An Analysis on the Attribution of Acts Mentioned in the Statements of the Companions Saying 'We Used to Do So' to the Prophet Muhammad

Abstract

The Prophet Muhammad prohibited certain cultural practices from the pre-Islamic era that were contrary to the objectives of Islam, permitted some, and allowed others with modifications. This approach transformed cultural elements into formats aligned with the purposes of the Sunnah. Thus, distinguishing between cultural practices and those originating from the Sunnah or Hadith is significant. Evaluating the statements of the Companions, such as "We used to do so" or "We used to say," from this perspective is crucial to determine whether they refer to the actions or words of the Prophet, the practices of the Companions themselves, or traditional/cultural elements. Therefore, debates have arisen concerning whether the Companions' statements, such as "We used to do so, say so, or think so," serve as evidence of the Prophet’s Sunnah and whether the Hadiths implied by these statements are classified as marfû‘ (attributed to the Prophet) or mawqûf (attributed to the Companions). These discussions also extend to whether certain actions of the Companions, aside from the Prophet’s Hadiths, can be categorized as part of the Sunnah. Additionally, it is considered that some actions of the Companions may have originated from the pre-Islamic era, even if rarely. The lack of clarification in these statements regarding whether the actions referenced are attributed to the Prophet’s Sunnah, to the Companions themselves, or to pre-Islamic practices has led to disputes. Hence, this study aims to determine whether the actions mentioned in the Companions' statements, such as "We used to do so, say so, or think so," can be attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and whether they also reference certain cultural elements from the pre-Islamic era.