Obligation of Following the Messenger ﷺ in Light of Qur’an and Authentic Hadith
This excerpt is taken from the book "Eid Milad al-Nabi ﷺ ki Shari Hukoomat" authored by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amrpuri.
❀ Following the Messenger ﷺ — Criterion of Success and Proof of Love
Following the Messenger ﷺ is the true standard of success and the real evidence of loving him. It defines a person’s inner inclinations and feelings. Whoever truly loves the Messenger ﷺ and sincerely acknowledges his grandeur cannot deviate from his commands in the slightest. The acceptance of deeds also depends upon this.
Following the Messenger ﷺ in the Light of the Qur’an
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ، قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾ (آل عمران: 31)
“Say: If you truly love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger. But if they turn away, then indeed Allah does not love the disbelievers.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله, d. 774H) said:
“…This verse rules over everyone who claims to love Allah but does not follow the Muhammadan way. In reality, he is a liar in his claim until he follows the Shari‘ah of Muhammad ﷺ in all his words and actions.”
(تفسیر ابن کثیر: 32/2)
He further said:
“…Allah commanded everyone, both the general and the specific, to obey Allah and His Messenger. Whoever turns away—meaning, disobeys his command—is included in: ﴿فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾. This indicates that opposing the way of the Messenger ﷺ is disbelief. Even if someone claims to love Allah, true closeness can only be achieved by following the unlettered Prophet, the Seal of the Messengers, sent to all jinn and mankind…”
(تفسیر ابن کثیر: 32/2)
Allah Almighty says:
﴿مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ﴾ (النساء: 80)
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.”
﴿إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ...﴾ (النور: 51)
“…The only statement of the believers when called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is: We hear and we obey. They are the successful.”
﴿فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ...﴾ (النور: 63)
“…Let those who oppose his command beware lest a trial afflict them or a painful punishment befall them.”
Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) explained:
“This refers to the command of the Messenger ﷺ—his way, his method, his Sunnah, and his Shari‘ah. All statements and deeds are to be weighed against his. Whatever accords with them is accepted, whatever opposes is rejected, no matter who the person is.”
(تفسیر ابن کثیر: 90/6)
Allah says:
﴿فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...﴾ (النساء: 65)
“…By your Lord, they will never truly believe until they make you (O Prophet) judge in all disputes between them, and then find no resistance in their hearts against your decision, but submit fully.”
﴿فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ...﴾ (النساء: 59)
“…If you differ in anything, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is best and yields the best outcome.”
Ibn Abi al-‘Izz al-Hanafi (رحمه الله, d. 792H) said:
“It is impossible that healing, guidance, knowledge, and certainty are not found in the Book of Allah and the words of His Messenger, but are instead found in the words of the confused. The duty is to take Allah’s and His Messenger’s words as the foundation, ponder their meanings, understand them, recognize their rational or textual evidences, and weigh people’s statements against them. Whatever accords with the Messenger’s report is accepted; whatever opposes is rejected.”
(شرح العقیدة الطحاویة، ص 167)
﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ...﴾ (النور: 62)
“…True believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, and when they are with him in a collective matter, they do not leave without his permission.”
﴿ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ...﴾ (الجاثية: 18)
“…Then We put you upon a clear Shari‘ah, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who know not.”
Following the Messenger ﷺ in the Light of Authentic Hadith
① Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah.”
(صحيح البخاري: 7137، صحيح مسلم: 1835)
② Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
“…The angels said: Whoever obeys Muhammad ﷺ has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys Muhammad ﷺ has disobeyed Allah. Muhammad ﷺ is the criterion among people.”
(صحيح البخاري: 7281)
③ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said to his Companions:
“Do you not know that I am the Messenger of Allah to you?” They said: Yes, we testify that you are the Messenger of Allah. He said: “Do you not know that Allah revealed in His Book: Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah?” They said: Yes, we testify to that—that whoever obeys you has obeyed Allah, and your obedience is obedience to Allah.”
(مسند الإمام أحمد: 93/2، وسنده صحيح)
Imam Ibn Hibban (الإحسان: 2109) graded it “Sahih.”
④ ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Humiliation and disgrace are upon the one who opposes my command.”
(مسند الإمام أحمد: 50/2، وسندہ حسن)
This narration was graded:
- “Jayyid” by Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) (اقتضاء الصراط المستقیم: 250/1)
- “Salih” by Hafiz al-Dhahabi (رحمه الله) (سیر أعلام النبلاء: 509/15)
- “Sahih” by Hafiz al-‘Iraqi (رحمه الله) (تخریج أحادیث الإحیاء: 318)
- “Hasan” by Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) (فتح الباری: 271/10)
❀ Key Lessons
① Following the Messenger ﷺ is proof of love for Allah and His Messenger.
② Disobedience to the Prophet ﷺ is equivalent to disobedience to Allah.
③ All deeds are weighed against the Sunnah; acceptance depends on conformity.
④ True faith requires submission to the Prophet’s rulings without resistance.
⑤ Success in both worlds lies in full obedience and following the Sunnah.
