Answer the Prophet's Call

[Muslimah]

as salam alykom


I am posting this very useful and informative link for all of us to gain better knowledge about hadeeth in a scientific manner


http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/...adith/atit.html

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


As salam alykom


Alhamdulelah, due to the importance of this subject we saw to post on long intervals to give chance to visitors to read and digest.


Looking at the following Ayah:


<b>” But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad salla Allah A`lyhee wa sallam) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission." (Quran 4:65)
</b>


becomes very clear what exactly is the role of the Messenger salla Allah A`lyhee wa sallam among us Muslims. By this Ayah, we are commanded to make him judge between us, not only this, Allah Made it a condition to prove our level of belief. In such case, one who has this authority of course can and have to teach us also other matters, including how to pray, perform Haj and more.


I m not sure how can anyone read this Ayah and not understand what is the importance of Sunnah. Or even can deny the Sunnah. Now how can the Messenger salla Allah A`lyhee wa sallam teach us and convey the instructions except through his words. His words which were represented as hadeeth were a series of lessons on almost every aspect of our lives. His words were compiled by trustworthy men. Men who narrated hadeeth were subjected to a certain criteria based on which we may or may not take the hadeeth as authentic. Such criteria was very strict that once a scholar took a trip from Saudi Arabia to Sham to meet someone who had a certain hadeeth that he needed. Upon his arrival he saw the man trying to pull a cat out of the house by making it think he has food in his hand. He considered him a liar and didn’t take the hadeeth.


The Ayah is so clear and direct for us not to overlook or ignore what the Sunnah is. The Messenger salla Allah A`lyhee wa sallam had even the authority to judge between Muslims and we must accept the judgment. How can we not follow his Sunnah then, which contained of course judgments in several occasions that we may face.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


As salam alykom


I am still amazed at those who doubt the divinity of the Sunnah. I was watching a TV program last Monday which hosted an embryology doctor. She talked about the following dua which is made during Sujud (prostration):


'Allمhumma laka sajadtu, wabika مmentu, walaka 'aslamtu, sajada wajhee lil-lathee khalaqahu wa sawwarahu, wa shaqqa sam`ahu, wa basarahu, tabمrakal-lahu 'ahsanul khمliqeena.


O' my 'ilمh to You I have prostrated, and in You I have committed faith, and to You I have surrendered. My face has prostrated to the One that has created it, fashioned it, and slit for it its hearing and its sight. Blessed is Allah best of creators.


She explained saying that as all of us, she thought the word shaqq would mean to slit the eye. However, as she studied further, she found out that during the evolution of the embryo sight, an optica sulcus takes place in the optical tube in the 6th week indicating the first part of the sight development of the embryo. To her and our surprise, the she found that the term optica sulcus literally means in Arabic Shiq. Sobhan Allah.


Let me add here quoting the doctor (I will try to look for her name) that the medical term is made by the western scinetists not Muslims. Just look at the miracle.


And they still say that how can we take after the Messenger or how can we verify that Bukhari and Muslim (the one who reported this hadeeth) conveyed what the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said?


Who can make such statement unless it is from Allah the Creator?


Allah u Akbar

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Again to turn on the lights on this thread and continue explaining to those who desire to know:


Haj, as a ritual, is clearly commanded in Quran:


"And proclaim to humankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).* That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) (at the time of their slaughtering by saying: Bismillah, Wallahu-Akbar, Allahumma Minka wa Ilaik). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time.* Then let them complete the prescribed duties (rites of Hajj) for them, and perform their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Ka'bah at Makkah).* That (Hajj rites is the obligation that humankind owes to Allah), and whoever honours the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord." (Quran 22:27-30).

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Praise be to Allah, Owner of skies and earth and what is between them, Creator of the creations and Owner of the Kingdom, prayer and peace be upon His final Messenger and all prophets and messengers ameen.


Interacting with several trends and orientations, Allah Blessed us with opportunities to be confronted with issues that, haven’t we been on the Internet, we wouldn’t have been exposed to. For example, of those important issues, is Quraneen (subject of this thread). Sometime back we decided to dedicate this informative thread to reply one by one to their raised issues either on this board or otherwise. One of the major points was that the formula we use as the testimony of faith (Shahada) is a shirkish (polytheistic) one. They claimed that Quran does not include a command for one to say ash hadu ana Mohamdan rasulu Allah. Thus, this is an innovation and not required for one to be a Muslim.


