Summary of the concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah
Gradual implementation of commands and prohibitions
This is dictated by wisdom and gentleness towards those being commanded
Gradual approach with them in reform and change
As for one who has spent most of his life in disbelief or transgression
He is not to be asked to change all his violations at once
For he may be unable to do so
Rather, one begins with the most important, then the important
As stated in the hadith of Mu'adh, may Allah be pleased with him
When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent him
to the People of the Book in Yemen
He said to him
"Invite them to testify that there is no god but Allah
and that I am the Messenger of Allah
If they obey that
then inform them that Allah has obligated them
with five prayers each day and night."
The hadith was narrated by Muslim.
Regarding this, Shaykh al-Islam, may Allah have mercy on him, says
Just as one entering Islam
cannot, upon entering
be taught all its laws and commanded to do them all
Likewise, the one who repents from sins
and the student seeking guidance
cannot, at the outset, be commanded with the entirety of the religion
and have all knowledge presented to him
for he would not be able to bear it
And if he cannot bear it
it is not obligatory upon him in that state
And if it is not obligatory
it is not for the scholar or the ruler
to obligate all of it from the start
Rather, they overlook commands and prohibitions
concerning what cannot be known or acted upon
until the time of possibility
And this would not be considered condoning forbidden things
and neglecting to command the obligatory
because obligation and prohibition
are conditional upon the possibility of knowledge and action
Summary of the concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah