engaged in this should counsel him and say, “This is not sanctioned; it is an innovation (bidʿah),” so that people do not imagine that stones can bestow benefit or inflict harm and then allow their hearts to cling to them in matters graver still.

The Commander of the Believers ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—made it plain that he only touched the Black Stone in imitation of the Prophet ﷺ; otherwise he knew full well that the stone can neither benefit nor harm. This shows that complete devotion consists in submitting oneself to Allah, whether or not one knows the reason and wisdom behind a ruling.

Accordingly, when the believer is told, “Do such-and-such,” he should respond, “We hear and we obey.” If he also grasps the underlying wisdom, that is light upon light; if he does not, then the very wisdom lies in the command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

For this reason Allah says: “It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice about their affair” (Al-Aḥzāb 33:36).

ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—was asked why a menstruating woman must make up her fasts but not her prayers. She replied, “That used to befall us, and we were commanded to make up the fasts but were not commanded to make up the prayers.” It is as though she were saying that the believer’s duty is to act upon the Sacred Law, whether or not he comprehends its wisdom—and that is what is correct.

We ask Allah to grant us and you adherence to the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, to cause us to die upon it, and to gather us in his company. He is indeed Most Generous and Bountiful.