The Shar‘i Status of Following the Prophet ﷺ in Light of Qur’an and Sunnah
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il fī Ḍaw’ al-Qur’ān wa al-Ḥadīth, Vol. 01, p. 563
Question
Is it not necessary to follow the Prophet ﷺ?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa as-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✿ In matters where the Book and Sunnah permit not following the Prophet ﷺ, following him therein will be considered nafl (voluntary act of devotion).
✿ In matters where there is a prohibition from following the Prophet ﷺ, then following him in such matters is forbidden — for example:
◈ Ṣiyām Wiṣāl (continuous fasting without breaking the fast).
✿ In matters where there is neither prohibition of following nor permission for abandoning following, then following the Prophet ﷺ in such matters is obligatory (farḍ) and necessary.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَاتَّبِعُوْہُ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَہْتَدُوْنَ﴾
[“And follow him so that you may be guided.”]
— [Al-A‘rāf 158, P9]
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
