This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
The Reward of Holding Firmly to the Book and the Sunnah
Follow the path of the Sunnah, O traveler, without hesitation
This road leads straight to Paradise Al-Firdaus
Allah Almighty has advised Muslims to be content with what they receive from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and even if the Prophet ﷺ does not give them anything, they should still be satisfied with his decisions. This includes spoils of war, property, and all other matters. Scholars have deduced from the following verse that every authentic Hadith of the Noble Prophet ﷺ falls under the command of the Quran. Observe the noble verse:
﴿مَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ﴾
"Whatever Allah has given to His Messenger from the people of the towns—belongs to Allah and the Messenger, and to the relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler—so that it may not always circulate among the rich among you. And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty."
Reference: (59-Al-Hashr:7)
Whoever recites the Holy Quran and always seeks guidance from the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it is impossible for him to abandon Islam and revert to disbelief. Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِيَ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ﴾
"How can you disbelieve while you are being recited the verses of Allah and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allah has [indeed] been guided to a straight path."
Reference: (3-Al-Imran:101)
Allah Almighty has also forbidden the believers from hastily speaking or acting before the Prophet ﷺ, or taking any step before knowing the command of Allah and His Messenger. Thus He said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ . يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ. إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ.﴾
"O you who have believed, do not precede Allah and His Messenger but fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing. O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not. Indeed, those who lower their voices before the Messenger of Allah are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and great reward."
Reference: (49-Al-Hujurat:1-3)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) explained the meaning of this verse as: O Muslims! Do not rush to act before the Prophet ﷺ; rather, follow him in all matters.
Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) explained it as: O people who have acknowledged the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of His Messenger ﷺ, do not make any decision in your war or religious matters before the decision of Allah and His Messenger, lest you decide against the will of Allah and His Messenger.
Also, commentators write that after the death of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, in light of this verse, it is obligatory upon Muslims that whenever the noble mention of the Prophet ﷺ comes, or any of his commands or Hadiths are narrated, they should observe respect and reverence, no slight disrespect should occur in his honor, and no one's statement should be preferred over his Hadith, no matter who that person is in the world.
Reference: (Tafsir al-Rahman: 2/1447,1446)
It is obligatory to judge all matters of life by the Shariah brought by the Noble Prophet ﷺ and by the criterion of his Sunnah. Whatever is according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ should be accepted, and whatever contradicts it should be rejected, no matter who says or does it. Allah Almighty says:
﴿لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًا ۚ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ يَتَسَلَّلُونَ مِنكُمْ لِوَاذًا ۚ فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ﴾
Do not consider the calling of the Messenger of Allah as a trivial call like one of you calling another. Indeed, Allah knows those among you who slip away secretly. So fear those who oppose the command of the Messenger, lest a calamity strike them or a painful punishment befall them.
Reference: (24-An-Nur:63)
Jurists have deduced from this verse that the "command" of Allah and His Messenger is obligatory. Because here the inevitable consequence of abandoning the command is mentioned as one of two punishments: either a calamity will descend or a painful punishment. Therefore, those who oppose the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ or prefer others' statements over it through corrupt interpretations should reflect on this verse and, considering the status and love of the Messenger ﷺ, should not regard anyone's statement or action as worthy of attention compared to the Sunnah. ذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء This is also a grace and mercy of Allah which He does not bestow on everyone.
Following the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is a cause of divine love, and furthermore, Allah Almighty forgives the sins of those who follow the Sunnah of Muhammad ﷺ. Allah Almighty said:
﴿قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾
"Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'"
Reference: (3-Al-Imran:31)
The noble personality of the Prophet ﷺ is the best example for the believers in good qualities and excellent character. The Prophet ﷺ remained steadfast in difficult times, was patient in sorrow and hardship, and never wavered in his perseverance. In the Makkan life, the people of Quraysh inflicted mountains of hardships upon him and made life difficult for him and the Muslims, but he endured everything with faith and determination. These qualities of the Prophet ﷺ are a guiding light for believers who seek the pleasure of Allah and the reward of the Hereafter. Such people do not show cowardice in striving in the way of Allah and remember Allah abundantly. Allah Almighty said:
﴿لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا﴾
"Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often."
Reference: (33-Al-Ahzab:21)
The Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ is entirely guidance. Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَن نَّشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ﴾
"And thus We have sent to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path."
Reference: (42-Ash-Shura:52)
In matters of disagreement and disputes, the decision of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ must be accepted. Allah Almighty said:
﴿فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾
"By your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], 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, willing] submission."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:65)
In this noble verse, Allah Almighty said that these hypocrites wronged themselves greatly by accepting other tyrants as their judges instead of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, thus deserving not only the punishment of hypocrisy but also another divine punishment. The only way to avoid this punishment was to repent from their hypocrisy and great sin, come to the Prophet ﷺ, seek forgiveness from Allah, and the Prophet ﷺ would also seek forgiveness for them, so Allah would forgive their sins.
This verse relates to a specific incident of the hypocrites mentioned above, who, due to the disease of hypocrisy, accepted soothsayers as their judges instead of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, repentance did not require Muslims to come to the Prophet ﷺ and have him pray for their forgiveness. Therefore, no other such incident is found during the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
Some innovators say that going to the grave of the Prophet ﷺ and asking for forgiveness is the same as asking for forgiveness from him during his lifetime, because they consider the Prophet ﷺ alive in his grave just as he was before death. They say only a veil separates him, and they use this verse as evidence. This is a distortion of meaning in the Quran and a belief entirely contrary to the Quran and Sunnah regarding the death of the Prophet ﷺ.
