Don't be distracted by little things, losing sight of the main message!

Don't Be Distracted by Little Things, Losing Sight of the Main Message

Stop discussing the little stuff. Stop paying so much attention to the details that don't matter. If we take Salah as an example, how much debate goes on about raising your hands in Salah, not raising your hands, the placement of the hands.

But how much discussion goes into the center of Salah, which is Al-Khushu'. This makes the difference between a Salah that is accepted by Allah and draws one closer to Allah, and a Salah which is the Salah of a hypocrite. Whereas if I place my hands here or here or here, my Salah is accepted by Allah.

So we end up focusing and debating on the small stuff. We forget the central concept Allah wants us to take.

Throwing Stones in the Dark

Allah says here: don't throw stones in the dark. If this is a dark room and I have to hit a target and I try to hit the target, I'm going to miss — because there's no light. I don't know what I'm talking about. I don't know where I'm throwing.

Similarly, when we debate about detailed things in this deen that we have no knowledge of — things that are not the central, important things in this deen — we are throwing stones in the dark.

The Guidance of Surah Al-Kahf

Allah says: when such a discussion comes up, what should you say?

"Allah knows best." I have no knowledge. Do not debate about these things — except a tiny bit. Allah gives a little bit of margin: don't go beyond this. Don't even ask for a fatwa. Don't ask anybody for their opinion about this. Move on. This is not important.

How many people were in the cave? Not important.