Jimāʿ al-ʿIlm - Al-Shafi'i - (54)

Jimāʿ al-ʿIlmAl-Shafi'i

This shows that when the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—possessed authority, certain matters were unique to him: some things were made lawful for him while remaining unlawful for others, and some were forbidden to him while permissible for the rest. For that reason he said, “Let no people hold anything against me that pertains solely to me—whether it be a privilege granted to me alone or an obligation laid upon me alone. If it is mine exclusively, let them not reproach me for it.”

498 – Take, for example, Allah—exalted is He—permitting him to marry as many women as He willed and to take in marriage a woman who offered herself to him. Allah says, “A privilege for you alone, not for the other believers” (33:50). Therefore no one may object, saying, “The Messenger of Allah joined more than four wives,” or “He married a woman without a dowry,” or “He selected a choice portion from the spoils.” All of this belonged to the Messenger of Allah alone, because Allah—exalted is He—made it clear in His Book and on the tongue of His Messenger that such matters were exclusive to him.

499 – Likewise, Allah obligated him to give his wives the choice between staying with him or parting from him. No one can therefore claim, “I, too, must give my wife that choice,” for the obligation was placed upon the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—alone.

500 – This, then, is the import of the Prophet’s words, if indeed he spoke them: “Let no people hold anything against me, for I declare nothing lawful for them except what Allah has made lawful, and I forbid them only what Allah has forbidden.”

501 – Such was exactly the practice of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him. That is what he was commanded to do, and it was made obligatory upon him to follow what had been revealed to him. We bear witness that he did so.

502 – In matters for which no specific revelation came, Allah—exalted is He—has nevertheless mandated in the revelation itself that his sunnah be followed. Whoever accepts something from him does so only in obedience to an obligation laid down by Allah—exalted is He.

503 – Allah the Most High says, “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain” (59:7).

يدل على أن رسول الله ﷺ إذا كان بموضع القدرة فقد كانت له خواص أبيح له فيها ما لم يبح للناس وحرم عليه منها ما لم يحرم على الناس فقال: لا يمسكن الناس علي بشيء من الذي لي أو علي دونهم فإن كان علي ولي دونهم لا يمسكن به. ٤٩٨ - وذلك مثل أن الله – Exalté soit-Il – إذا أحل له من عدد النساء ما شاء وأن يستنكح المرأة إذا وهبت نفسها له قال الله تعالى: ﴿خَالِصَةً لَكَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾ [الأحزاب: من الآية٥٠] فلم يكن لأحد أن يقول قد جمع رسول الله ﷺ بين أكثر من أربع ونكح رسول الله ﷺ امرأة بغير مهر وأخذ رسول الله ﷺ صفيا من المغانم وكان لرسول الله ﷺ لأن الله – Exalté soit-Il – قد بين في كتابه وعلى لسان رسوله ﷺ أن ذلك له دونهم. ٤٩٩ - وفرض الله عليه أن يخير أزواجه في المقام معه والفراق فلم يكن لأحد أن يقول علي أن أخير امرأتي على ما فرض الله – Exalté soit-Il – على رسوله ﷺ. ٥٠٠ - وهذا معنى قول النبي ﷺ إن كان قاله: "لا يمسكن الناس علي بشيء فإني لا أحل لهم إلا ما أحل الله ولا أحرم عليهم إلا ما حرم الله". ٥٠١ - وكذلك صنع رسول الله ﷺ وبذلك أمره وافترض عليه أن يتبع ما أوحى إليه ونشهد أن قد اتبعه. ٥٠٢ - فما لم يكن فيه وحي فقد فرض الله – Exalté soit-Il – في الوحي اتباع سنته فيه فمن قبل عنه فإنما قبل بفرض الله – Exalté soit-Il –. ٥٠٣ - قال الله (تعالى): ﴿وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا﴾ [الحشر:٧] .