Our Call!
All Muslims are aware that the only practical and true beliefs are two things: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. The fundamental and permanent proofs and the essence of Shariah rulings are only the Quran and authentic Hadith. When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was departing from this world, he advised the Ummah to hold firmly to these two things, and as long as they hold on to them firmly, they will not be misguided: one is the Book of Allah and the other is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Muslims should carry out all their affairs under the authority of these two things, as Allah Almighty commands:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
Take whatever the Messenger gives you and refrain from whatever he forbids you, and fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.
In one place it is stated:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ
O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away after hearing a clear statement.
In another place it is said:
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Establish prayer, give zakah, and obey the Messenger so that you may receive mercy.
In another place it is stated:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ
And We sent not any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah.
In another place it is said:
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ ۖ وَمَنْ تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا
Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
Elsewhere it is stated:
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Obey Allah and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy.
In another place it is said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ ۖ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
Referring back to Allah means turning to the Quran, and referring to the Messenger means turning to the blessed life of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and after his passing, to his Sunnah and blessed Hadith.
Allah says:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
By your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort about your decisions and submit in [full, willing] submission.
In another place it is said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.
Obedience and following the Messenger, peace be upon him, is the guarantee of success, as Allah Almighty says:
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
And those who obey Allah and the Messenger and fear Allah and are conscious of Him – it is those who are the attainers.
In one place it is said:
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
The only [true] response of the believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, “We hear and obey.” And those are the successful.
Then it is said:
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.
Thus, the command of the Lord Almighty is:
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.
Only the deeds done according to the command of Allah and His Messenger will receive full reward.
It is stated:
وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
If you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you of your deeds of [the reward of] anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Following the Messenger, peace be upon him, is a cause for forgiveness of sins.
The divine command is:
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْلَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be with the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous on the Day of Resurrection.
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
In one place it is said:
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ
Say, [O Muhammad], “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger.” But if they turn away – then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.
Not following the Messenger, peace be upon him, causes discord and fighting.
It is stated:
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
No Muslim man or woman has the authority to decide against the decisions of Allah and His Messenger.
Allah Almighty says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
Those who disobey Allah and His Messenger will be responsible for their own end.
As Allah Almighty says:
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَاحْذَرُوا ۚ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and beware. And if you turn away – then know that upon Our Messenger is only [the responsibility for] clear notification.
Then it is said:
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
And obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if they turn away – then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.
Then it is said:
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَا حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا ۚ وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
Say, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away – then upon him is only that [duty] with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged. And if you obey him, you will be guided. And there is not upon the Messenger except the [responsibility for] clear notification.”
The punishment for those who disobey Allah and His Messenger is the torment of Hell.
Indeed, Allah Almighty says:
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّ يُعَذِّبْهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger – He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoever turns away – He will punish him with a painful punishment.
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Those who oppose the command of the Messenger should fear lest a trial strike them or a painful punishment.
In one place it is said:
يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا ﴿٦٦﴾ وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا ﴿٦٧﴾ رَبَّنَا آتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَالْعَنْهُمْ لَعْنًا كَبِيرًا
When their faces are turned about in the Fire, they will say, “How we wish we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.” And they will say, “Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way. Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse.”
In another place it is said:
وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
What the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, adhered to is mentioned by Allah Almighty in the Quran:
فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِالَّذِي أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
So hold firmly to what you have been given, and indeed, you are on a straight path.
The right to legislate belongs only to Allah Almighty.
Thus, the divine command is:
أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ
Do they have partners who have established for them a religion to which Allah has not consented?
Then it is said:
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than His allies. Little do you remember.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, does not speak from his own desire; he only speaks what is revealed.
Thus it is said:
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.
The life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is the best example for you.
Thus the divine command is:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.
Whoever obeys the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, will enter Paradise.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
كل أمتي يدخلون الجنة إلا من أبى قالوا يا رسول الله ومن يأبى قال من أطاعني دخل الجنة ومن عصاني فقد أبى
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: My entire Ummah will enter Paradise except those who disbelieve. The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who will disbelieve?” He said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has disbelieved.”
After the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, it is commanded to follow the way of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ بَعْدِي فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ
You will see much disagreement after me among my people. So hold firmly to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Hold fast to it and stick to it firmly. Beware of newly invented matters in religion, for every innovation is misguidance.
During the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, Allah completed the religion.
Allah says:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
Dear respected ones, Allah Almighty declared the completion of Islam based on two things because when Allah declared the completion of the religion, the Muslims had the pure religion, the Book and Sunnah, free from all adulteration. The beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, gave a point of the religion to his followers. Islam is a universal religion that guides its followers at every turn. This is our call: to act upon the Quran and Hadith. Allah Almighty has commanded in the Holy Quran that following them leads to salvation, and neither decreasing nor increasing in religion is allowed; both lead to destruction. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, succeeded by following the Quran and Sunnah. Allah declared His pleasure with them. Even today, whoever follows the pure religion based on the Book and Sunnah will not fail but will succeed. ان شاء الله تعاليٰ
Which group is the saved sect of Paradise?
