Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] in the light of Qur'an
O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him (i.e. Messenger Muhammad
) while you are hearing.
(Sura 8. Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 20)
Ibn Kathir explains: Allah commands His believing servants to obey Him and His Messenger and warns them against defying him and imitating the disbelievers who reject him. Allah said,
(and turn not away from him...), neither refrain from obeying him or following his commands nor indulge in what he forbade,
(while you are hearing.) after you gained knowledge of his Message,
And perform
As*Salat (
Iqamat*as*Salat), and give
Zakat and obey the Messenger (Muhammad
) that you may receive mercy (from Allah).
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 56)
He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad
), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad
) as a watcher over them.
(Chapter 4. Surah An-Nisa', Verse 80)
We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allah's Leave.
(Chapter 4. Surah An-Nisa', Verse 64)
And obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad
) that you may obtain mercy.
(Chapter 3. Surah Al-Imran, Verse 132)
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad
), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (
), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.
(Chapter 4. Surah An-Nisa' , Verse 59)
Explanation:
Ibn Kathir explains:
(And those of you who are in authority) in the obedience to Allah which they command you, not what constitutes disobedience of Allah, for there is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Allah, as we mentioned in the authentic Hadīth,
«إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ»
(Obedience is only in righteousness.)
But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad
) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.
(Chapter 4.Surah An-Nisa' , Verse 65)
O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad
) and render not vain your deeds.
(Chapter 47. Surah Muhammad, Verse 33)
And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad
) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.
(Chapter 59. Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 7)
2. The successful ones are those who obey Allah and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]
And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (
), fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones.
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 52)
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur'an) and His Messenger ([Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]), 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).
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 51)
And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger ([Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]) he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise).
(Chapter 33. Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 71)
and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad
) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.
(Chapter 4.Surah An-Nisa' , Verse13)
3. Deeds performed according to the commands of Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] will receive full reward.
But if you obey Allah and His Messenger (
), He will not decrease anything in reward for your deeds. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Chapter 49. Surah Al-Hujuraat, Verse 14)
4. Forgiveness of sins is conditional to the obedience or following of the Messenger of Allah [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]
5. Allah's Love is Attained by Following the Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]
Say (O Muhammad
to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the
Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Chapter 3. Surah Al-Imran, Verse 31)
Ibn Kathir explains:This honorable Ayah judges against those who claim to love Allah, yet do not follow the way of Muhammad [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] . Such people are not true in their claim until they follow the Shari`ah (Law) of Muhammad [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] and his religion in all his statements, actions and conditions.
6. Whoever Obeys Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] Will Be Honored by Allah (swt)
7.Those who obey Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] Will Be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace
8.Those who obey Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] Will Be among the prophets,the Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As*Siddiq ), the martyrs, and the righteous
9.Those who obey Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] Will Be with the excellent companions
And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad
), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the
Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As*Siddiq ), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!
(Chapter 4.Surah An-Nisa' , Verse 69)
10. Inspite of declaring of faith in Allah (swt) and His Messenger there are some people who do not actively obey the commands of Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] such people are not believers
They (hypocrites) say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger (Muhammad
), and we obey," then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers. And when they are called to Allah (i.e. His Words, the Qur'an) and His Messenger (
), to judge between them, lo! a party of them refuse (to come) and turn away.
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 47-48)
11. Referring to Other than the Qur'an and Sunnah for Judgment is Characteristic of Non-Muslims
And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad
)," you (Muhammad
) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad
) with aversion.
(Chapter 4.Surah An-Nisa' , verse 61)
Ibn Kathir explains Allah chastises those who claim to believe in what Allah has sent down to His Messenger and to the earlier Prophets, yet they refer to other than the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger for judgment in various disputes.
This is different from the conduct of the faithful believers, whom Allah describes as,
{إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا}
(The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: ``We hear and we obey.'')
Say (O Muhammad
): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad
)." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.
(Chapter 3. Surah Al-Imran, Verse 32)
12. The results of not obeying Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] are confusion, quarrel and enmity.
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are
As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).
(Chapter 8. Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 46)
13. There is no option in the religion of Islam to act upon the order of another in the presence of the command of the Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam]
14. Disobedience of Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] is going astray.
It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.
(Chapter 33.Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 36)
15. Those who disobey Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] are themselves to be blamed.
And obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad
), and beware (of even coming near to drinking or gambling or
Al*Ansab, or
Al*Azlam, etc.) and fear Allah. Then if you turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger's duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest way.
(Chapter 5. Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 92)
Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad
), but if you turn away, then the duty of Our Messenger is only to convey (the Message) clearly.
(Chapter 64. Surah Al-Taghabun, Verse12)
Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad
) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 54)
16. The penalty for disobedience of the commands of Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] is painful torment
And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad
), He will admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow (Paradise); and whosoever turns back, He will punish him with a painful torment.
(Chapter 48. Surah Al-Fath, Verse 17)
17. Avoidance of the commands of Allah (swt) and His Messenger [Salla Allahu Aleihi Wassalam] under some pretext is liable to a grievous penalty.
Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad
) among you as your calling of one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter (of some excuse without taking the permission to leave, from the Messenger
). And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad
) commandment (i.e. his
Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
(Chapter 24. Surah An-Nur, Verse 63)
From:The Book of following the Prophet's Path, compiled by Muhammad Iqbal Kailani; Baitussalam,Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.