This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
Following the Messenger ﷺ in the Light of the Quran and Hadith
Following the Messenger ﷺ is the criterion of success and the proof of love for the Messenger ﷺ. It determines a person's inner tendencies and feelings. One who loves the Noble Prophet ﷺ and sincerely acknowledges his greatness and majesty cannot deviate from his command. The acceptance of deeds also depends on this.
Following the Messenger in the Light of the Holy Quran:
Allah Almighty says:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 31 قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ
"O Prophet! Say, if you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Say! Obey Allah and the Messenger. If they turn away, then indeed Allah does not love the disbelievers."
Reference: (Surah Al-Imran: 31, 32)
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 774 AH), writes:
هذه الآية الكريمة حاكمة على كل من ادعى محبة الله، وليس هو على الطريقة المحمدية فإنه كاذب فى دعواه فى نفس الأمر، حتى يتبع الشرع المحمدي والدين النبوي فى جميع أقواله وأحواله
"Every person who claims to love Allah but does not follow the way of the Prophet, peace be upon him, this verse judges that he is indeed lying in his claim unless he follows all the sayings and actions of the Prophet, peace be upon him."
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 32/2
He further states:
ثم قال آمرا لكل أحد من خاص وعام : قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ أى : خالفوا عن أمره : فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ فدل على أن مخالفته فى الطريقة كفر، والله لا يحب من اتصف بذلك، وإن ادعى وزعم فى نفسه أنه يحب الله ويتقرب إليه، حتى يتابع الرسول النبى الأمي خاتم الرسل، ورسول الله إلى جميع الثقلين الجن والإنس الذى لو كان الأنبياء بل المرسلون، بل أولو العزم منهم فى زمانه لما وسعهم إلا اتباعه، والدخول فى طاعته، واتباع شريعته
"Then Allah commanded everyone, both common and special, to obey Allah and His Messenger. If they then turn away, meaning they turn their faces from obedience, then Allah does not love the disbelievers. This verse explains that opposing the way of the Messenger, peace be upon him, is disbelief. Allah Almighty does not like those who disobey the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. Whoever claims to love Allah and sincerely wants to attain Allah’s love and nearness, must follow the unlettered Prophet, the Seal of the Messengers, sent to all jinn and mankind. That Messenger, if the Prophets, indeed the Messengers, and even the Ulul Azm Messengers were alive in your time, would also have to follow you, peace be upon you, and your Shariah."
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 32/2
Allah Almighty says:
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
"Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah."
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa: 80)
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
"The believers are called to judgment by Allah and His Messenger, so when they are called, they say, 'We have heard and we obey.' Those are the successful."
Reference: (Surah An-Nur: 51)
Also, it is stated:
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
"Those who disobey the command of the Messenger should beware lest a great trial or painful punishment befall them."
Reference: (Surah An-Nur: 63)
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 774 AH), writes:
قوله : فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أى عن أمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهو سبيله ومنهاجه وطريقته وسنته وشريعته، فتوزن الأقوال والأعمال بأقواله وأعماله، فما وافق ذلك قبل، وما خالفه فهو مردود على قائله وفاعله، كائنا ما كان
Allah Almighty says: فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ
Reference: (Surah An-Nur: 63)
"Those who oppose the command of the Messenger should fear." Here, the Messenger, peace be upon him, is meant, and by His command is meant His path, method, way, and Shariah. Thus, the scale for taking is the sayings and actions of the Messenger, peace be upon him. Whatever is in accordance with his sayings and actions will be accepted, and whatever is contrary will be returned to its claimant and doer, whoever they may be.
Reference: Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 90/6
Allah, the Lord of Glory, has said:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
"(O Prophet!) By your Lord! These people will never be believers until they make you the judge in their disputes and feel in their hearts no resistance to your decision but submit with full submission."
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa: 65)
Allah Almighty says:
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
"If you believe in Allah and the Last Day, then appoint Allah and His Messenger as judges over your disputes. That is better and more suitable for final determination."
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa: 59)
◈ Allama Ibn Abi Al-Izz Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 792 AH), writes:
من المحال أن لا يحصل الشفاء والهدى والعلم واليقين من كتاب الله وكلام رسوله، ويحصل من كلام هؤلاء المتحيرين، بل الواجب أن يجعل ما قاله الله ورسوله هو الأصل، ويتدبر معناه ويعقله، ويعرف برهانه ودليله؛ إما العقلي وإما الخبري السمعي، ويعرف دلالته على هذا وهذا، ويجعل أقوال الناس التى توافقه وتخالفه متشابهة مجملة ، فيقال لأصحابها : هذه الألفاظ تحتمل كذا وكذا، فإن أرادوا بها ما يوافق خبر الرسول قبل ، وإن أرادوا بها ما يخالفه رد
"It is not possible that healing, guidance, knowledge, and certainty are not obtained from the Book of Allah and the speech of the Messenger, peace be upon him, but are obtained from the speech of confused and bewildered people. It is necessary for a Muslim to make the command of Allah and His Messenger the basis, to ponder its meanings, understand it, recognize its rational, textual, or auditory proofs, comprehend its indications from every angle, and know that some human opinions agree with revelation, some oppose it, and some are ambiguous and general. He should decide among these opinions considering these possibilities and inform their proponents that your such and such statement has such and such possibilities; if their meaning agrees with the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, accept it, otherwise reject it."
Reference: Sharh al-Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah p. 167
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِذَا كَانُوا مَعَهُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا حَتَّى يَسْتَأْذِنُوهُ
"The believers are those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are with the Prophet in a collective matter (such as Jihad), do not move a step without his permission."
Reference: (Surah An-Nur: 62)
Allah Almighty says:
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
"We have given you a clear law; follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know."
Reference: (Surah Al-Jathiyah: 18)
Following the Messenger in the Light of Hadiths:
◈ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من أطاعني فقد أطاع الله، ومن عصاني فقد عصى الله
"Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 7137, Sahih Muslim: 1835
◈ Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates that angels came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said:
من أطاع محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فقد أطاع الله، ومن عصى محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فقد عصى الله، ومحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فرق بين الناس
"Whoever obeys Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has disobeyed Allah. Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم is the criterion of truth for the people."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 7281
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم addressed the companions and said:
ألستم تعلمون أني رسول الله إليكم؟ قالوا : بلى نشهد أنك رسول الله، قال : ألستم تعلمون أن الله أنزل فى كتابه من أطاعني فقد أطاع الله؟ قالوا : بلى نشهد أنه من أطاعك فقد أطاع الله، وأن من طاعة الله طاعتك
"Do you not know that I am the Messenger of Allah?" They said: "Why not, O Master! We bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah." Then he said: "Do you not know that in the Book revealed by Allah it is stated that whoever obeys me has indeed obeyed Allah?" The companions said: "Why not, we bear witness that whoever obeys you has indeed obeyed Allah; your obedience is obedience to Allah."
Reference: Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 93/2 and its chain is authentic
Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله (d. 354 AH) has declared it authentic.
◈ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
جعل الذلة، والصغار على من خالف أمري
"Humiliation and disgrace are the fate of the one who opposes my command."
Reference: Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 50/2 and its chain is Hasan
Its chain of narration has been described as "good" by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
Reference: Iqtidā’ al-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm: 250/1
, "sound" by Hafiz al-Dhahabi رحمه الله
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’: 509/15
, "authentic" by Hafiz al-Iraqi رحمه الله
Reference: Takhrīj Aḥādīth al-Iḥyā’: 318
, and "Hasan" by Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله in Fath al-Bari: 27/10.
