Following the Messenger of Allah is a Must
by Dr. Mustafa as-Siba'I
The Sunnah and its Position in the Islamic Sharee`ah
As-Sunnah wa Makaanatuhaa fit-Tashree` al-Islaamee
Translated by: Ahmed M. Hashim
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]
source: http://www.islaam.com |