Now, these people (Submitters and Modernist) who reject the Sunnah, they will try to rationalize for their rejecting of the Sunnah by two things. One that the Qur’an is complete, and two that the Sunnah has not been preserved. When quoting a hadith to these people they might say “well that’s not in the Qur’an, why should I believe you? The Qur’an is complete, everything you need to know is in the Qur’an.” They might even try to quote you the verses of the Qur’an that show that the Qur’an is complete. Guess what? The Qur’an is complete, no one is arguing against that. If shown the evidence from the Qur’an, they would backtrack and say that the Sunnah has not been preserved. Saying the Sunnah does not need to be followed is Kufr. Saying the Sunnah has not been preserved is not Kufr, but it leads to Kufr. They say, “well Bukhari lived 300 years after the Prophet PBUH,” or “these Ahadith are like the gospels of Christianity.”
These two doubts can easily be refuted. Is the Qur’an complete? Yes it is. Is it sufficient in and of it self? Yes it is, but it orders us to go back to the Sunnah. The second doubt that they bring is that the Sunnah has not been preserved. The first way is to explain the long, detailed, dry, science of Hadith (Uloom ul Hadith). You explain how the Sunnah was preserved, how the Sahaba preserved it, how the Tabioon preserved it, how the Taba Tabioon preserved it, the history of this process. This is not something that can be explained in two minutes, this explanation will take quite some time. The second way to prove the preservation of the Sunnah is the short cut. This is a circular argument; it is full proof, and something that these people can NEVER refute. The fact that the Sunnah is part of the religion necessitates that it will be preserved; it is sufficient proof that Allah will preserve it.
“Verily We: it is we who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân and Sunnah) and surely, we will Guard it (from corruption)”
The fact that Allah SWT orders us to follow the Sunnah proves that Allah has protected the Sunnah. Allah says
“Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope”
Allah says he does not burden a soul, with something it cannot handle. Allah would not order us to obey the Sunnah if he had not preserved it.
Now that I have already mentioned all of the evidences of the Qur’an, now I will show some other evidences for the Authority of the Sunnah. The Fifth Category of evidence for following the Ahadith of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, are the Ahadith in which he ordered obedience to his Sunnah.
I will break this down into three points.
The first point: Prophet Muhammad PBUH, him self says that he was given wahi along with the Qur’an, just like the Qur’an says. “Verily I have been given the Qur’an and something like it” (Abu Dawood, Classified as Sahih)
The second point: Prophet Muhammad PBUH said “It will soon happen that a person will be sitting in content/relaxation and he will say ‘Whatever comes to you, take it from the Qur’an, that is sufficient for you.’ ” and then the Prophet PBUH said, “Know that everything that I make Halal, is as if Allah (SWT) made Halal, and everything that I make Haram, is as if Allah(SWT) has made Haram.” (Musnad Ibn Ahmed, Ibn Majah , Classified as Sahih)
This is very special, because the Prophet PBUH had predicted the coming of people like the Submitters Internationals (A group who rejects the Sunnah and beliefs in a so called Messenger of God the disgraced Rashad Khalifa) He PBUH predicted and warned us of these heretics like Ghulam Pervez.
The third point: Is the fact that Prophet PBUH commanded the Sahaba to preserve his Sunnah, and forbade them from lying about his Sunnah.
Prophet PBUH said, “May Allah brighten the face of a person who has heard my speech, and then memorized it and understood it, and passed it on to others, it may be possible that the one that hears it, understands better than the one who narrates it” (at Tirmidhi)
Out of All the Ahadith narrated, the one with the most chains of narrations is one. Out of All the Mutawatir Ahadith, this one has the most chains of narration. It has been narrated with over 70 different chains of narrations. It is recorded in almost every book of Ahadith. You will find in the 6 major books of Ahadith belonging to Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamah, you will find it in the Ahadith books of the Shi’i, the Khuwarij were aware of this hadith, and so were the Mutazilis.
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Who ever lies about me, will find a place in Hell.”
The sixth category is logic or common sense. Before I begin with the evidences, I want to remind everyone that Islam is a logical religion, but it is not based purely on logic. Everything in Islam is based on the order of Allah and his Messenger. All the orders are logical, but none of them come straight from logic. As Ali ibn Abi Talib RA said “Islam is logical, but it is not based on logic. If it was, we would wipe the bottom of our feet instead of the top of our feet (during Wadhu).”
Allah All Mighty says in the Qur’an:
“And Establish the Prayer”
Does Allah mention how many Raka’s you have to pray? Does Allah mention the exact timings of Fajr? Does Allah tell us what to recite in Prayer? Does Allah say what goes in what Order? Does the Qur’an say recite Fatiha?
