OBEYING THE PROPHET
(SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) 
IS OBEYING ALLAH

Sister Shariffa Carlo

I received an email that was responding to another email wherein the writer had made reference to the large number of Ahaadeeth available to prove his point and how we could possibly ignore this body of evidence. The response in the second email was essentially that the problem was not the number of Ahaadeeth, but rather how we could possibly disobey a command from our beloved Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) in even one Saheeh Hadeeth.

I was struck by this. We spend so much time arguing with each other over the issues of Islam that I sometimes wonder if the purpose is just to argue. We have forgotten that being Muslim means “submitting”. We are supposed to submit to Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). We are supposed to also submit to the commands of our beloved Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), because Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) ordered us to do so. We can not take one without the other. For instance, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) orders us to offer Salaah. We do not know what is constitutes Salaah except by the commands and actions of our beloved Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). So, if we obey the command in the Quraan, but ignore the Sunnah, our prayer is invalid. We will pray as we feel like praying, omitting the obligatory actions and words in Salaah. We have many examples of things which have been made obligatory or Haraam by Hadeeth only, like Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood quoted this saying of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) while he was delivering a sermon: “May Allah curse the women who tattoo their bodies and those who pluck their eyebrows; those who separate their teeth to make them look more pretty and those who try to change the creation of Allah.” A woman named Umm Yaqub from the tribe of Banu Asad came to know of these words. She approached Ibne Mas’ood and said: “O Abu Abd ar-Rahman! It was reported to me that you have cursed such and such women.” He said: “Why should I not curse those whom the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) cursed and who are cursed in the Book of Allah as well.” She said: “I have read whatever is contained between the two covers (i.e. the whole Quraan).” He replied, “Had you been a good reader, you would have discovered it. Did you not read the following verse? “So take whatever the Messenger gives you and keep away from what he forbids you.” (Surah Al-Hashr 59:7)

Here the principle is firmly established by the Sahaabah (Companions) of Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). He shows us what the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) said and explains to us that the commandment of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) is equal to a commandment from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). This is not the only place this is written; Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has commanded us in many places in the Quraan to obey the Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). A few of these are:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those charged with authority among you; and if you differ in anything among yourselves, then refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you do believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is best and most suitable for final determination.” (4:59)

“Obey Allah and the Messenger; but if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.” (3:32)

“And obey Allah and the Messenger; that you may obtain mercy.” (3:132)

“Those are limits set by Allah: those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (forever) and that will be the supreme achievement. But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.” (4:13-14)

How serious is this command? It is the most serious. Think about the one act that we can not stop doing — whether the phone rings, your mom calls or anything short of a threat occurs. It is Salaah. When we begin Ssalaah, we should not stop unless there is a dire emergency. Yet, we have an example which shows that the call of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) is and was more important than completing the Salaah.

Narrated Hadhrat Abu Said Al-Muallaa: While I was praying, the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) passed by and called me, but I did not go to him till I had finished my Salaah. When I went to him, he said, “What prevented you from coming?” I said, “I was offering Salaah.” He said, “Didn’t Allah says ‘O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle.” (8.24)...(Saheeh Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 60, Number 226)

Here we can clearly see the importance of obeying the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). Knowing this, how do we apply it? First, we need to clear our minds of the misconception that we must fully understand everything in Islam. Second, we acknowledge that we are supposed to blindly follow only Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). Blindly follow? This does not sound like Islam, does it? It is Islam. We can try to understand Islam, and one of the beauties of this religion is that we can understand so much, but we have to come to the realization that in all matters, after all the rationalizations are done, after all the angles have been explored, after all the rhetoric has been spun, we must obey Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), whether we understand it or not. There is no other way.

An example of this is the saying of Hadhrat Ali bin Abi Talib. He stated (what means) that if Islam were by logic, we would not wipe over the feet in Wudhu (the Islamic way of ablution which is essential before Salaah and few other deeds), we would wipe under them.

Not everything is clear for us. At some point, we have to just say, Labaik! (We are here to follow) and submit. At some point we have to recognize that if we are truly believers in Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), that He is the Most Wise, the All knowing, that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is the “Truth” then we have to concede our own inadequacies and submit to Him completely, even when it defies our limited logic to do so.

The best generation was the generation of the Sahaabah (Companions) of our beloved Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) because when they heard a command, they acted immediately. Two examples of this are:

Narrated Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri: I heard Allah’s Messenger addressing in Madinah. He said: O people! Allah is giving an indication (of the prohibition) of wine, and He is probably soon going to give an order about it. So he who has anything of it with him should sell that, and derive benefit out of it. He (the narrator) said: We waited for some time that Allah’s Apostle said: Verily Allah, the Exalted, has forbidden wine. So who hears this verse and he has anything of it with him, he should neither drink it nor sell it. He (the narrator) said: The people then brought whatever they had of it with them on the streets of Madinah and spilt that. (Saheeh Muslim: Book 9, Number 3835)

Narrated Hadhrat Safiyah binte Shaiba: Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered themselves with the cut pieces.” (Saheeh Bukhari: Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282)

They spilt the wine. They covered themselves. No excuses. No questioning. No disobedience.