The noble saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is: The Children of Israel were divided into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects:
كلهم فى النار الا ملة واحدة قالوا من هم يا رسول الله قال ما انا عليه واصحابي
All will go to Hell except one group. The noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked: Who are they? He said: They are those who remain steadfast on what I, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and my noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were steadfast upon.
Remember that Paradise will be attained only by the saved sect, and the saved sect is the one that remains steadfast on what the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were steadfast upon. May Allah Almighty grant all Muslims the ability to follow the Quran, Sunnah, and the footsteps of the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them. آمين
There is no burning in the heart, no feeling in the soul,
You have no message of Muhammad ﷺ with you.
I am amazed!!
Some people spend wealth and possessions to promote innovations (bid’ah) and also fight and quarrel with others who do not commit innovations. They issue fatwas of disrespect and insolence against them and consider propaganda against them as a means of their success and victory. However, they do not accept what is clearly evident from the explicit texts of the Quran and authentic hadiths, as clear as daylight. Despite the existence of hundreds of authentic hadiths on each issue, they do not accept them. Some people, due to their ignorance and lack of knowledge, deny the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and some deliberately mock the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) out of sectarian prejudice and stubbornness. For example:
Raising the hands (raf’ al-yadayn) is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
أن رسول الله كان يرفع يديه حذو منكبيه إذا افتتح الصلوة وإذا كبر للركوع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع رفعهما كذلك
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) started the prayer, he would raise both his hands to the level of his shoulders, and when he said the takbir for bowing (ruku’), and when he raised his head from bowing, he would raise both his hands in the same way.
Sayyiduna Malik bin Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in Medina in the month of Rajab, 9 AH, along with a companion and learned the knowledge of religion. When they were about to leave, they came again to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who said: Return to your families, teach them religion, command them to act upon Islamic rulings, and pray as you have seen me praying.
That is, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded them to teach and lead their tribe in prayer according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Accordingly, he said:
أن رسول الله كان إذا كبر رفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما أذنيه وإذا ركع رفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما أذنيه وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع فقال سمع الله لمن حمده فعل مثل ذلك
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would raise his hands to his ears at the time of the opening takbir (takbir al-tahrimah), and when going into bowing, he would also raise his hands to his ears, and when raising his head from bowing, he would say سمع الله لمن حمده and raise his hands in the same way.
Those who have a little sense, may their lives be sacrificed for them,
They commit disobedience and say, “We are disobedient.”
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
صليت خلف أبى بكر الصديق فكان يرفع يديه إذا افتتح الصلوة وإذا ركع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع وقال أبو بكر صليت خلف رسول الله فكان يرفع يديه إذا افتتح الصلوة وإذا ركع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع
I prayed behind Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), and he would raise his hands when starting the prayer, when bowing, and when raising his head from bowing. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and he would raise his hands when starting the prayer, when bowing, and when raising his head from bowing.
Its narrators are trustworthy. Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) said that its narrators are trustworthy.
عن أبى قلابة أنه رأى مالك بن الحويرث إذا صلى كبر ورفع يديه وإذا أراد أن يركع رفع يديه وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع رفع يديه وحدث أن رسول الله صنع هكذا
Hazrat Abu Qulabah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that he saw Malik bin Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him), a companion, when he started the prayer, he would raise his hands with the opening takbir, then when going into bowing, he would also raise his hands, and when raising his head from bowing, he would raise his hands as well. He stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to do the same.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
رأيت رسول الله إذا قام فى الصلوة رفع يديه حتى تكونا حذو منكبيه وكان يفعل ذلك حين يكبر للركوع ويفعل ذلك إذا رفع رأسه من الركوع ويقول سمع الله لمن حمده ولا يفعل ذلك فى السجود
I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when he stood for prayer, he raised his hands at the time of the opening takbir. His hands were raised up to his ears. Similarly, when he said the takbir for bowing, he raised his hands, and when he raised his head from bowing, he raised his hands and said سمع الله لمن حمده. However, he did not raise his hands during prostration (sujood).
Dear readers, due to fear of lengthiness, I have presented only a few authentic hadiths as examples; otherwise, the number of hadiths and narrations about raising the hands exceeds four hundred.
Some people have fabricated a false statement that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), people used to pray with idols under their armpits, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his hands so that their idols would fall. This is not a hadith, nor is there any proof of this great slander in any book of hadith. This is a fabricated tale by ignorant people.
Come back one station with me,
Observe the consequences of the dispute between disbelief and faith.
Final Request!