There is a group that started about 20 or 30 years ago, in Arizona. They are called Submitters. Their founder was named Rashad Khalifa(The idiot who came up with the 19 theory, and then claimed to be a messenger of God, Alhumdulillah Allah saved us from him by killing him), they do not follow the Sunnah, and they actually say it is Shirk to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. If you go to their official site they have a description of prayer, funny thing is they say one must recite Fatiha, and the follows the number of Raka’h like Muslims do. Only problem with that is the Qur’an does not say how many Raka’h to pray, nor does it say to recite Al Fatiha. This is their official literature on how to pray:
The Last evidence for the authority of the Sunnah is the consensus of Muslims. Not just Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamah, but even the other groups. The Shia have concept of the Sunnah (ie Usul ul Kaafi), the Khuwarij even accepted the Sunnah.
InshAllah, I will try to get the final part of Usool ul Hadith this week, and InshAllah try to get Uloom ul Hadith Started soon.
In previous post, I have mentioned that there are over 50 verses in the Qur’an that directly say to obey Prophet Muhammad (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam). I have mentioned some of them, and most books about the Authority of the Sunnah don’t actually list all of them. The book ‘The Authority and Importance of the Sunnah’ by Sheykh Jamal al-Din Zarabozo, actually lists them all. I am just going list all the verses, unlike my other post, I will not post the Arabic parts, because it would take me 10 years to post it all.
2:129 “Our Lord! send amongst them an Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them In Scripture and Wisdom, and sanctify them: for Thou art the Exalted In Might, the Wise.”
2:159 those who conceal the Clear (Signs) we have sent down, and the guidance, after we have made it Clear for the people In the Book,-on them shall be Allah.s curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse,-
2:231 when ye divorce women, and They fulfil the term of their (‘Iddat), either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them, (or) to take undue advantage; if any one does that; He wrongs His own soul. do not treat Allah.s Signs As a jest, but solemnly rehearse Allah.s favours on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction. and fear Allah, and know that Allah is well acquainted with all things.
3:31 say: “If ye do love Allah, follow Me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”
3:32 say: “Obey Allah and His Messenger.: but if They turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith.
3:132 and obey Allah and the Messenger. that ye may obtain mercy.
3:164 indeed Allâh conferred a great Favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them his Verses (the Qur’ân), and purifying them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the Book (the Qur’ân) and AlHikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the Prophet (i.e. his legal ways, statements, acts of worship, etc.)], while before that they had been In manifest error.
4:13 those are limits set by Allah. those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the Supreme achievement.
4:14 but those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a fire, to abide therein: and They shall have a humiliating punishment.
4:42 on that Day those who reject Faith and disobey the apostle will wish that the earth were made one with them: but never will They hide a single fact from Allah.
4:59 O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. if ye differ In anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe In Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and Most suitable for final determination.
4:61 when it is said to them: “Come to what Allah hath revealed, and to the Messenger.: Thou seest the Hypocrites avert their faces from Thee In disgust.
4:64 we sent not an apostle, but to be obeyed, In accordance with the will of Allah. if They had only, when They were unjust to themselves, come unto Thee and asked Allah.s forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, They would have found Allah indeed Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
4:65 but no, by the Lord, They can have no (real) Faith, until They make Thee judge In all disputes between them, and find In their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but Accept them with the fullest conviction.
4:69 all who obey Allah and the apostle are In the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (Who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (Who testify), and the righteous (Who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!
4:80 He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. but if any turn away, we have not sent Thee to watch over their (evil deeds).
4:113 but for the Grace of Allah to Thee and His Mercy, a party of them would certainly have plotted to lead Thee astray. but (in fact) They will only lead their own souls astray, and to Thee They can do no harm In the least. for Allah hath sent down to Thee the Book and wisdom and taught Thee what Thou Knewest not (before): and great is the Grace of Allah unto thee.
4:115 if anyone contends with the Messenger Even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of Faith, we shall leave Him In the path He has chosen, and land Him In Hell,- what an evil refuge!
5:92 obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware (of evil): if ye do turn back, know ye that it is Our Messenger.s duty to proclaim (the message) In the clearest manner.
7:157 those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad ) whom they find written with them In the Taurât (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16) , – He commands them for Al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and All that Islâm has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of All kinds, and All that Islâm has forbidden); He allows them as lawful At-Taiyibât [(i.e. All good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. All evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), He releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh’s Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. so those who believe In Him (Muhammad), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful .
