Apart from the Hadith 1 and the Hadith 5, the acceptance of our actions can also be found in Surah AlKahf (18): ayat 110:
Whoever looks forward to meeting his Sustainer (on Day of Judgement), let him do righteous deeds, and let him not ascribe unto anyone or anything a share in the worship due to his Sustainer.
Emulating and following the footprints of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, is a Qur’anic obligation. Allah, the Almighty Allah says:
Verily, in the apostle of God you have the best example to emulate for everyone who looks forward (with hope and awe) to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah unceasingly. [Surah Al-Ahzab (33): ayat 21].
Say (O Prophet): “If you love Allah, follow me, (and) Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.
Lessons
This narration is related to a very significant concept which is following the Sunnah and violating this concept will lead to bida’ah( innovation) [which will be discussed in detail, insha Allah, in Hadith 28].
Scholars put deeds of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, into actions done for the purpose of Ibadah (worshiping Allah) and actions which are not done for that purpose (i.e. customs, actions done haphazardly, etc.). There are obvious indicators for actions done for the purpose of Ibadah such as commands to do or not to do something, warnings for not doing something, etc.
Muslims are only obliged and expected to follow the first kind of Sunnah. Looking at it in a positive way, the actions (i.e.forms of ibadah) that we do should be done in accordance with the Shariah( Islamic ruling) or the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, and to ensure this there is a criterion consisting of five parts that will keep our actions on track:
i. Time
Any ibadah that we do has to be done in it’s designated or specific time. E.g. There are fixed period of times during the day for the five prayers. For fasting, the month for fasting is Ramadhan. The period that we can fast is from fajr till the sun sets. Invariably, there is a specified time in the year when we can perform the Hajj – from the 8 to the 12 Zulhijjah.
ii. Place
The Shariah has specified that certain ibadahs have to be performed in designated locations. E.g. The places for performing the Hajj, I’tikaf, doing Ihram for Hajj have been specified by
the Shariah and this is something which is sometimes violated by Muslims, e.g. doing the Ihram (starting talbiyyah and niyyah for Hajj) in Jeddah is incorrect.
iii. Quantity
For most of the ibadahs the Shariah has specified a certain number of times that the ibadahs or their components need to be carried out. E.g. For prayers, there are specified number of rakaahs and sujud and for Tawaf there is a fixed number of circumambulations (7), etc. We should not go contrary to these rules intentionally. To go against them intentionally may make the ibadah subject to be rejected. We should as much as possible emulate the perfect traits of our beloved Prophet Mohammed may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.
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