quote:

"...As known to people of knowledge, the Sunnah is broken down into Al-Qowliyyah (statements), Al-Fi'liyyah (actions), and At-Taqreeriyyah (approvals). As for As-Sunnah Al-Qowliyyah, then it is easily understood, it is the statements that the Companions reported from him (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). As-Sunnah Al-Fi'liyyah is what they reported regarding his actions (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). As for As-Sunnah At-Taqreeriyyah, it is what the Companions reported about each other, not from his actions (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), but he saw the action and remained silent about it. This silence is not considered from his statements (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), nor from his actions, rather it is his approval. From here, it is appropriate for me that I stress the importance of joining together these two affairs that we have mentioned here. It is not sufficient for any Islaamic group that ascribes to the Truth, claiming to work by the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, that they summarize Islaam to be based only on the Book and the Sunnah. Rather they must also have a clear awareness of how the Companions of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) implemented his Sunnah. There are many, many examples that make the importance of combining of these two affairs easily understood. I have mentioned a conglomeration of them during previous speeches and in my answers to people's questions. Another example has come to me now - verily it is what is found in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, the Sunan of Abee Daawood, and other books, and it comes by more than one route, that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to order his Companions to straighten the lines during the establishment of the prayer. Nu'maan ibn Basheer and others said, "One of us would connect his foot to his companion's foot and his shoulder to his companions shoulder." [9] This is something that actually took place among the Companions; it was how they carried out the order of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) to straighten the rows. There is no uncertainty and no doubt that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) could not possibly have been unaware of what his Companions were doing directly behind him as they followed him in prayer. It was not possible for this consolidation that his Companions practiced to be hidden from him, as they were carrying out his order (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) to straighten and consolidate the rows. For verily, from the amazing things that were specific to him, from his miracles, he was able to see what was behind him just as he could see what was in front of him during the prayer. [10] So if straightening and consolidating the rows in this fashion, connecting the feet and shoulders, had not been legislated, then it would have been takalluf (overburdening oneself, excessiveness). And if it was takalluf, then the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would have forbidden them from it. That is because, as in the authentic hadeeth, he prohibited takalluf. [11] If it is said that maybe it was possible that this was done without his knowledge (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), then I say that the avenues of 'maybe' are very expansive indeed, however this issue we are discussing can not be like that due to two reasons. I have mentioned one of them, that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to see what was behind him just as he could see what was in front of him. The second reason is that if it so happened that he (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) had not witnessed this thing that the Companions were doing behind him in prayer, then verily no secret affair on Earth nor in the Heavens was ever hidden from the Lord of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). So, as I have said about our Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) before, he had no duty other than conveying Allaah's Message. So, firstly and quite decisively, it should be said about the Lord of our Messenger, Blessed and Exalted - If He, the One whom no secret affair on Earth nor in the Heavens is hidden from, did not want to legislate this manner of straightening and consolidating the rows for His believing servants, then He would have ordered His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) to prohibit them from this takalluf. Therefore, it is not befitting for the Muslim to understand his silence (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) about something as anything other than something our Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, was aware of, and, furthermore, Allaah's approval for His Prophet to allow that thing to take place..."