Examining Quran, we told them that Allah in Suratu Munafeqeeen Say:


<b>When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed. (Quran 63:1).
</b><b></b>


Although the Ayah clearly explains that when people intend to embrace Islam, they must go to the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him to declare their faith by including a testimony that he is the messenger. They reply O look this is the shahada of the Munafeqeen (hypocrites). Mind you, this is not the meaning of the Ayah at all. But rather Allah Is explaining about the hypocrites who they used to come - just exactly like everyone else does – to declare faith. In other words, they follow the process from the outside but Allah Knows their inside. Moreover, Allah Confirms the Messenger’s position by saying Allah Knows that you are indeed His Messenger. Sobhan Allah. Yet they just close their minds and refuse to see the point.


Alhamdulelah, lately this issues surfaced again while discussing with a sister. And Allah Blessed us with more replies. Please note that the following information is not based on a formal scholar’s reply, but rather the fruit of a personal endeavor seeking Allah’s Pleasure and Close guidance. Thus, I invoke upon Allah to forgive any shortcomings.


Reading the Quran, you will come across an Ayah in Surat Mumtahinah saying:


“O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the Bai'a (pledge), that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual intercourse, that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood (i.e. by making illegal children belonging to their husbands), and that they will not disobey you in any Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that which Islam ordains) then accept their Bai'a (pledge), and ask Allah to forgive them, Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 60:12)



This noble Ayah can not - under any circumstances – be interpreted in any other sense but to say that it was a must for females who wished to embrace Islam to stand before the Messenger. But to really understand the process, let us move backward to Ayah # 10 that says:


<b>O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them</b>



, Allah knows best as to their Faith.


According to all the Tafseer, the word examine them (which is emtahenoohun from which the noble Surat got its title) means have them pronounce the shahada including the testimony that Mohamed is the messenger as explained in Ayah 12. Or what does giving him (Mohamed peace and prayer be upon him) pledge not to associate anything in worship ..to the end of the Ayah mean? It physically portrays the situation as the women who wish to declare faith, they must appear before the Messenger in order to pass the examination of faith by declaring the shahada and giving him pledge.


Alright, some might say O but this address applies for females (although we are all aware and in agreement that both male and female are under equal responsibilities in terms of dos and don’t in Quran). But in order to close this gap, come let us examine another Ayah:


In Surat Nour Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`la Say:


<b>The true believers are only those, who believe in (the Oneness of) Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), (Quran 24:62).
</b>


What is more to be said in this regard that could be more manifest, direct, and clear than Allah’s word.


Allah – in this noble Ayah – put a condition, a criterion, a standard of one who would be defined as a true believer. Who is the true believer???????


He/she is one who believe in the Oneness of Allah (ash hadu ana la ilaha ila Allah) and His Messenger Mohamed (wa ana Mohamadan Rasul Allah).


I don’t think I need to go any further, Alhamdulelah Who Has Guided us for this and if it was not for Him we wouldn’t have been guided.


Again I stress that, I didn’t refer to any scholastic work, but rather just reading through the Quran. May Allah Accept.

[Muslimah]

Bismillalh


as salam alykom


As part of the motive behind starting this thread, that I actually enjoy updating much, is to present how Sunnah including the ahadeeth is part and parcel of Islamic legislation. How Ahadeeth can not be actually ignored or eliminated all together from Islam as a foundation. I m aware that the original post responded to those posters who actually rejected all types of worships. They actually came up with new Islam. But there still those Quranis or even common Muslims who are confused regarding how Sunnah can not be rejected.


In the following series of articles, translated from Arabic Friday surmons, we are going to address the issue step by step. In this, we only seek Allah's pleasure and satisfaction. We also seek to introduce and highlight the Sunnah of our beloved Messenger, leader, teacher Mohamed.


