❀ Importance of Obeying the Messenger ﷺ in the Light of the Quran ❀
Obedience to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not only a virtue but a core aspect of Islamic faith, as elaborated in the Qur'an. It establishes one’s sincerity in faith, ensures salvation, and guarantees companionship of the righteous in the Hereafter.✦ Obedience to the Messenger ﷺ is the Essence of Faith
﴿النساء: 65﴾"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you [O Muhammad ﷺ] judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full] submission."
✦ A Means to Lofty Companionship in Jannah
﴿النساء: 69﴾"And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions."
✦ Obedience to the Messenger ﷺ Equals Obedience to Allah
﴿النساء : 80﴾"Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah."
✦ Prophetic Obedience: A Divine Obligation
﴿الحشر : 7﴾"Whatever the Messenger gives you – take it; and whatever he forbids you – refrain from it."
✦ His Sunnah is the Resolution to Disputes
﴿النساء: 59﴾"If you dispute about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day."
✦ His Way Defines the Straight Path
﴿الأنعام: 153﴾"And, verily, this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and do not follow the [other] paths, for they will separate you from His path."
✦ Obedience to the Prophet ﷺ is Proof of Loving Allah
﴿آل عمران : 31﴾"Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'"
✦ Following the Messenger ﷺ is a Trait of True Believers
﴿آل عمران : 53﴾"Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the Messenger, so register us among the witnesses."
✦ He is the Ultimate Role Model
﴿الاحزاب: 21﴾"Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example."
❀ The Perils of Abandoning Obedience to the Messenger ﷺ
Turning away from the Sunnah leads to chaos, hypocrisy, humiliation, and eternal punishment:- ﴿النور : 63﴾ – "Let those beware who oppose his command..."
- ﴿النساء : 61﴾ – "You see the hypocrites turning away from you with aversion."
- ﴿المائده : 104﴾ – "Even if their forefathers knew nothing and were not guided?"
- ﴿المجادله : 20﴾ – "Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger – they are among the most humiliated."
- ﴿النساء: 115﴾ – "Whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has been made clear to him... We will drive him into Hell."
❀ Obedience to the Messenger ﷺ in the Light of Hadith
Numerous authentic Hadiths further emphasize this sacred obligation. Here are key highlights:- His Way is the Straight Path: Hadith reported by Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) shows the Prophet ﷺ drawing lines to illustrate the straight path and deviant paths ([Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Darimi]).
- Command to Follow His Instructions: "Whatever I command you, do it. Whatever I forbid you, abstain." ([Ibn Majah, Sahih al-Albani])
- Best Example to Emulate: "The best speech is Allah's Book, and the best guidance is Muhammad’s ﷺ guidance." ([Sahih Muslim])
- Disobedience is Self-Destruction: "Whoever obeys me enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused." ([Sahih al-Bukhari])
- Deviation from Sunnah Disqualifies One: "He who turns away from my Sunnah is not of me." ([Sahih al-Bukhari])
- Hold Fast to My Sunnah: "Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs." ([Sunan al-Tirmidhi])
❀ The Salaf's Commitment to Obedience
The righteous predecessors, especially the Khulafa-e-Rashidun and other Sahabah, upheld the Sunnah above all else:- Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه): "I will not leave anything the Prophet ﷺ used to do." ([Bukhari, Muslim])
- Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه): Consistently retracted opinions when a hadith was presented to him.
- Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه): Performed wudu and laughed, explaining he copied the Prophet ﷺ.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه): Recited supplications exactly as the Prophet ﷺ did when mounting an animal.
- Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه): Noted for rigorous emulation of the Prophet ﷺ's every action.
- Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه): Rebuked those preferring others’ opinions over hadith.
❀ Position of the Four Imams on Obedience to Hadith
All four Imams declared that authentic hadith is above their opinions:- Imam Abu Hanifah: “When a hadith is authentic, it is my madhhab.”
- Imam Malik: “Everyone’s opinion is accepted and rejected – except the Prophet’s ﷺ.”
- Imam Shafi’i: “When you find an authentic hadith, follow it and ignore my opinion.”
- Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: “Whoever rejects the hadith of the Messenger ﷺ is on the brink of destruction.”
❀ Conclusion
⟹ Obeying the Prophet ﷺ is not optional — it is fundamental to being a Muslim.⟹ It is a prerequisite for Paradise and protection from misguidance.
⟹ His Sunnah is the shield against innovation and deviation.
⟹ The righteous predecessors and great Imams of Islam all upheld his Sunnah above all scholarly opinion.
✦ Let us reconnect with the pure Sunnah, love it, live it, and die upon it.✦