Respected readers, the belief in Tawheed (Oneness of God) is such an essential and fundamental belief that without it, all other beliefs and acts of worship have no benefit. Therefore, we should teach our children the doctrine of Tawheed from the beginning so that they can be saved from the filth of shirk (polytheism).
The starting point of the invitation of all the Prophets, peace be upon them, was Tawheed. All of them endured hardships for the sake of Tawheed. The religion of Islam was completed during the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Whoever prefers any religion other than Islam, that is, any other way, none of his deeds will be accepted. The deeds that are pleasing to Allah are those of His servants who remain within the fold of Islam, neither stepping outside it nor harboring love for any other religion in their hearts, nor adopting any path other than the one shown by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. This is because the religion that Allah declares to be true is Islam. As the Holy Quran states:
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ
Meaning, the religion that is acceptable to Allah is Islam alone.
Islam is the divine law and Shariah that Allah has established forever for His creation. Every Prophet and Messenger, peace be upon them, invited people to Islam. Allah Almighty has declared in the Holy Quran that today your religion has been perfected, and His favor has been completed upon you, and He has chosen Islam as your religion. Now it is the duty of the believers in Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, to act upon the teachings revealed by Allah and His Messenger and not to adopt those words, deeds, customs, traditions, and festivals for which there is no evidence in the Quran and Hadith. This is called remaining within the fold of Islam. Whoever chooses a path other than that of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, his deeds will be rejected by Allah. Therefore, those who have started to impose their own desires within the religion that Allah has chosen should reflect deeply. Hundreds of matters are being practiced for which there is no evidence in the Quran or the Sunnah and Ahadith. Some clerics have fabricated self-made arguments based on their personal conjectures for indulgence, which have no basis in Shariah, nor is there any proof of these matters from the time of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. They are taking full advantage of people’s ignorance and lack of knowledge. Are these innovations adopted in the name of religion not an addition to the religion? If not, then present their evidence from the Quran and Hadith; otherwise, they should be completely avoided. This is because it is not befitting for a Muslim who recites the Kalima of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to disobey that Prophet, peace be upon him, and instead of following his path, to follow others’ paths, and instead of loving his Sunnah, to hate it.
For example, some ignorant bigots, if they see someone praying with raised hands, say, “What are you doing, chasing flies?” Someone says, “You are scratching your ears,” another says, “You are flying.” In short, they mock the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, with full gusto while claiming love for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
They mock the Sunnah and take pride and pleasure in following innovations, and they insult the monotheist Muslims who do not commit innovations by labeling them as disrespectful and blasphemous. Despite all this, they do not fear Allah. Some say that there are four rightly guided Imams and it is obligatory for the masses to follow them. We respect these four personalities, but there is no evidence from the Quran and Hadith that they hold the rank of Imamate or that it is obligatory for the masses to follow them. The Quran and Hadith are the original religion and the source of religion. When we find something in the Quran and Hadith, there is no room for interpretation. And when we do not find evidence in the Quran and Hadith, then there is no room for acceptance because we are followers of the Shariah, not its creators. By abandoning all these innovations, the true form of Islam can be restored, which was present during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the Tabi‘in, may Allah have mercy on them. With this noble intention in mind, I have compiled this book so that my simple Muslim brothers, who have drifted away from the Quran and Sunnah due to lack of reflection and have become lost in innovations, forgetting the Sunnah, may be guided to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, by presenting clear evidences from the Quran and Sunnah. We do not force anyone, but giving the invitation of the Quran and Sunnah is the right of every Muslim. I have presented this invitation of Tawheed and Sunnah according to my understanding and have shown the mirror of Tawheed and Sunnah. All Muslim brothers should leave stubbornness and bigotry, clear their minds, and make room in their intellect for understanding the Quran and Sunnah. In the end, I pray: O Allah, I have explained the issues clearly and wished well for every Muslim who values his soul, acknowledges Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion, and Muhammad, peace be upon him, as his Prophet and Messenger.
O Allah, You are the Witness, remain so.
I also pray to Allah Almighty to guide Muslims to the Straight Path, remove hardships and difficulties from us and them, protect us all from the evil of cunning deceivers, keep us steadfast on Islam until we stand before You, grant me correctness in speech, action, and character, forgive my parents, wife, children, my teachers, and my sincere friends of the true path, forgive all living and deceased Muslims.
Grant our children true love for the noble personality of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and grant them companionship with him in Paradise. Guide all Muslims to follow the footsteps of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and grant complete faith in the complete religion. آمين ثم آمين يارب العالمين
Referring to the weak beliefs of Muslims, Allama Iqbal beautifully said:
Religion is very fond of novelty in its nature,
If it reaches a destination, it passes very quickly.
If it is a game of investigation, it does not commit shirk,
If it is a game of discipleship, it loses very quickly.
If a hunter sets a trap of interpretation,
This branch falls from the nest very quickly.
كما حقه