--------------------------------


Companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:


Introduction:


During the sixties of the last century, Al Ahram newspaper published a summary of a report issued by The Atheism Studies Institute in Soviet Union. The report addressed the problems that the atheism call is encountering in the Muslim countries. In brief, the report stated that calling for atheism was easily spread in the western countries, however, it suffers major difficulties in the Muslim countries. By nature, a Muslim is strictly committed to his/her religion. Even those who are not really practicing, they still never accept abusing Quran or slandering the Messenger of Islam. Thus, the report recommended that callers to atheism should refrain from attacking those two Muslim sanctities; Quran and the Messenger. But rather a caller should use a detour in order to achieve the objective of convincing a Muslim to disbelieve in Allah and abandon Islam. The initial part of this detour is destroying Muslim symbols which do not bear the same level of sanctity such as that of Quran or the Messenger. Examples include the companions or Imams of Islam. For this purpose, the caller should underline their faults, explain how they are just ordinary people who do not deserve such glorification. In case the Muslim – being called – was responsive, then the caller should move into the next stage of invalidating the authenticity of what they communicated after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. The caller should use and emphasis critical opinions of the narrations of those companions that represent a healthy phenomenon in Islam. For this purpose, the caller applies the positions of scholars regarding certain narrations to all the Ahadeeth narrated after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee was sallam. In this case, if scholars criticized a number of Hadeeth reported in Sahih Bukhari, thus, all Sahih Bukhari collection is discredited. Or in case some Hadeeth scholars categorized a number of Hadeeth as – narrated by a certain companion - Daief (weak), to them all narrations made by this companion are discredited. To promote their call, they tap on the ignorance of the majority Muslims regarding terms of Hadeeth. As soon as the caller to atheism receives an acceptance signal from the Muslim, he/she leaves the Muslim to process the thoughts on his/her own.


Having said that, we are going to try and respond to the following questions:


1. Who is to be classified as a companion (Sahabi)?


2. Are all the companions categorized to the same level?


3. What is the position of companions in Islam?


4. What is a companion's role in communicating the honored Sunnah Nabawaiay (Prophetic Sunnah) throughout the generations?


5. What is the credibility level of what we received after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and what was the documentation process?


In the next step, we are going to study a number of the companions who are Hadeeth narrator starting with Abu Horaira, Aaesha, Abdullah Ibn Abbas and Abu Dhar Al Ghaffari may Allah be pleased with all of them.


1. Who is to be classified as a companion (Sahabi)?


He/she is one who met the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, gave him pledge for Islam, believed in his prophethood and died as such. According to this definition, we calculate the number of companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam upon his death as 114 thousand including those who narrated after him and heard from him. However, they were not all on the same level of knowledge with the Sunnah and narration after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Some of them were full time devoted and in the company of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam such as Anas Ibn Malek may Allah be Pleased with him who was a servant to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, Abi Horaira who was also in the company of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam full time. Others took several occupations to generate income. Ibn Al Atheer, in his book "Asadel Ghabah", explained that about 1800 is the number of narrator companions whose narrations were communicated to us. Ahul Sunnah were consensus that after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, the best people are Abu Bakr Assediq, Omar, Othman then Ali may Allah be pleased with all of them. The ten who are advantaged of glad tidings of being blessed with Jannah come next as follows: Al Zobair Ibn Al A`wwam, Talha Ibn Abdullah, Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas, Abu Obaida Ibnel Jarrah, Said Ibn Zaid, AbdurRahman Ibn A`waf may Allah be pleased with all of them and then the people of Badr who come to 313. The Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said about them:


"Allah may He Be Glorified Manifested to Ahul Badr (people of Badr) and Said do whatever you want I forgave you".


The number of companions who joined Bay`atu Radwan were about 1400 about whom Allah Revealed:


"


"Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai'a (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory," (Quran 48:18).


Then comes the companions who joined the army of A`ussrah (hardship) who were about few thousands. Quran explains about them:


"Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad) in the time of distress (during the Tabuk expedition, etc.)," (Quran 9:117).


All the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam are privileged with the advantage of the Messenger's company. Meeting, shaking hands and giving pledge to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam for Islam is an invaluable aspect. Allah may He be Glorified commended the companions in general in many positions of Quran including:


"Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision* They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve." (Quran 3:169)


" But the Messenger (Muhammad) and those who believed with him (in Islamic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allah's Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful." (Quran 9:88).


" And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success." (Quran 9:100)


"(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say);- And those who, before them, had homes (in Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful." (Quran 59:8-9).

