Excerpted from: “Ainah Tawheed wa Sunnat” by Shaykh Abu Hudhaifah Muhammad Javed Salafi
It is known to all Muslims that the only acceptable sources for beliefs and practice are two: the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. These are the foundational and permanent sources of Islamic rulings and the soul of the Shari'ah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, at the time of his departure from this world, gave the Ummah a lasting will:
"I am leaving among you two things, you will never go astray as long as you hold firmly to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger."
(Muwatta Imam Malik)
Hence, Muslims must align every action of theirs under the guidance of these two sources—the Qur’an and the Sunnah—as Allah has commanded:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا ۚ
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.”
[Surah al-Hashr: 7]
Throughout the Qur’an, obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is repeatedly emphasized:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from him while you hear.”
[Surah al-Anfal: 20]
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“Establish prayer, give zakat, and obey the Messenger so that you may receive mercy.”
[Surah an-Nur: 56]
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 80]
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
“If you differ in anything, refer it back to Allah and the Messenger.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 59]
Referring to Allah means returning to the Qur’an, and referring to the Messenger ﷺ means turning to his Sunnah during his life and his Hadith after his death.
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ... وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“By your Lord, they do not believe until they make you (O Prophet) judge in all their disputes, then find no resistance in themselves against your decisions, and submit completely.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 65]
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger—they are truly the successful.”
[Surah an-Nur: 52]
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ... وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow... That is the great success.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 13]
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me. Allah will love you and forgive your sins.”
[Surah Aal-‘Imran: 31]
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ... مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ...
“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor—the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 69]
وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا
“Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has gone far astray.”
[Surah al-Ahzab: 36]
يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ... يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا
“The Day their faces will be turned in the Fire, they will say: Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and the Messenger!”
[Surah al-Ahzab: 66–67]
Despite the clarity of the Qur’an and Sunnah, many today mock the Sunnah and fabricate stories to reject it. For example, some falsely claim that Raf‘ al-Yadayn (raising hands in Salah) was done only to make idols fall—a baseless lie not found in any Hadith.
Raf‘ al-Yadayn is a proven Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, practiced by the companions including:
There are more than 400 narrations supporting this Sunnah. Yet, it is mocked by some with phrases like:
"What are you swatting?" or "Are you about to fly?"
This is a mockery of the Sunnah and evidence of their ignorance.
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ...
“Today I have completed your religion for you...”
[Surah al-Ma’idah: 3]
At that time, Islam consisted of nothing but pure Qur’an and Sunnah, free from innovations.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“My Ummah will split into 73 sects—all will be in Hell except one.”
The Companions asked:
“Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?”
He replied:
“Those who are upon what I and my Companions are upon.”
Thus, the only group granted Paradise is the one that holds firmly to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the way of the Companions.
Tawheed is the foundation of all Islamic belief. Without it, no act of worship is accepted. Islam is not to be altered—adding or subtracting anything is destruction.
Every Prophet began his call with Tawheed and endured hardship for its sake. The religion of Islam is complete; any practice not found in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah is to be rejected.
Following self-made rules, festivals, or customs without Shar‘i evidence is tampering with the religion. And following Imams blindly without textual evidence is not an excuse for misguidance.
We must love the Prophet ﷺ, not just claim it, by following his Sunnah, not mocking it.
O Allah, be a Witness that I conveyed the truth.
O Allah, guide all Muslims to the Straight Path.
Protect us from deceitful people, hardships, and fitan.
Grant us steadfastness upon Islam until we meet You.
Forgive my parents, teachers, family, and the Ummah.
Unite our hearts upon the way of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions رضي الله عنهم.
❖ Our Call: A Return to the Qur’an and Sunnah
It is known to all Muslims that the only acceptable sources for beliefs and practice are two: the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. These are the foundational and permanent sources of Islamic rulings and the soul of the Shari'ah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, at the time of his departure from this world, gave the Ummah a lasting will:
"I am leaving among you two things, you will never go astray as long as you hold firmly to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger."