Reference: (Tafsir al-Rahman: 271/1)
Further Allah said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا﴾
"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:59)
The importance of obeying the Messenger is well understood from the following noble verse that no one can be obedient to Allah by disobeying the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and no one can worship Allah by violating the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ. So whoever follows him will be successful and saved from Hellfire, and whoever turns away will suffer loss in this world and the Hereafter:
﴿مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ ۖ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا﴾
"He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away—We have not sent you over them as a guardian."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:80)
عن أنس رضى الله عنه يقول: جاء ثلاثة رهط إلى بيوت أزواج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ، يسألون عن عبادة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فلما أخبروا كأنهم تقالوها فقالوا: وأين نحن من النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ قد غفر الله له ما تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخر . فقال أحدهم: أما أنا أصلي الليل أبدا ، وقال آخر: أنا أصوم الدهر ولا أفطر ، وقال آخر: أنا أعتزل النساء فلا أتزوج أبدا، فجاء إليهم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ” أنتم الذين قلتم كذا وكذا؟! أما والله! إني لأخشاكم لله وأتقاكم له، لكني أصوم وأفطر، وأصلي وأرقد، وأتزوج النساء، فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني“.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that three men came to the houses of the purified wives of the Noble Prophet ﷺ and asked about the worship of the Prophet ﷺ. When they were told the details, they seemed to consider it insufficient and said, "What is our comparison to the Prophet ﷺ? Your past and future sins have been forgiven (so we need to worship more than you)." One of them said: "I will pray all night continuously." Another said: "I will fast continuously and never break a fast." The third said: "I will avoid women and never marry." When these words reached the Prophet ﷺ, he came to them and asked, "Have you said this?" When they affirmed, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Beware! By Allah, I am the most fearful of Allah among you and the most cautious of Him in my heart. But I fast and I break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me (i.e., has no relation to me)."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Encouragement to Marriage, No: 5063 – Sahih Muslim, Book of Marriage, Chapter on Recommendation of Marriage for Those Who Desire It... No: 1401.
Disobedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ leads to destruction, ruin, and loss. This can be understood from the following incident narrated by Salamah bin ‘Umar bin ‘Aqwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him):
” أن رجلا أكل عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بشماله فقال: كل بيمينك“. قال: ”لا أستطيع“. قال: ”لا استطعت“. ما منعه إلا الكبر، فما رفعها إلى فيه.
A man ate with his left hand in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so the Prophet ﷺ said to him: "Eat with your right hand." He said: "I do not have the strength for that." The Prophet ﷺ said: "Then you do not have the strength." He was prevented from eating with his right hand only by arrogance, so afterward, he was unable to even raise his right hand to his mouth (meaning he lost the ability to do so).
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Drinks, Chapter on Etiquette and Rules of Eating and Drinking, No: 2021.
Following the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ is the path to Paradise, and disobedience to him is the path to Hellfire. That is, disobedient people will be deprived of entering Paradise:
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ” كل أمتي يدخلون الجنة إلا من أبى“. قيل: يا رسول الله؟ ومن يأبى؟ قال: ”من أطاعني دخل الجنة ، ومن عصاني فقد أبى“.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "My Ummah will all enter Paradise except those who refuse." It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who will refuse?" He replied: "Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused (to enter)."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Holding Fast to the Sunnah, Chapter on Following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, No: 7280.
Draw that map which clearly shows
Here is the command of Muhammad ﷺ, and there the neck is bowed
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Nujayh ‘Arbad bin Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once gave a very effective sermon that made hearts tremble and eyes shed tears. We said, "O Messenger of Allah! This is like a farewell sermon, so please give us a will!" The Prophet ﷺ said:
” أوصيكم بتقوى الله ، والسمع والطاعة وإن عبد حبشي فإنه من يعش منكم فسيرى اختلافا كثيرا - فعليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين ، تمسكوا بها عضوا عليها بالنواجذ ، وإياكم ومحدثات الأمور فإن كل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالة“.
I advise you to fear Allah and to listen and obey (i.e., to hear and act upon the commands of the ruler), even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader. Remember! Whoever among you lives after me will see much discord, so hold firmly to my Sunnah and the way of the rightly guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto them with your molar teeth (i.e., firmly). Avoid newly invented matters in religion (bid’ah), for every innovation is misguidance.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Sunnah, Chapter on Adherence to the Sunnah, No: 4607 – Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Knowledge, Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Avoiding Innovations, No: 2676 –
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it "Sahih."
The above Prophetic Hadith emphasizes following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the rightly guided Caliphs and warns against innovations. Moreover, it foretells that this Ummah will be afflicted with discord but also points to the correct path: not to go beyond the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the conduct of the rightly guided Caliphs. This is a criterion and standard for recognizing the truth amid widespread disagreement. If only Muslims would accept this Prophetic standard as the sole criterion of truth.
Benefit: Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) kissed the Black Stone and said: "I know you are just a stone; you neither benefit nor harm. If I had not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissing you, I would never have kissed you."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj, No: 1610 – Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, No: 1270.