[Muslimah]

Narrated under the authority of Emran Ibn Hassen may Allah be pleased with both of them that he said, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: The best among my Ummah are my companions (Qarni) then those who succeed them, and then those who succeed them, Imran said, I do not know if he specified after his Qarn two or three Qarn. Then, after you people will come who testify, but will not be requested to testify, who betray and shall not be trusted, who vow and shall not fulfill, and obesity shall be of their characteristic. (reported in Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daoud, Termidhi).


In Muslim's narration, a sentence is added: Then comes the 4th generation, they will be asked: search can you find among them someone who lived one who lived one who lived the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, they identify the man, an opening is achieved by him.


Narrated Anas Ibn Malik that two men of the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam went out during a dark night and they had something like two lamps illuminating between their hands, when they parted, each of them had one till he arrived to his family. (reported by Bukhari).


This is an exclusive advantage (karama) for them and extension to the miracles of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Those two men were Usaid Ibn Hodayr and A`bbad Ibn Basheer may Allah be Pleased with both of them.


Narrated under the authority of Abu Mussa Al Asha`ry that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said stars are a safeguard to the skies, when stars are gone, the sky shall bring forth what it was promised (the advent of the Day of Resurrection), and I am a protection to my companions, when I m gone, then my companions shall meet what they are promised, and my companions are a protection to my Ummah, when my companions are gone, my Ummah shall meet what it deserves". (reported by Muslim)


The tafseer of my companions shall meet what they are promised which is temptations (fitnah), division, and conflict. My nation shall meet what it is promised means: abandoning Islam, following self desires and competition for the Dunia (this world).


Narrated under the authority of Jaber Ibn Abdullah that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam while he was with Hafsah may Allah be Pleased with her said: Insh aAllah none of the companions who attended and made a pledge under the tree shall be admitted to Nar (hell), Hafsah may Allah be Pleased with her said, O Messenger of Allah but rather there will be, he told her off. She said Allah may He be Glorified say: There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); he - salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam – said and Allah may He be Glorified said after that: Then We shall save those who use to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the wrong-doers therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)." (reported by Abu Daoud and Termdhi).


Narrated under the authority of Jaber Ibn Abdullah that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Nar (hell fire) shall not touch one who saw me, who saw those who saw me" (reported by Termidhi).


Narrated under the authority of Boraydah after his father that that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Any of my companions dies in a certain land, he shall rise on the Day of Resurrections as a leader and light to them." (reported by Termidhi).


Prohibiting to slander or talk badly about the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam


Narrated under the Abdullah Ibn Moghaffal that he said the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam: Allah Allah for my companions, Allah Allah for my companions, refrain from making them a target after me, who loves shall do so through loving me, and one who hates them shall do so through hating me, and one who harms them, harms me, and one who harms me, harmed Allah, and one who harms Allah, Allah shall seize." (reported by Termdhi).


Explanation of the hadeeth: Allah Allah for my companions: fear Allah regarding my companions, refrain from making them a target: do not target them with your tongues slandering them and defaming them. Allah Shall seize: shall impose on his major destruction.


Narrated under the authority of Abu Said Al Khodry may Allah be Pleased with him that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: do not slander any of my companions for any of you spends an amount of gold as large as the mountain of Uhud, shall never attain the amount of Mud or half Mud of any of them." (reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Abou Daoud, and Termidhi).


Mud: An old weighing unit that ranges between 1.3 and two ounces according to the scholars estimation.


Narrated under the authority of Ibn Omar that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: if you see those who slander my companions say: may Allah Curse your shirk (polytheism)" (reported by Termidhi and Ahmed).


Scholars of the Ummah used to give Fatwa according to those rules. A man asked Abdullah Ibn Al Mobarak: who is better Moa`wyah or Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz, Abdullah replied: Dust in the nostrils of Moa`wyah who accompanied the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is better than Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz. A man came to Imam Abi Zar`a may Allah Have mercy on him and said: I hate Moa`wyah? He asked: why? He said because he fought Ali, Abu Zaraa said: The Rub (Lord) of Ali is a Merciful one, and the opponent of Moa`wyah is a generous one, why do you have to come in between. May Allah be Pleased with all of them.