7:158 Say (O Muhammad ): “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to You All as the Messenger of Allâh – to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the Right to be worshipped but He); it is He who gives life and causes death. so believe In Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ) who believes In Allâh and his Words [(this Qur’ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh’s Word: “Be!” – and He was, i.e. ‘Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary),], and follow Him so that You may be guided. “
8:12 (remember) when Your Lord inspired the angels, “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over All their fingers and toes.”
8:13 This is because they defied and disobeyed Allâh and his Messenger. and whoever defies and disobeys Allâh and his Messenger, Then Verily, Allâh is Severe In punishment.
8:20. O You who believe! obey Allâh and his Messenger, and turn not away from Him (i.e. Messenger Muhammad ) while You are hearing.
8:24. O You who believe! answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when He () calls You to that which will give You life, and know that Allâh comes In between a person and his heart (i.e. He prevents an evil person to decide anything). and Verily to Him You shall (all) be gathered.
9:71. the believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they Enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and All that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of All kinds, and All that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and his Messenger. Allâh will have his Mercy on them. surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
16:44. with clear signs and Books (We sent the Messengers). and we have also sent down unto You (O Muhammad ) the Reminder and the advice (the Qur’ân), that You may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.
24:48. and when they are called to Allâh (i.e. his words, the Qur’ân) and his Messenger (), to judge between them, Lo! a party of them refuse (to come) and turn away.
24:49. but if the Right is with them, they come to Him willingly with submission.
24:50. is there a disease In their hearts? or do they doubt or fear lest Allâh and his Messenger () should wrong them In judgement. Nay, it is they themselves who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists, hypocrites and wrong-doers, etc.).
24:51. the Only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allâh (his words, the Qur’ân) 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).
24:52. and Whosoever obeys Allâh and his Messenger (), fears Allâh, and keeps his duty (to him), such are the successful ones.
24:54. say: “Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger, but if You turn away, He (Messenger Muhammad ) is Only responsible for the duty placed on Him (i.e. to convey Allâh’s Message) and You for that placed on you. if You obey him, You shall be on the Right Guidance. the Messenger’s duty is Only to convey (the Message) In a clear Way (i.e. to preach In a plain way).”
24:56. and perform AsSalât (IqâmatasSalât), and give Zakât and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that You may receive Mercy (from Allâh).
24:62. the true believers are Only those, who believe In (the Oneness of) Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad), and when they are with Him on some common matter, they Go not away until they have asked his permission. Verily! those who ask Your Permission, those are they who (really) believe In Allâh and his Messenger. so if they ask Your permission for some affairs of theirs, give permission to whom You will of them, and ask Allâh for their Forgiveness. Truly, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
24:63. make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad) among You as Your calling of one another. Allâh knows those of You who slip away under shelter (of some excuse without taking the permission to Leave, from the Messenger ). 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.
27:79. so put Your trust In Allâh; surely, You (O Muhammad ) are on manifest truth.
33:21. indeed In the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) You have a good example to follow for Him who hopes In (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.
33:34. and Remember (O You the members of the Prophet’s family, the graces of Your Lord), that which is recited In Your houses of the Verses of Allâh and AlHikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah legal ways, etc. so give Your thanks to Allâh and glorify his praises for This Qur’an and the Sunnah). Verily, Allâh is ever Most Courteous, WellAcquainted with All things.
33:36. it is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and his Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option In their decision. and whoever disobeys Allâh and his Messenger, He has indeed strayed In a plain error.
33:66. on the Day when their faces will be turned over In the Fire, they will say: “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allâh and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam).”
33:71. He will direct You to do righteous good deeds and will forgive You Your sins. and Whosoever obeys Allâh and his Messenger (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) He has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. He will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise).
36:3. Truly, You (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) are one of the Messengers,
36:4. on a Straight Path (i.e. on Allâh’s Religion of Islâmic Monotheism).
42:52. and Thus we have sent to You (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) Ruhan (an inspiration, and a Mercy) of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith? but we have made it (this Qur’ân) a light wherewith we Guide Whosoever of Our slaves we will. and Verily, You (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allâh’s Religion of Islâmic Monotheism).
42:53. the Path of Allâh, to whom belongs All that is In the heavens and All that is In the earth. Verily, All the matters at the end Go to Allâh (for decision).
47:33. O You who believe! obey Allâh, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) and render not vain Your deeds.
48:10. Verily, those who give Bai’â (pledge) to You (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) they are giving Bai’â (pledge) to Allâh. the Hand of Allâh is over their hands. Then Whosoever breaks his pledge, breaks Only to his own harm, and Whosoever fulfills what He has covenanted with Allâh, He will bestow on Him a great reward.