In short, we have to stop taking excuses when we hear the book of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) or the statements of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). Even, when we read any thing here and there, we need to recognize that only Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is perfect, and we can only take the Quraan and the statements of His beloved Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) without questioning them. Anyone else can make mistakes. Our Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) was protected by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) from making mistakes in this Deen (Religion). Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) says, “(The Prophet) does not speak of his own desire. It is no less than Inspiration sent down to him.” (53:3)

Everyone else can make mistakes, and when we find that they have made a mistake, we must go back to the most authentic evidences from the Quraan and the Sunnah without hesitation. Our great scholars have confirmed this:

Imam Abu Hanifah was asked: “What do we do if we find a saying of yours opposing the Book of Allah?” He replied: “Leave my saying and stick to the Book of Allah.” The questioner asked: “What if it contradicts a saying of the Prophet?” Abu Hanifah said: “Leave my saying in the face of the Prophet’s saying.” Again he was asked: “What if it goes against the saying of a Sahaabi (Companion)?” Again he said: “Leave my saying in the face of the Companion’s saying.” (Reported in Al-Qawl al-Mufeed by Shawkani.)

Imam Abu Hanifah also dec-lared: “My way is whatever Hadeeth that is proved to be authentic.” (Shami 1:50, Al-Fulani in Iqaz, p. 62)

Imam Malik bin Anas said: “The saying of any person can be accepted or rejected, except for the Prophet of Allah.” (Reported by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr and Ibn Hazm. Also in Al-Yawaqeet wa Al-Jawahir 2:96) He also said: “I am just a mortal; someti-mes I am wrong, sometimes I am right — so check my opinions. Whatever agrees with the Book (i.e. the Quraan) and the Sunnah, accept it; whatever disagrees with them, reject it.” (Reported by Al-Fulani in Iqaz, p. 72)

Once Imam Shafi’i narrated a saying of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). Someone from the audience said: “Do you say so as well?” On hearing this, the Imam was enraged. His face turned pale and he said: “Woe to you! Which earth would carry me, which sky would shelter me if I narrate a saying of the Prophet, and do not hold the same view! Do you see a zunnar (belt worn by non-Muslims) on me? Or have you noticed me coming out of a church? How can I report something from the Prophet, and not agree with ?!!”

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said: “Do not follow me or Malik or Shafi’i or Auza’i or Thawri, but take from where they took (i.e. from the Quraan and authentic Sunnah).” (Reported by Al-Fulani and Ibn al-Qayyim.) He also said: “He who rejects a saying of the Messenger of Allah, is on the verge of destruction.” (Reported by Ibn al-Jauzi)

Sunnah does not simply mean that which is not obligatory. That is one of the meanings, but the Sunnah is in essence the sayings, approvals, disapprovals, commands, and characteristics of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). So, within the Sunnah, we have the “Sunnah” (those we have a choice about) acts and the “Fard” (those we have no choice about) acts. We can not be like the Christians and the Jews and take our religion like a buffet, “I’ll take a little of this and a little of that — but I don’t want any of that...” We have to accept the words of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and the Commands of our Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) as they come, no picking and choosing. Islam is not for us to design, it is complete.

Hadhrat Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “I have left among you two things; you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” (Reported by Haakim)

I adjure myself and everyone, do not allow the Shaytan (Satan) to keep you from a commanded act. Fear Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), Love Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and Obey Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). Do not be caught up with this speaker, orator or presenter (people having only good communication skills). Ask authentic and pious Ulamaa who learnt religion from other authentic and pious Ulamaa and they are connected with the chain of learned and pious Ulamaa that goes upto the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) because according to Hadeeth, “Ulamaa are successors of Prophets”.

In the end, if you obeyed the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), and it turned out the act was Sunnah, not Fardh, you will find with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) two rewards, one for the act and another for simply obeying. Is that not infinitely better than to find two sins, one for not performing the act, and the other for disobeying? Think about it. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has made His signs clear. The religion is easy. We do not have to obey but Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), and since the Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) never speaks from himself, it is essentially only obeying Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). Since Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is the Most Wise, most Merciful, can we go wrong when we obey Him? Impossible.

There are some acts which are not in dispute, except by those who would have us disputing among ourselves in this century. Salaah is Fardh, Zakaah is Fardh, Hajj is Fardh, Hijaab is Fardh, Ribaa is Haraam, alcohol and all intoxicants are Haraam, gambling is Haraam, there are more, but the point is clear.

So be careful in choosing Ulamaa for guidance. Ask evidence from Islamic teachings. Anyone can say that Halaal is Haraam or Haraam is Halaal based on their logic, but this is not Islam. Islam is submission to Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and His messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), whether we can understand it or not. Don’t let anyone fool you, we humans do not know everything. There are some things which Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has not revealed to us. There are some things we do as Muslims that we can not explain, we do them because we obey Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), that’s it! End of story. If you think have to explain everything or you do not have to do it, then you do not believe Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Wisdom is greater than yours. In English, Islam can be summarized with one word, submission. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) commands, the Muslim submits. The prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) commands, the Muslim submits.

Ya Allah! make us Muslims.

O Allah! Make us submit to your authority and keep us from worshipping our own selves over You!

O Allah! Guide us, teach us and protect us from ourselves and from Your Wrath.

O Allah! Give us wisdom and knowledge and make us always of those who turn to You. Aameen!

I leave you with some more verses about obeying the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam):

“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they!” (4:69)

“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 who will attain success.” (24:51)

“But no, by your Lord! (O Muhammad) They cannot be belie-vers until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest submission.” (4:65)

“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware (of evil): if you turn back, know that it is Our Messenger’s duty to proclaim (the message) in the clearest manner. (5:92)

“They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: “(such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Messenger: So fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves: Obey Allah and His Messenger, if you believe.” (8:1)

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).” (8:20)

“O you who believe! Answer (the call of) Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life; and know that Allah intervenes between man and his heart, and that to Him you shall be gathered.” (8:24)

“So take whatever the Messenger gives you and keep away from what he forbids you.” (59:7)

“You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah.” (33:21)

“He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah.” (4:80).

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