.
As for what follows… Allaah says in His Book:
Amongst the Believers there is no doubt about this
way of life called Islaam. It is without a doubt a complete way of life.
The Creator of the heavens and the earth has not left anything out of this
glorious Deen (way of life) of his. As the above verse states that this
religion is perfect and complete. However, something new has come in fairly
recent years from the Shaytan concerning the Sunnah of the Messenger of
Allaah . It has been suggested
by him to the hearts of some of the Muslims that the Qur'aan, as Glorious
as it is, is sufficient enough alone as guidance for Mankind. Meaning that
the Sunnah, or way of the Messenger of Allaah
is something that can be left off, or abandoned. Without a doubt this is
a growing disease that has no place in this wonderful way of life of ours.
In order to address this issue we must ask ourselves an important question. How do we worship Allaah? Do we worship Him any way we want? Is there a correct Minhaj (Methodology) to worshipping Allaah? Is it sufficient for us to say and do whatever it is that we feel is worship and then call it worship and it will be accepted as such? Let us consider what Allaah says in the Qur'aan:
O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!
Let us examine, if we may, the above verse.
Firstly, Allaah is addressing the Believers at this particular time.
Secondly, Allaah states that he is to be obeyed. No sane person would doubt this, for it is the word of Allaah. However for some unknown reason there appears to be some ambiguity about the statement that follows it.
Allaah also states that the Messenger
is to be obeyed as well. Now, from the outset I would say once again that
no sane person would doubt that the Messenger
is to be obeyed as well, however there appears to be a breach not in the
acceptance of the verse but in understanding what is actually being ordered.
We have established that the Messenger
is to be followed, however we must ask ourselves a question once again.
In his infinite wisdom, Allaah knew when he revealed this verse that the
Messenger would soon die and
that his Ummah (nation) would carry on after his death. Understanding this,
we must ask the question of how do we understand this verse of the Qur'an
after the death of Muhammad .
Is it no longer applicable? Of course it is! The Sunnah is the explanation
of the Qur'aan. It is the Qur'aan in practice.
O Muslim reader, you must know that the Qur'aan
and the Sunnah do not contradict one another, rather they complement one
another. When Allaah says in this verse that the Messenger
is to be obeyed, he is not only talking to that Honorable group of Muslims
that accompanied the Prophet
during his lifetime. He is speaking to all of the Muslims that will come
up until the Last Day. Similarly, no one is ready to conceive the notion
that when Allaah Says (which means in English) O ye who believe! that the
only ones who believe are the Muslims who were with the Prophet
at that time and no one after them believed and no one else will ever believe!
This would be grossly limiting the Qur'aan in a way that was not understood
by the Prophet himself.
Beware Abdullaah! The Shaytan is crafty! He may then try to sway your thinking from another angle. He may say that the Qur'aan is simple to understand and that it needs no explanation. For it is true that Allaah says:
We have indeed made the Qur'aan easy to understand and remember [Surah Al-Qamar:32 ]
However, although the Qur'aan is easy to understand, it does need to be explained so that it is properly understood. Allaah says in His Book:
And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad
through Jibreel Gabriel]) then follow its (The Qur'aan's) recital.
Then it is for Us (Allaah) to make it clear (to you) [Surah
Al-Qiyamah:18,19]
Surely if the Qur'aan had to be made clear to the
Messenger , then how much more
so to you and I? Is it logical at this point to assume that the Qur'aan
needs no explanation when Allaah says:
…And We have also sent down unto you (O
Muhammad ) the Reminder,
that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that
they may give thought [Surah An-Nahl:44]
In this verse Allaah is exhorting the Messenger
to not merely recite the Qur'aan but to expalin it as well. Obviously ,
some explanation is required even to the most pious of men.
Truly the list of proofs can go on and on. However, I will list just a few Insha Allaah:
…(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [Surah An-Nisaa:59]
Once again, if we try to leave off the importance
of the Sunnah, then how do we implement this verse of the Qur'aan? Allaah
orders us to refer our differences to him. This means for us to seek our
answers from the Qur'aan. He also attaches The Messenger
to that particular order when He stated for us to refer to Him. If we leave
off the Sunnah then this part of the verse has no meaning, and I seek refuge
with Allaah from that!
Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allaah [Surah An-Nisaa:80]
How can we allow the Shaytan to "explain away" these clear proofs from the Book of Allaah?
Say (O Muhammad ):
If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allaah will love
you and forgive you your sins [Surah Ali-Imran: 31]
How can the Muslims of today follow the Prophet
and not refer to his Sunnah? How can we say that we love Allaah and not
try to follow the methodology of his Prophet?
It doesn't make sense O my Brothers in Islaam! It is only the whispers
of the Shaytan. Allaah says:
So fight you against the friends of Shaytan (Satan):ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaytan (Satan) [Surah An-Nisaa:76]
Finally I would like to conclude with a Hadeeth
(saying) from the Messenger of Allaah
that was collected by Imam Malik in his Muwatta. The Prophet
said: "I have left behind two matters. Those who hold fast to them will
never go astray: The Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger".
The reason that many of the Muslims are going astray today is because they are not only leaving off the Sunnah but they are leaving the Qur'aan as well! Know for a certainty O Brother Muslim, that if you are not giving the Sunnah its rights, then you are not giving the Qur'aan its rights. And I seek refuge with Allaah from that! Don't forget your Shahadah:
I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship as a God except Allaah; and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Without the Sunnah then the second statement of your Shahadah also has no meaning. And I seek refuge with Allaah from that! I glorify you O Allaah, and I praise You. I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
