engage in it as an act of devotion to Allah; for if someone worships Allah with a practice He does not approve of and has never legislated for His servants, that person is, in effect, mocking Allah—may Allah protect us from such a state.

Some scholars have gone so far as to say that a person who deliberately performs the prayer while in a state of ritual impurity thereby leaves Islam, because his deed constitutes open mockery. The forgetful worshipper, however, bears no sin, though he must repeat the prayer.

In the second wording of the ḥadīth—“Whoever performs an act for which we have not given permission, it will be rejected”—the phrasing is even stronger than the first. By declaring, “Whoever performs an act for which we have not given permission,” the Prophet ﷺ makes it obligatory for us to verify that every deed we undertake rests on a directive from Allah and His Messenger; otherwise it is rejected. This ruling covers both devotional acts and financial transactions. Thus, if a person concludes an invalid sale, contracts an invalid pledge, or establishes an invalid endowment, all of it is null and void, rejected and unenforceable. Allah knows best.

***

170 – Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a sermon, his eyes would redden, his voice would rise, and his anger would intensify, as though he were a warner to an army, saying, “Morning has come upon you; evening has come upon you!” He would also say, “I and the Hour have been sent like these two,” joining his index and middle fingers. Then he would proclaim, “To proceed: the best discourse is the Book of Allah; the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ; the worst matters are those newly introduced, and every innovation is misguidance.” He would further say, “I am nearer to every believer than he is to himself. Whoever leaves wealth, it goes to his heirs; and whoever leaves debt or dependents, then it is upon me and I am responsible for them.” Narrated by Muslim.