Question : Where is the evidence?

[Samiun]

WOW this is an awesome post. I remembered having a discussion with a friend and he told me that following the Prophet :saws: is wrong because you are trying to be perfect and that is contradictory . This is unrelated(maybe), but I kinda have a feeling they're related as it is one of those weird questions. I don't even know how to respond, where to start I was just surprised as such beliefs. Then I said "Well we're TRYING to be like him, as it is impossible to be 100% like him" and he said "Exactly" what does that even mean?

 

[ardianto]

WOW this is an awesome post. I remembered having a discussion with a friend and he told me that following the Prophet :saws: is wrong because you are trying to be perfect and that is contradictory . This is unrelated(maybe), but I kinda have a feeling they're related as it is one of those weird questions. I don't even know how to respond, where to start I was just surprised as such beliefs. Then I said "Well we're TRYING to be like him, as it is impossible to be 100% like him" and he said "Exactly" what does that even mean?

:wa:

You can follow what someone has done, but you cannot change your personality into someone else's personality.

We can follow sunnah. But can we change our personalities into Rasulullah (saw) personality?.

 

[Abz2000]

“Abū Dardāʾ states that once when we were with the Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)*and we were discussing that which was to occur (in the future),
the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) exclaimed,
‘If you hear that a mountain has moved from its place, believe it;
but if you hear that a man’s nature has changed, don’t believe it,
for he remains true to his inborn disposition.

.’حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا وهب بن جرير قال ثنا أبي قال سمعت يونس يحدث عن الزهري ان أبا الدرداء قال : بينما نحن عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم نتذاكر ما يكون إذ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم إذا سمعتم بجبل زال عن مكانه فصدقوا وإذا سمعتم برجل تغير عن خلقه فلا تصدقوا به وانه يصير إلى ما جبل عليه

The chain of the ḥadīth is generally free from criticism due to the soundness of all the narrators of the chain. There is, however, an omission in the chain between Zuhrī and the Companion, Abū DardāʾD, which leaves the*ḥadīth*severed (munqatiʿ) and subject to narrative criticism according to the principles of the*ḥadīth*scholars.Imam Ḥaythamī states: The narrators of the chain are all sound, except that Zuhrī never met Abū Dardāʾ*D. [7/116]Imam Sakhāwī therefore writes in al-Maqāsid: “The narration ismunqatiʿ*(severed).” He claims, however, that the meaning of the narration is supported by a number of witness-reports (shawāḥid): [1/73]


Some understood it in the context of qadr and the fact that things will play out as decreed.
Others have understood it to mean that certain traits of a person remain, they can only convert them to good use in place of bad.
I once heard the example of 'Umar ibn Al Khattab (ra) used,
The narrator explained that he had a harsh personality in jahiliyyah and that did not change in Islam.
He was however able to use it for the sake of Allah.
And Allah knows best.

 

[CalmPassenger]

strange...

 

[Insaanah]

WOW this is an awesome post. I remembered having a discussion with a friend and he told me that following the Prophet :saws: is wrong because you are trying to be perfect and that is contradictory . This is unrelated(maybe), but I kinda have a feeling they're related as it is one of those weird questions. I don't even know how to respond, where to start I was just surprised as such beliefs. Then I said "Well we're TRYING to be like him, as it is impossible to be 100% like him" and he said "Exactly" what does that even mean?

:wasalam:

I wonder whether your friend was slightly influenced by Christian beliefs, where God demands perfection, but humans cannot ever achieve perfection...(there is more detail and it is not just that, but I'm only keeping it to the point of what's needed for this thread, so no clarification/correction required by Christians on board please).

I remembered having a discussion with a friend and he told me that following the Prophet :saws: is wrong

If your friend believes that following the Prophet :saws: is wrong, then he needs to be aware that Allah tells the Prophet :saws: to tell us, in the Qur'an, to follow the prophet :saws:. The verb used, means to follow.

Say, (O Muhammad): "If you love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (3:31)

Allah also says:

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. (33:21)

It is the prophet who we should try to be like. He embodied all the excellent qualities we should have, and it is he who we should try to emulate. He is our role-model.

because you are trying to be perfect and that is contradictory .

Perfection has never been demanded of us, and we are not punished for being imperfect.

We are required to try our hardest and best to fear and obey God "So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah ]; it is better for your selves..." (64:16, part), and to obey the messenger He sent with His message, and we have been told which things are forbidden for us and what we should avoid. When we do those things that we shouldn't, then we repent and seek God's forgiveness, being truly sorry for what we have done, trying our best not to repeat it, and acknowledging Allah as being the only One on Whom we depend, for the forgiveness of our sins.

God is so Forgiving and relenting towards us, that He loves forgiving:

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, were you not to commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and then seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah would forgive them".

[Saheeh Muslim] Arabic/English book reference : Book 1, Hadith 422

That is not to say that we should deliberately sin, in fact we should resolve not to repeat past sins. However Allah loves forgiving, and this is to show how forgiving Allah is, even knowing that we will sin.

Latter part of the above taken from this post: http://www.islamicboard.com/discover-islam/134319570-salvation-sin.html#post1580962

Hope that helps a bit in responding to him, and Allah knows best.

 

[ardianto]

[MENTION=242]sister[/MENTION] Inshaanah

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

When I was kid my ustadz taught me about sunnah of eating, use three fingers. But he didn't teaches me that I must always use three finger when eating. If I must use spoon, I can use spoon.

However, nowadays I found people who teach sunnah as "Do what Rasulullah had done, and don't do what Rasulullah had never done". The second point is really confusing because it encourage Muslims to imitate the life of Rasulullah (saw), not just follow sunnah. Something that impossible. And indeed it cause reaction from the youth "How could I have life and personality like Rasulullah if my life and personaty are different than Rasulullah?".

So, the problem is in teaching method that confuse the kids.