BENEFIT 520: The meaning of Ḍimāmāh’s statement: “I shall neither add to this nor subtract from it.”

Abūl-ʿAbbās Al-Qurṭubī said, as cited in Al-Mufhim (1/159): It has been said that its meaning is: I shall not alter the prescribed obligations mentioned, neither by adding to them nor by reducing them. It is not valid to say that its meaning is: I shall not perform anything in addition to these mentioned obligations, whether from the supererogatory acts or from other obligations, should they later be prescribed, for it would not be permissible for him to say such a thing or to hold such a belief, as that would be reprehensible; and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him and upon his family and companions—would not approve of anything like that.