(Muwatta Imam Malik)
Hence, Muslims must align every action of theirs under the guidance of these two sources—the Qur’an and the Sunnah—as Allah has commanded:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا ۚ
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.”
[Surah al-Hashr: 7]
❖ The Command to Obey Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
Throughout the Qur’an, obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is repeatedly emphasized:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from him while you hear.”
[Surah al-Anfal: 20]
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“Establish prayer, give zakat, and obey the Messenger so that you may receive mercy.”
[Surah an-Nur: 56]
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 80]
❖ Returning Disputes to the Qur’an and Sunnah
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
“If you differ in anything, refer it back to Allah and the Messenger.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 59]
Referring to Allah means returning to the Qur’an, and referring to the Messenger ﷺ means turning to his Sunnah during his life and his Hadith after his death.
❖ True Faith Requires Submitting to the Messenger’s Judgement
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ... وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
“By your Lord, they do not believe until they make you (O Prophet) judge in all their disputes, then find no resistance in themselves against your decisions, and submit completely.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 65]
❖ Obedience = Salvation and Paradise
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger—they are truly the successful.”
[Surah an-Nur: 52]
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ... وَذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow... That is the great success.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 13]
❖ Following the Sunnah Brings Allah’s Love and Forgiveness
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me. Allah will love you and forgive your sins.”
[Surah Aal-‘Imran: 31]
❖ Who Will Be with the Prophets on the Day of Judgment?
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ... مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ...
“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor—the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous.”
[Surah an-Nisa’: 69]
❖ Disobedience = Disgrace, Disunity, and Hell
وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا
“Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has gone far astray.”
[Surah al-Ahzab: 36]
يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ... يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا
“The Day their faces will be turned in the Fire, they will say: Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and the Messenger!”
[Surah al-Ahzab: 66–67]
❖ The Innovators and Rejecters of Sunnah
Despite the clarity of the Qur’an and Sunnah, many today mock the Sunnah and fabricate stories to reject it. For example, some falsely claim that Raf‘ al-Yadayn (raising hands in Salah) was done only to make idols fall—a baseless lie not found in any Hadith.
Raf‘ al-Yadayn is a proven Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, practiced by the companions including:
- Abdullah bin Umar,
- Malik bin Huwairith,
- Abu Bakr al-Siddiq,
and many others.
There are more than 400 narrations supporting this Sunnah. Yet, it is mocked by some with phrases like:
"What are you swatting?" or "Are you about to fly?"
This is a mockery of the Sunnah and evidence of their ignorance.
❖ Complete Religion Was Given in the Prophet’s Lifetime
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ...
“Today I have completed your religion for you...”
[Surah al-Ma’idah: 3]
At that time, Islam consisted of nothing but pure Qur’an and Sunnah, free from innovations.
❖ The Saved Sect (Firqatun-Najiyah)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“My Ummah will split into 73 sects—all will be in Hell except one.”
The Companions asked:
“Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?”
He replied:
“Those who are upon what I and my Companions are upon.”
Reference: Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood
Thus, the only group granted Paradise is the one that holds firmly to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the way of the Companions.
❖ Final Appeal: Uphold Tawheed and Avoid Innovations
Tawheed is the foundation of all Islamic belief. Without it, no act of worship is accepted. Islam is not to be altered—adding or subtracting anything is destruction.
Every Prophet began his call with Tawheed and endured hardship for its sake. The religion of Islam is complete; any practice not found in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah is to be rejected.
Following self-made rules, festivals, or customs without Shar‘i evidence is tampering with the religion. And following Imams blindly without textual evidence is not an excuse for misguidance.
We must love the Prophet ﷺ, not just claim it, by following his Sunnah, not mocking it.
❖ A Closing Du‘a and Reminder
O Allah, be a Witness that I conveyed the truth.
O Allah, guide all Muslims to the Straight Path.
Protect us from deceitful people, hardships, and fitan.
Grant us steadfastness upon Islam until we meet You.
Forgive my parents, teachers, family, and the Ummah.
Unite our hearts upon the way of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions رضي الله عنهم.
