Following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

The Holy Quran and the Hadith are the base of Islamic law.  The Holy Quran is the divine code and a complete way of life, the details of which are given in the Hadith.  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

We have revealed to you the Glorious Reminder (the Quran) so that you may explain clearly to people (the message and the commandments) that have been sent down to them and that they may meditate.  Surah Nahl (16:44)

 

The Holy Quran gives the command of establishing Salaat and giving Zakaat.  It also mentions the obligation of fasting and the command of Hajj.  However, the details of Salaat like the number of Salaat, etc. have not been mentioned in the Holy Quran, the amount of wealth which obligates Zakaat is not mentioned, the commendable and undesirable and the different articles of Hajj have not been mentioned in the Holy Quran.  Almighty Allah has left all these details to His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Lord Almighty has decreed that the actions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) should be the Shariah.  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

In truth, in (the sacred person of) Allah’s Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) there is for you a most perfect and beautiful model (of life) for every such person that expects and aspires to (meeting) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly.  Surah Ahzaab (33:21)

 

It is mentioned in Surah Hashr:

 

And whatever the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) gives you, take that and whatever he forbids you, abstain (from that) and keep fearing Allah (i.e., never scoff at the Messenger’s distribution and award). Surely, Allah is Severe to punish.  Surah Hashr (59:7)

 

Almighty Allah has not only expressed the authority of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the importance of whatever He says but has also made it obvious that there is no question of any reservations before the command of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Whatever He says is the final word.  Whatever He decrees is the ultimate judgment.  Thus, Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

And neither a believing man nor a believing woman has (this) right that, when Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) have given judgment (or a command) about an affair, they should exercise their own choice in (doing or not doing that) work of theirs. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) certainly loses his way into open error.  Surah Ahzaab (33:36)

 

Allah Most High has sent the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as the Prophet and has declared obeying Him and following Him as compulsory.  His words have been declared as proof and his actions as Sunnah.  His life has been declared the perfect ideal for the whole universe.  Almighty Allah has declared obedience to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as obedience to Himself. 

 

Obedience to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is obedience to Allah Most High

 

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

Whoever obeys the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) obeys (but) Allah indeed, but he who turns away, then We have not sent you to watch over them.  Surah Nisa (4:80)

 

Every human being desires that he/she should stride forward on the path of progress, that he/she gains what is good and his/her life remains blissful.  Along with all this, for a Muslim, acquiring the true belief of Islam and performing good deeds is also necessary.  For this, he/she should obey and follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  It is only on this basis that a person will be successful in this world and the next. 

 

Following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) – Sign of Allah’s love

 

The Jews and Christians had claimed that they are the beloved of Almighty Allah.  The Holy Quran clarified that this claim will be considered true if and only if they follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

(O Beloved!) Say: If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will then take you as (His) beloved, and forgive you your sins for you, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.  Surah Ale Imran (3:31)

 

In this verse of the Holy Quran love and obedience have been mentioned and these are those 2 things which are enough for the progress of this world and the hereafter and to acquire all that is good in this world.

 

Every Muslim desires that he/she should love Almighty Allah and seek His pleasure and approval.  But this love is one-sided and incomplete as long as one doesn’t act on the demands of love and doesn’t follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

In the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has declared the demand of love to obey the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), to follow Him each and every moment of his/her life and acquire His sacred manners so that each and every step that we take is raised in the light of the life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Because of the blessings of this, Almighty Allah will take that person as His beloved.  The aforementioned verse makes it clear that the person who acquires the habits, customs and manners of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) becomes the beloved of Almighty Allah.  Almighty Allah treats that person with such mercy that He forgives all the sins of that person.  Almighty Allah says in the immediate next verse:

 

Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him). But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.  Surah Ale Imran (3:32)

 

In this verse of the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has ordered the obedience of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) along with His own obedience.  A Muslim has been ordered to obey Almighty Allah and at the same time, has been ordered to follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as well.  This is because obedience to Almighty Allah is possible only through following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  If a Muslim truly has the love of Allah Most High in his/her heart, then he/she will fulfill the demand of following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as well.  If someone turns away from following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), then it will be as if that person doesn’t truly love Allah Most High.  That person claims the love of Almighty Allah but isn’t providing any proof for that love.  That person is expressing the love of Almighty Allah but isn’t fulfilling the conditions of that love and because of this that person will be considered to be dissing the bounties of Almighty Allah.

 

Following the Sunnah – The examples set by the Companions

 

Just have a look at how the Companions expressed their obedience to Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and what value the blessed words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) held with them.  The following Hadith of Sahih Muslim helps us in realizing this:

 

The Companions were present with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  A certain Companion who didn’t know of the prohibition for men wearing gold was wearing a gold ring in his hand.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) expressed His displeasure and asked:  What is this?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) took it off and threw it away.  After people dispersed, someone told this Companion:

 

Translation: Take it and put it to some use.  He said:  By Allah!  I will never take it when the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has thrown it away.  (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Ul Libaas Waz Zeenah, Hadith No. 5593)

 

When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had thrown away that ring, it didn’t mean that the ring itself was bad, but the reason was that in the Shariah, men are prohibited from wearing it.  Buying gold is not forbidden for them and neither is keeping gold, only wearing it is prohibited.  Other Companions had also understood this.  They advised this Companion to take the ring.  The women of the house can wear it or it could’ve been sold and the money could’ve been used to buy something else.  The Shariah permits this and the other Companions also advised him to take the ring and draw some benefit without wearing it.

 

Just look at the faith of the Companion.  What does his love say!  How are his sentiments about following his master!  He said:  By Allah!  I will never take it.  That the Beloved of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) throws it and I take it!  How can this be possible?

 

This Companion didn’t think about the monetary value of the ring and the market value of it.  His devotion answered that how can a thing have any value when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has thrown it.

 

What was the reason for this devotion?  He knew that obedience to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is obedience to Allah and that this obedience is a sure means of gaining the love of Almighty Allah, which will in turn lead us to objective.