The position of Rasoolullahﷺ in Islam – 4

Fajr Reminders - Mahmood Habib Masjid and Islamic Center

There are several ways to guide. The most reliable way is to give the person a compass to find direction, a map with details of the route and a guide to take them to their destination. That is what Allahﷻ did. He gave us the compass, the Qur’an, a map, the Sunnah, and the guide, Rasoolullahﷺ. The one who rejects any of these is rejecting guidance. Abu Huraira (R) reported: Rasoolullahﷺ said, “Everyone from my nation will enter Jannah except those who refuse.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who will refuse?” The Prophet said, “Whoever obeys me enters Jannah and whoever disobeys me has refused.” (Sahih) Bukhari About obeying Rasoolullahﷺ, Allahﷻ set a unique standard and declared: فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا Nisa 4: 65 But no! By your Rabb, they will never be ˹true˺ believers until they accept you ˹O Prophet˺ as the judge in their disputes and find no resistance within themselves against your decision and submit wholeheartedly. As we know, sin is culpable only when it is committed, either by speech or action. Not when you think or feel disobedient or rebellious. Except in the case of Rasoolullahﷺ. With his rulings, Allahﷻ declared that the condition of Imaan (faith), not just a sin but a boundary condition, is to accept his ruling in any matter and not only to do that visibly but also internally and to do that wholeheartedly without any resistance to it in our hearts. That is the reason it is so important to know Rasoolullahﷺ and to love him more than we love any other human being. Only then can we develop the trust that is necessary to accept whatever he told us, because we know that his source of knowledge was superior to ours, that he always wanted the best for us and that whatever he told us, he had been guided to say. Allahﷻ said: وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ - إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ Najm 53: 3-4 Nor does he speak of his own whims. It is only a revelation sent down ˹to him˺. This reinforces for us that what comes from Rasoolullahﷺ is always beneficial and important and so must be followed. Allahﷻ declared very simply and powerfully without any reservations or boundaries: مَّن يُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا Nisa 4: 80 Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah. But whoever turns away, then ˹know that˺ We have not sent you as a keeper over them. Allahﷻ declared the fundamental principle of obedience to Rasoolullahﷺ. وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ Hashr 59: 7 Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatever he forbids you from, leave it. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is severe in punishment. Allahﷻ commands – Do whatever he tells you and stay away from whatever he forbids you. This blanket statement shows that Rasoolullahﷺ can never command anything that is contrary to Allahﷻ’s wish. Abu Hurairah (R) said: I heard Rasoolullahﷺ say: What I have forbidden for you, stay away from it. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. For verily, it was only their excessive questioning and disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed [the nations] who were before you. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] The principle therefore is to do what Rasoolullahﷺ ordered, to the best of our ability but to stop totally whatever he forbade. He didn’t tell us to stop to the best of our ability. Stop totally and instantly. When Allahﷻ revealed: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ Ma’aida 5: 90 O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s h...