﻣﺮ اﻟﺬي ﺟﺎء ﻓﻲ ﺑﺎب‬
‫اﻷدب ﺑﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﺘﻔﻖ ﻋﻠﯿﮫ ﻋﻦ أﺑﻲ ھﺮﯾﺮة ﻣﺮﻓﻮﻋﺎ‪ ":‬إذا ﻧﺘﻌﻞ أﺣﺪﻛﻢ ﻓﻠﯿﺒﺪأ ﺑﺎﻟﯿﻤﯿﻦ وإذا ﻧﺰع ﻓﻠﯿﺒﺪأ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﻤﺎل‪ ،‬ﻓﻠﺘﻜﻦ اﻟﯿﻤﻨﻰ أوﻟﮭﻤﺎ‬
‫‪".‬ﯾﻨﺘﻌﻞ وآﺧﺮ ﻣﺎ ﯾﻨﺰع‬

‫ﻣﻨﻈﻮﻣﺔ أﺻﻮل اﻟﻔﻘﮫ وﻗﻮاﻋﺪه ﻣﻊ ﺷﺮﺣﮭﺎ ﻟﻠﺸﯿﺦ اﺑﻦ ﻋﺜﯿﻤﯿﻦ رﺣﻤﮫ ﷲ ص ‪105-103‬‬

‫‪Dare I say, for the same reason, many Shafi'iee jurists did not understand the Hadith about‬‬
‫‪keeping the beard to be Wajib , and they did not consider shaving the beard "haram", but they‬‬
‫‪encouraged the beard and discouraged shaving.‬‬

‫‪For example, Imam Ramli says in his Fatawa that shaving the beard is not Haram, it's makroh:‬‬

‫وﻗﺎل اﻟﺮﻣﻠﻲ اﻟﺸﺎﻓﻌﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻓﺘﺎواه )‪» :(69|4‬ﺣﻠﻖ ﻟﺤﯿﺔ اﻟﺮﺟﻞ وﻧﺘﻔﮭﺎ ﻣﻜﺮوه ﻻ ﺣﺮام‪ .‬وﻗﻮل اﻟﺤﻠﯿﻤﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﮭﺎﺟﮫ‪" :‬ﻻ ﯾﺤﻞ ﻷﺣﺪ‬
‫»أن ﯾﺤﻠﻖ ﻟﺤﯿﺘﮫ وﻻ ﺣﺎﺟﺒﯿﮫ"‪ ،‬ﺿﻌﯿﻒ‬

‫‪Moses was sent with 10 commandments - according to Ahl al-Kitaab.‬‬

‫‪If we take everything in the Quran and Sunnah as a commandment/obligation, we are basically‬‬
‫!‪saying that our Prophet was sent with 100,000 commandments‬‬

‫‪This religion is ease.‬‬