Following the Messenger of Allah is a Must
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Dr. Mustafa as-Siba'i
The Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam) used to take the ruling on different matters in their
lives from the Qur’aan, which they use to learn from
Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). In many
instances, the aayaat (verses) of the Qur’aan treat a subject
in a general manner without a specific condition. Sometimes
the aayaat will come as an absolute ruling without any
precondition or limitation required by time, place, etc. As an
example of what came in a general way in the Qur’aan is
the Salaat. The Qur’aan does not mention how many
Rak`ahs (units of prayer) we should make, or how to
physically move during prayer, or the time for prayer.
Similarly, the Qur’aan does not mention the minimum
amount of money to have before giving Zakaat (charity) or
the conditions by which to pay it. Many of our `Ibaadaat
cannot be performed without stopping at the explanations
related to the regulations, pillars, and conditions of
nullification. It is thus a must to return to Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to know the rules in a
comprehensive and clear manner.
Many times, the Companions faced incidents in which the
Qur’aan which had no ruling, and there was a need to
return to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to know
the ruling of such matters. It was the Prophet who was
ordered by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) teach humanity,
and it is the Prophet who is the most knowledgeable of
mankind about that which Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa
expects from us.
Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) has told us about the duty of
Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) with respect to
the Qur’aan, where Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said:
"And We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that
thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them,
and that they may give thought." [Qur’aan 16:44]
Allah also made it clear to us that the duty of Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is to clarify the truth to people
when there is a dispute:
"And We sent down the Book to thee for the express
purpose, that thou shouldst make clear to them those things
in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a
mercy to those who believe." [Qur’aan 16:64]
We are obligated to follow any ruling by Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in any dispute:
"But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they
make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in
their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept
them with the fullest conviction." [Qur’aan 4:65]
Allah also mentioned that Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi
wa sallam) was given the Qur’aan and Wisdom to teach
people the regulations of their religion:
"Allah did confer a great favour on the believers when He
sent among them an apostle from among themselves,
rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them,
and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before
that, they had been in manifest error." [Qur’aan 3:164]
Regarding the last aayah, most scholars and those of great
knowledge said that the wisdom mentioned in the aayah
means another thing besides the Qur’aan. It is what Allah
subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa has given Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam) from the knowledge of matters and
regulations that the rest of humanity can not attain. Imaam
Ash-Shaafi`ee rahimahullaahhas said that "Allah
subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa has mentioned the scripture which
is the Qur’aan, and he mentioned wisdom and I have
learned from the people of knowledge that the wisdom here
is the Sunnah of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam).
It is from the mercy of Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) that
He has sent to us a way to practice what is in the Qur’aan."
Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) did not stop by saying
scripture only, but the inclusion of the Sunnah with the
Qur’aan is an indication of its important and the obligation on
us to follow it as we have to follow the Qur’aan. Imaam
Ash-Shaafi`ee goes on saying that the letter 'wa' ('and'
between Scripture and Wisdom in the aayah) is a letter of
conjunctions in Arabic which requires that the two parts it
joins must be different otherwise the sentence will be
redundant, and Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) is far away
from that; na`oodhu billaah. And so when Allah
(subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said that he has conferred a great
favor on the believers, He does not confer anything that is
not correct and truthful. Therefore, this wisdom must be
followed as the Qur’aan, and Allah (subhaanahu wa
ta`aalaa) has never ordered us to follow anything but Him
and His messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). Which
must mean that this wisdom is what came from Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in the form of rules and
sayings regarding legislation.
To clarify the concept of Sunnah and our obligation to follow
it, Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) said:
"Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet,
whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the
law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and
forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is
good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and
impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and
from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who
believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light
which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper."
[Qur’aan 7:157]
Because this teaching is mentioned in general in this aayah,
then it must include the rules in the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
A very strong indicator of the obligation upon us to follow the
Sunnah can be found in this aayah:
"...And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam)) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he
forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is
severe in punishment." [Qur’aan 59:7]
Allah has also made the obedience of Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) in conjunction with the
obedience to Him:
"And obey Allah and the Messenger, that ye may obtain
mercy." [Qur’aan 3:132]
We are asked by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) to answer
any order by Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam):
"O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His
Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you
life." [Qur’aan 8:24]
Allah made the obedience of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu
`alayhi wa sallam) an obedience to Him, and following
Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) an indication of
the love of Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa:
"He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah." [Qur’aan 4:80]
"Say: If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and
forgive you sins." [Qur’aan 3:31]
And Allah subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa warrned us from not
following the instructions of Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi
wa sallam):
"Then let those beware who withstand the Messenger’s
order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous penalty be
inflicted on them." [Qur’aan 24:63]
Not only that, but Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) told us that
disobeying Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) is
Kufr (disbelief):
"Say: Obey Allah and His Messenger.: But if they turn back,
Allah loveth not those who reject Faith." [Qur’aan 3:32]
It was never allowed by Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) that
a believer disobey Rasoolullaah (sallallaahu `alayhi wa
sallam) order:
"It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter
has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any
option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and
His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path."
[Qur’aan 33:36]
To show that not following the ruling of Rasoolullaah
(sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) when a dispute occurs is a
sign of hypocrisy, Allah (subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa) says:
"They say, We believe in Allah and in the apostle, and we
obey; but even after that, some of them turn away; they are
not (really) Believers. When they are summoned to Allah
and His apostle, in order that He may judge between them,
behold some of them decline (to come)....The answer of the
Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in
order that He may judge between them, is no other than
this: they say, "We hear and we obey"; it is such as these
that will attain felicity." [Qur’aan 24:47-51]
Courtesy Of: Islaam.com
