We Hear and We Obey
Imām Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn
If a prohibition reaches you, then refrain from it, and ask not whether it is impermissible or disliked. Likewise, if a command reaches you, then act accordingly and ask not whether it is obligated or recommended. When the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) were commanded by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) they would not say, “O Messenger of Allāh, did you mean it to be an obligation or was it a recommendation?” Rather they would carry out the commandment instantly.
My advice to every believer is that if a commandment from the commandments of Allāh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) reaches them, they say: “We hear and we obey”, and they carry out that commandment. Likewise, if they hear a prohibition, they say: “We hear and we obey” and they abstain, and take not any risks. The most compliant to the commandments of Allāh are indeed the strongest of people in faith.
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allāh (His Words, the Qurʾān) and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to judge between them, is that they say: “We hear and we obey.” And such are the prosperous ones (who will live forever in Paradise).
(An-nur, 24:51)