The duty of a Muslim towards the companions of Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam


Sunnah scholars are consensus that all the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam are credible and trustworthy, even those who experienced the temptation, they are still credible. Thus, we have to love all of them equally, not to differentiate between them, and maintain balance in the sense not to exaggerate in loving one or disown any of them. We must also hate those who hate them, those who slander them without a valid reason. We should only talk good about them. Loving them is part of practicing Islam and Ihsan (good deed) and hating them is Kufr, hypocrisy and transgression (Tahawaya creed).

[Muslimah]

From a linguistic viewpoint, the word Sunnah means the way and methodology either good or evil. It is used to describe good as well as evil specially to refer to someone who pioneered an action or established a methodology to be followed.


“Narrated under the authority of Jarir Bin Abdullah that the Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: One who established a good Sunnah in Islam that was adopted after him/her, an equal reward to those who implement it shall be recorded for him/her without decreasing of their reward. And one who established an evil Sunnah in Islam shall bear its sin and the sin of those who implement it after him/her without decreasing any of their sin” (reported by Muslim).


As for the word Sunnah according to scholars, it bears various meanings that differ according to the specialization of scholars. In this essay, we are concerned with its sense according to scholars of jurisprudence. To them, Sunnah is defined as what the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said, did or approved (what he approved of the sayings or actions of the companions even if just kept quite) that was ascribed to him after receiving the message. In this sense, it serves as the second basis after the Holy Quran that is used to derive, refer to and extract the rules of legislation.


Importance of Sunnah:


The honored Prophetic Sunnah is deemed the practical accurate and clear application that taught us how to connect between Quran and real life. It also gains its importance as being established by the Messenger who is described by Allah:


“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a revelation that is revealed. (Quran 53:3-4).


“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (Quran 33:21).


Allah, exhausted all possible formula in Commanding the believers to obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam including:


“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds.” (Quran 47:33)


“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority” (Quran 4:59).


In this noble Ayah, we can see that Allah differentiated between obeying Allah and obeying the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. This Ayah establishes that obedience is ordained to the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam as well as to Allah. Through this position the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is authorized the role of legislator, by virtue of the Ayah 59:7 that will be indicated below, in cases when a detailed Quranic text is not available. For example Allah may He be Glorified Say:


"Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters…." (Quran 4:23).


To the included categories who are forbidden for marriage in this Ayah, the Messenger further detailed the unlawfulness domain to cover as well other categories according to his hadeeth saying:


"Narrated under the authority of Ibn Abbass that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: relations created consequent to breast feeding is unlawful as those relations based on lineage" (reported by Bukhari and Nasai).


By virtue of this prophetic legislation, an aunt who acquired this capacity through breast feeding (sister to the husband of the breast feeding woman or sister of the breast feeding woman for example), and lactation niece are also unmarriageable. The same case applies for taking a woman and her lactation sister for marriage by the same man. This legislation coming for the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is equally binding to the Muslim Ummah as the Quranic legislation based on the Ayah:


"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment." (Quran 59:7)


Another form of commanding the obedience to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam which is obey Allah and the Messenger:


" Say (O Muhammad): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad)." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers." (Quran 3:32)


" and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), if you are believers." (Quran 8:1)


"And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabirin (the patient ones, etc.)." (Quran 8:46). Nonetheless, in this Ayah, Allah Did not repeat the command of obeying the Messenger in order to establish it as obeying the Messenger is an obedience to Allah as indicated in this Ayah:


" He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a watcher over them." (Quran 4:80).


In this context, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is assigned the capacity of interpreting Allah's commands, prohibitions as well as presenting the relevant implementation methods.


The command of obeying Allah and the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam came as part of the Holy Quran in the above mentioned two forms 11 times. In one Ayah, the command of obeying the Messenger was indicated as follows:


" And perform the prayer, and give alms (of Zakah) and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may receive mercy (from Allah)." (Quran 24:56).


