al_etidaal_gn

Now if a man strives in Ibaadah and also shows courage in the performance of good
deeds, while on the other hand he does not have intelligence to follow and partake of the
lawful things and to avoid the unlawful, he is of those whose efforts prove to be fruitless
in this world even though they think they are doing good.
It should be well understood that to take something to be unlawful while it has already
been made lawful by Allah, indeed shows lack of reason in the sight of the deen.
Similarly when one acts narrow-mindedly in deen or tries to amend or alter the teachings
of deen, this also shows lack of reason. Such persons do not act rationally.
The author of Bahjat-un-Nufoos writes: “If a person discerns from himself that his
Ibaadah should reach perfection in every aspect, he will be unable to do so for two
reasons, one of which is that he will be helpless to do so. Secondly, sometimes, or, rather
on most occasions, there will be an accumulation of Ibaadah in which case he will only
be able to discharge one of them properly.”
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
“Whosoever tires his animal of conveyance will not be able to cross the distance nor
keep his transport animal intact.”
The Hadeeth quoted by the author of “Bahjat” is a portion of a longer Hadeeth which has
been reported by many Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum). Allamah Sakhawi (Rahmatullah
Alayh) quotes it as one of the famous (Mush-hoor) Hadeeth. Some other Ulema of
Hadeeth have questioned the authenticity thereof. The complete Hadeeth goes like this:-
‘Verily this religion is a thing most consoli&ited and strong; so walk along its path
gently for verily whosoever tires his animal of conveyance, will not be atle to cross the
distance (and reach his destination) nor keep his transport animal intact and safe (for
flaure journeys).”
Hence in a Hadeeth quoted previously we are told:
“So walk a straight path therein, following it closely...”
In other words: walk at a moderate pace. Do not over-exaggerate the commendable acts
of deen, viz, those which are tnandoob or mustahab, to such an extent that the Faraaid i.e.
the obligatory acts become neglected.
Once Sayyidina Umar (Radiallahu anhu) missed Sayyidina Sulayman bin Abi-Hath-ma
(Radiallahu anhu) in the masjid for Fajr Salaah. After the prayers he went to the market
and in doing so, had to pass his shop. He entered it and said to Sulayman’s mother: “I did
not see Sulayman in the masjid for Fajr this morning. How is it?”
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 48