Translation: Abu Ubayy Sharif Hamzah
Questioner: What was the Messenger of Allaah's job in Madeenah?
Dr Sharaf: All praise to Allaah; the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - did not engage in marabout practices.
For you to now say: Look we are just imitating the Prophet (by engaging in marabout pratices), (this is misplaced).
When did the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - go with some people to recite Qur'aan in the house of someone? Where did the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - order people to come to him to know what their future hold for them? Where did the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - say bring your back, let me make an incision of protection on it??
The Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - said; "my provisions have been placed under the shadow of my sword" which means the Prophet was a warrior. He made money from (fighting in) battles.
Before he became a Prophet, you know he was a trader and he also engaged in livestock rearing; but after he became a Prophet, his only means of income was battle be it (unclear word) or Ghanima (spoils of war).
But (as for eating) from charity (the voluntary or Obligatory), the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - would not do that, to the extent that the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - did not eat a date he saw on the roadside. Why? The Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - said he feared lest it was from the dates collected as Zakat; he was afraid the date he saw on the roadside fell from a collection of Zakaah.
It was haram upon the Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - and his household to eat from charity yet some marabouts will now say they eat from charity because the Messenger of Allaah - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam did.
Audhubillaah!! The Prophet - sallallaahu alahyi wa sallam - did not eat from charity.
That's just that.
(Source: Q&A session on the tape: Islaam and Sunnah).