Full detailed description of Salat and Zakat rulings were introduced by the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. As indicated in the previous Ayah, it only referred to obeying the Messenger without an open command to obey Allah as it is already implied. Thus, the command to establish Salat and Zakat is one from Allah that requires compliance. Nevertheless, Allah Allowed the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam the position to explain in details how to perform both rituals. In this regard, he presented us in detail validity rulings of Salat, causes that invalidate Salat, invalidating causes of ablution, rulings of wiping over the turban, socks, shoes, cast and others. He also informed us about how to perform Zakat including types of money that entail Zakat, calculating the percentage for each type, assigned Zakat value for each type..etc. For this purpose, Allah Commanded to obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam as he is going to be assigned the task of elaborating on the details of how to implement the command of performing Salat and Zakat. The Muslim Ummah throughout different eras and generations worldwide came to consensus agreement that Prophetic Sunnah is indispensable and it is as binding as Quran.

[Muslimah]

In 12 different positions in Allah's book, Allah Using direct command form Instructed the Muslim Ummah to obey the Messenger. The command took the forms of: obey Allah and obey the Messenger. Another form is: obey Allah and the Messenger or obey Allah and His Messenger. It came also as: obey the Messenger. In addition to those commands, the order to obey the Messenger came in an indirect form in 13 other Ayahs making the total number of Ayahs 25 are as follows:


"Say: "If you love Allah then follow me, Allah will (then) love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran 3:31)


"He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah," (Quran 4:80).


"And We made the Qibla which you used to face (Jerusalem), only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (in disobedience)." (Quran 2:43).


In this Ayah, it is indicated that failure to follow the Messenger is deemed apostasy from Islam.


"On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger (Muhammad) will wish that they were buried in the earth, but they will never be able to hide a single fact from Allah." (Quran 4:42)


"We sent no Messenger, but to be obeyed by Allah's Leave." (Quran 4:64)


"And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the truthful (foremost believers of the Prophets), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!" (Quran 4:69)


"On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: "Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad)." (Quran 33:66)


"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)," (Quran 59:7)


"But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission." (Quran 4:65)


"The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Quran) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey." And such are the prosperous ones (who will live forever in Paradise)." (Quran 24:51)


"And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones." (Quran 24:52)


" And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them." (Quran 24:63)


" It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (Quran 33:36)


The above mentioned set of Ayahs include sufficient arguments to respond to those who call themselves Quraneyeen in the sense of rejecting to believe in the Sunnah of Rasullah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Just one Divine command from Allah may He be Glorified to His devotees for obeying the Messenger is enough to be binding for the Ummah. How about this large number of Ayahs confirming the command to follow the Messenger?


In the part centuries, this deviated group appeared several times, not only this, but the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam foretold about them. They were also mentioned in the heritage books.


"I was given the book and a similar text with it, there will come a time when a man who is not hungry leaning comfortably on his couch saying, just follow this Quran, what you find within of Halal make it Halal and what you find of Haram, make it Haram (Al Meqdam Bin Ma`de yakreb/reported by Abu Daoud).


"I will find one of you leaning comfortably on his couch, hearing a command that I commanded or warned against, he would say, we do not know. What we find in the book of Allah, we follow" (Abu Raafi/ reported by Abu Daoud).


"There might be a man who hears a hadeeth narrated after me while he is leaning on his couch, he would say, between us and you is the book of Allah, what we find within of Halal, we take as Halal, and what we find within of Haram we take as Haram and that what the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam made Haram is not like what Allah Made Haram (Al Meqdam Bin Ma`de yakreb/Termidhi, Ahmed, Bin Majeh and Bayhaqy).


Al Mubarakfoury reported in the explanation of this hadeeth "A Panjabi man in India came out with this argument and titled himself as Ahul Quran. However, there is no similarity between him and Ahul Quran. But rather he is of Ahul elhad (paganism). He allowed himself to refuse full texts of the prophetic hadeeth explaining that they are all lies and false sayings made on Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`la. Only the glorious Quran should be taken as standard without any reference to the prophetic hadeeth even if they were authenticated and well verified in terms of narrators and more of the same Kufrish arguments. A large number of ignorant people followed his school that they even made him an Imam. Modern scholars issued a fatwa defining him as Kafir and apostate" End of Al Mubarakfoury's text.