48:17. no blame or sin is there upon the blind, nor is there blame or sin upon the lame, nor is there blame or sin upon the sick (that they Go not forth to war). and Whosoever obeys Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), He will admit Him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow (Paradise); and Whosoever turns back, He will Punish Him with a painful torment.
49:1. O You who believe! do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and his Messenger (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), and fear Allâh. Verily! Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
49:2. O You who believe! raise not Your voices above the voice of the Prophet (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), nor speak aloud to Him In talk as You speak aloud to one another, lest Your deeds may be rendered fruitless while You perceive not.
53:2. Your companion (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) has neither gone astray nor has erred.
53:3. nor does He speak of (his own) desire.
53:4. it is Only an Inspiration that is inspired.
58:5. Verily, those who oppose Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) will be disgraced, as those before them (among the past nation), were disgraced. and we have sent down clear Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). and for the disbelievers is a disgracing torment.
58:9. O You who believe! when You hold secret counsel, do it not for sin and wrong-doing, and disobedience towards the Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) but do it for Al-Birr (righteousness) and Taqwa (virtues and piety); and fear Allâh unto whom You shall be gathered.
59:7. what Allâh gave as booty (Fai’) to his Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) from the people of the townships, – it is for Allâh, his Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), the orphans, AlMasâkin (the poor), and the wayfarer, In order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you. and whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) gives you, take it, and whatsoever He forbids you, abstain (from it) , and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe In punishment.
62:2. He it is who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam) from among themselves, reciting to them his verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur’ân, Islâmic laws and Islâmic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam). and Verily, they had been before In mainfest error;
64:12. obey Allâh, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), but if You turn away, Then the duty of Our Messenger is Only to convey (the Message) clearly.
72:23. “(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allâh and his Messages (of Islâmic Monotheism), and Whosoever disobeys Allâh and his Messenger, Then Verily, for Him is the Fire of Hell, He shall Dwell therein forever.”
In the last post, I was categorizing verses from the Qur’an which point to the proof that Prophet Muhammad PBUH, must be obeyed. I will continue from where I left off.
The third categories of verses are the ones, where Allah says he revealed to Prophet Muhammad something along with the Qur’an. Allah has revealed something other than just the Qur’an”. Allah mentions this other thing as “Hikma” wisdom. When you read the Qur’an and read about this other revelation called “Hikma” nothing will come to mind except the Sunnah.
“Our Lord! send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them Your Verses and instruct them In the Book (this Qur’ân) and Al-Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah), and sanctify them. Verily! You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
“ Similarly (to complete My Blessings on you) we have sent among You a Messenger (Muhammad) of Your own, reciting to You Our Verses (the Qur’ân) and sanctifying you, and teaching You the Book (the Qur’ân) and the Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah), and teaching You that which You used not to know.”
The fourth categories of verses are the ones, which number about 50, which explicitly and clearly mention that obedience to the Messenger is obligatory.
“ 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.”
In this verse, from Surah An Nisaa’, Allah says they have no Iman, unless they come back to Muhammad PBUH for any of their disputes, and they must not have resistance against the decision of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, or they have no Iman (faith).
“and obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad) that You may obtain Mercy.”
“ These are the limits (set by) Allâh (or ordainments as regards laws of inheritance), and Whosoever obeys Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.
And Whosoever disobeys Allâh and his Messenger (Muhammad), and transgresses his limits, He will cast Him into the Fire, to abide therein; and He shall have a disgraceful torment.”
This verse says who obeys Allah and his Messenger, will be admitted to Jannah (Gardens). More importantly, the following verse says whoever disobeys Allah and his messenger, will be thrown in to the fire (naar).
The fifth categories of verses are the ones that say obedience to Prophet Muhammad PBUH is a sign of loving Allah.
“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If You (really) love Allâh Then follow Me, Allâh will love You and forgive You of Your sins. and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Say (O Muhammad ): “Obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad).” but if they turn away, Then Allâh does not like the disbelievers.”
If you truly love Allah, then you would follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, those who don’t are not loved by Allah.
The sixth categories of verses are those who show the status of the Prophet PBUH, and how he should be treated.
“ O You who believe! do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and his Messenger (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe Wa Sallam), and fear Allâh. Verily! Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
This verse means, as Ibn Abbas (RA) has explained it as, you do not put your opinion above that of Allah or his Messenger PBUH.
The seventh and final category of verses, are miscellaneous verses, that you really can’t categories.
“And Certainly, You (O Muhammad ) call them to a Straight Path”
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