This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Recognition of the Rights of Allah Almighty and the Messenger of Allah
In the following verses, Allah has clarified the distinction between His rights and the rights of the Messenger of Allah.
وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
"And those who obey Allah and the Messenger are the successful."
Reference: (24-An-Nur:52)
● Therefore, obedience is to Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him.
● Fear and dread are only from Allah.
● Reliance is only on Allah.
● Do not fear the creation.
Do not rely or trust in any prophet, saint, or king among the creation. The Divine command is:
وَقَالَ اللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا إِلَٰهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ ﴿٥١﴾ وَلَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾
"And Allah has commanded that you worship none but Him. Allah is but One God; so fear Me alone. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and His is the pure religion. Will you then fear anyone besides Allah?"
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:51-52)
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٨﴾
"The only ones who can maintain the mosques of Allah are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and do not fear anyone except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on the right path."
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:18)
فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا
"So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not sell My signs for a small price."
Reference: (5-Al-Ma'idah:44)
The following verse further clarifies the distinction between the rights of Allah and the rights of the Messenger of Allah:
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّا إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاغِبُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
"And how good it would be if they were content with what Allah and His Messenger had given them and said, 'Sufficient for us is Allah; He will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allah.'"
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:59)
In this verse, Allah has used the word "give" for both Himself and the Messenger of Allah because the Messenger is the intermediary between us and Allah. The propagation of divine laws, distinguishing between halal and haram, and the explanation of reward and punishment are the responsibilities of the Messenger of Allah.
● Halal is that which Allah and His Messenger declare lawful.
● Haram is that which Allah and His Messenger declare unlawful.
● Religion is that which Allah and His Messenger establish.
The Lord, the Generous, commands:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا
"So take what the Messenger gives you and refrain from what he forbids you."
Reference: (59-Al-Hashr:7)
Therefore, Allah Almighty said:
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ
"And how good it would be if they were content with what Allah and His Messenger had given them and said, 'Sufficient for us is Allah.'"
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:59)