Modern examples of those who deny the Sunnah is the Engineer Mohamed Metwally Naguib who died in 1960. He occupied the position of director of telephone authority in Egypt. He established Al Quranyeen group and composed more than 13 books explaining his school. The books represent nothing but hallucinations, over which, he spent all of his inheritance from his father (40 Feddan of land). Assalah, stands as his most important book, in which, he made the number of Salat 10. In performing the Salat, he made prostration (Sujud) to precede bowing (Ruku). He also canceled the Taheyaat part. He could not find any followers, thus, he apostated and died as Kafir. We conclude saying one who denies the Sunnah will be confronted with unsolvable Fiqh and Aqidah problems. He/she will be compelled to change Islam's identity deceiving himself and others of still being a Muslim. That is why sincere Imams and those who strive in the way of Allah, during different eras, are fully committed to the honorable prophetic Sunnah. They were also consensus to place it as an argument making it the second source of legislation in Islam.

[Muslimah]

Companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam were keen on preserving the Quran. For this purpose, they memorized it in their hearts, put it down in writing and communicated it to the second generation that in turn communicated it to the following generation and so on until we received it just exactly as it was revealed to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in terms of each word, letter and even the recitation methods. Companions were highly concerned to preserve both aspects of the Sunnah sayings as well as actions which generation after another worked on conveying to us. As for the sayings, they narrated the Ahadeeth of Rasullah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam while the actions were communicated by following footsteps of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. We can say that companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam were materialized Sunnah walking on earth. They used to blindly obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in each and every issue regardless of how large or small is the issue. In the following we are going to introduce a number of relevant examples:


Before Allah made gold wearing for men Haram (unlawful), the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam wore a gold ring. Next day, all men residing in Medina wore golden rings. As a result to the Messenger's pure instinct, he hated the ring and took it off. Without any question or discussion, all men followed suit and took the rings off.


The Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and other Muslims used to perform Salat wearing their shoes. At that time, the Masjed's floor was covered with gravel. One day the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam took off his shoes. Muslims followed and took off their shoes as well. After Salat, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam asked them, why did you take off your shoes. They replied, we observed that you did that so we followed. He explained saying Jebril informed me that my shoes had impure something.


From the above mentioned situations, we gather how far the companions were strongly keen on listening, preserving his talk, benefit of his guidance and enforce his orders as strictly as possible. They used to be very attentive while listening to him talking in order to fully comprehend. They also considered Sunnah as a trust that must be fulfilled, communicated and diffused from one generation to another. In this regard, they were motivated by Allah's Saying:


" Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers." (Quran 2:159)


" (And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it (the news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad and the religious knowledge) known and clear to humankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought." (Quran 3:187


The above mentioned Ayahs are further explained in sayings of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:


One who is present must communicate to the absent (excerpt of the Last Surmon of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam on the slaughtering day).


"You hear and others hear from you and others hear from those who heard from you" (Ibn Habban, Ahmed, Abu Daoud, Al Hakem).


"One who receives a question about knowledge and does not disclose it, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be bridled with a bridle made of fire" (reported by Ibn Majeh, Abu Daoud and Al Hakem)


Companions began taking much interest in preserving and documenting the Sunnah as of the era of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. In the following we are going to introduce examples of how keen they were:


Verification of the correctness of ascribing the hadeeth to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:


In case a companion hears a hadeeth from another companion, he/she goes to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in order to ensure for himself that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in fact said what he heard. Narrated under the authority of Annas Ibn Malek may Allah be pleased with him that a Bedouin came to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and said: O Mohamed your messenger came to us claiming that you claim that Allah Has Sent you. The Messenger said: truth is what he said, Bedouin replied who created sky? Messenger said Allah, Bedouin asked: who created earth? He said: Allah, Bedouin said who erected those mountains? Messenger said: Allah, Bedouin asked: who installed within it all those benefits? Messenger said: Allah, Bedouin said: in the name of One Who Created sky, earth, erected mountains and provided benefits within them, Did Allah Send you? He said yes. The Bedouin started asking about the five pillars of Islam and whether Allah Commanded him with it, each time, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam replies yes (reported by Muslim and Al Hakem).


The above mentioned situation explains how this Bedouin was not satisfied only with what he heard from the messenger of the Messenger of Allah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. He took transportation to meet him personally, confirm and validate what he heard. On the other hand, as we see the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam did not object to the questions he raised about what he heard from his messenger although he is a trustworthy companion but he rather answered his questions.