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Fatwa Center'Allaah has ordained obligations so do not abandon them'
Question
There is a Hadeeth in which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allaah Has Ordained obligations so do not abandon them, and He Has Set limits so do not exceed them, and He Has Remained Silent regarding certain things out of mercy to you, not forgetfulness, so do not pursue them.” Please, could you explain this Hadeeth? What does the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mean by such things that we should not pursue?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
"And He Has Remained Silent regarding certain things out of mercy to you, not forgetfulness, so do not pursue them." It was narrated by Abu Tha‘labah 
that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allaah Has Ordained obligations so do not abandon them, and He Has Set limits so do not exceed them, and He Has Prohibited (certain) things so do not violate them, and He Has Left (certain) things (unmentioned) out of mercy to you, not forgetfulness, so do not pursue them.” [At-Tabaraani, Ad-Daaraqutni and other narrators]
This Hadeeth means that what Allaah The Almighty Ordained is an obligation that must not be abandoned, and what He Has Prohibited must not be violated.
According to Al-Haafith Ibn Rajab 
“Set limits” refers to the obligations and favorable acts as well as what is permissible. “So do not exceed them” means do not exceed these (lawful acts) and commit what is prohibited.
As for “and He Has Left (certain) things (unmentioned)” refers to the things that are not defined under Sharee‘ah as lawful or unlawful, so do not pursue such matters. Concerning “so do not pursue them,” Al-Haafith Ibn Rajab said:
This might indicate that such prohibition is restricted to the era of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, because frequently asking about matters which have not been specified by a ruling may be a reason for the revelation of a verse that might imply hardship upon people, either making it permissible or forbidden. However, it might include the general meaning. Asking too much about what has not been mentioned of obligatory or forbidden matters might lead some people to believe in its obligation or prohibition, as it might be similar to some obligations or prohibitions. Therefore, accepting being pardoned in this regard and not pursuing it is better. There are two opinions regarding pursuing matters which have not been particularly or generally specified as lawful or unlawful:
First, contemplating such matters as they are included in the indications of the sound Sharee‘ah texts, and that is according to sound understanding, signification, and clear-cut analogy. It will be correct to do so.
Second, someone may contemplate thoughtfully about the remote differences and then go on differentiating between two similar matters with a slight difference that has no clear proof in the Sharee‘ah. Such discussion is neither acceptable nor praiseworthy.
Amongst the matters that one must not pursue deep knowledge about are the unseen matters which Allaah The Almighty Made obligatory upon us to believe in without explaining their real nature.
Allaah Knows best.
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