As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
The simple answer to the phrase 'Obey the Prophet' is to obey what came out directly from the Prophet's mouth. The only sure document which fits this description is the Qur'an. It simply cannot refer to the Hadiths (as misunderstood by various muslims). These Hadiths were written nearly 250 years later, and both in spirit and in substance greatly contradict the Qur'an – a Book which claims to be sent and protected by Allah (15:9) and, as such, to have no internal contradiction or fault
As far as the revelations to Muhammad (saw) were concerned, he had no power to change any message. He was instructed to follow the Qur'an with the warning that he would be punished if he deviated from the guidance given in the Qur'an. The following verses are clear indication of this and, incidentally, constitute another point against the Hadith literature.
(10:15) And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, they who look not for the meeting with Us say: Bring a Lecture other than this, or change it. Say (O Muhammad): It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow that which is inspired in me. Lo! If I disobey my Sustainer I fear the retribution of an awful day.
(69:40-52) That is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger. It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe! Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember! It is a revelation from the Sustainer of the Universe. , and not on And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us, We assuredly had taken him by the right hand and then severed his life-artery of you could have held Us off from him. And lo! It is a warrant unto those who ward off (evil). And lo! We know that some among you will deny (it). And lo! It is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers. And lo! It is absolute truth. So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Sustainer.
(6: 50) Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): I say not unto you (that) I possess the treasures of Allah, nor that I have knowledge of the Unseen. I say not unto you: Lo! I am an angel. I follow only that which is inspired in me. Say: Are the blind man and the seer equal? Will ye then not take thought?
All the verses I have quoted so far show clearly that the revelation that came to Muhammad was inspired in him by Allah, the Sustainer of the universe. The result of those inspirations is the Qur'an over which he had no power to change anything. Outside this (i.e. when not under Divine Inspiration) he was simply a human being, albeit a human being with excellent qualities and conduct.
A point is often raised that the Qur'an specifically says in a number of verses to 'obey the Prophet'. Examples of such verses are as follows:
(3: 32) Say: obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away, lo! Allah loveth not the disbelievers (in His guidance).
(3:132) And obey Allah and the messenger, that ye may find mercy.
(4:13) These are the limits (imposed by) Allah. Whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter gardens underneath which rivers flow, where such will dwell forever. That will be the great success.
(4: 59) O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.
Verses similar to above, which ask people to obey the Prophet are given in: 4:69; 5:92; 8:1, 20, 24, 46; 9:71; 24: 42, 47, 51,54, 56; 33:33; 47:33; 49:7,14; 58:13; 64:12.
One must note that all the above verses relate to the time when the Prophet (saw) was alive and therefore was not only Allah's messenger but also the political leader of his people. In fact verse 4:59 asks us to obey other leaders as well. That being the case, it seems clear that 'obedience to the Prophet' must be understood in that context i.e. in the case where he is physically present and leading the community of believers. As far as we are concerned, the Prophet is dead, and therefore, he cannot function as a messenger now.
The only truthful way that we can obey or follow him is by obeying the guidance given in the Qur'an. This is explained clearly in sura 69 verses 40-52, as given above. In these verses Allah explains, that the Qur'an, the Word of Allah, is the utterance or the sayings of the Prophet. In this case, there is no difference between the Word of Allah and the sayings of the Prophet. They are one and the same thing. As the Qur'an is a complete code of guidance for mankind, by following it we automatically follow the Prophet, or practise what he taught during the 23 years of his prophetic life. Allah also warned the Prophet that if he said or practised anything which was against the teachings of the Qur'an he would be punished and that no one would be able to save him. We, therefore, know for sure that the only thing he taught and practised must be what is in the Qur'an.
One does not have to wait very long as a Muslim before one hears the expression 'Sunnah of the Prophet'. It is vital in this connection to understand the actual meaning of the word sunnah in the context of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam.
The real meaning of the word Sunnah according to the Qur'an (48:23) is '[...]Law and Practice of Allah which is immutable or unchangeable'. In fact, in the whole of the Qur'an the word Sunnah has not been used even once in connection with the Prophet. Also, as already established, what the Prophet practised is in the Qur'an and so any Sunnat attributed to the Prophet must also emanate from the Qur'an.
Unfortunately, in a quest to obey the Prophet, people became interested in what the Prophet is reported to have said and practised. To this end a vast amount of literature known as the Hadiths were written, in the main, about 250 years after the death of the Prophet. These Hadiths are taken as the reported sayings and practices of the Prophet, collected in written form after a long existence in the oral tradition, being handed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. As shown in section 10.3 there are many Hadiths which contradict the Qur'an and, as such, could not have been uttered by the Prophet, (at least, not if one genuinely regards of the Qur'an as true) since he would have been punished (see verses 10:15 and 69:44-47). The simple answer to the phrase 'Obey the Prophet' is to obey what came out directly from the Prophet's mouth. The only sure document which fits this description is the Qur'an. It simply cannot refer to the Hadiths. These were written nearly 250 years later, and both in spirit and in substance greatly contradict the Qur'an – a Book which claims to be sent and protected by Allah (15:9) and, as such, to have no internal contradiction or fault.
So dear brother the simple answer to the phrase 'Obey the Prophet' is to obey what came out directly from the Prophet's mouth. The only sure document which fits this description is the Qur'an. It simply cannot refer to the Hadiths.
We beg Almighty ALLAH (swt) to forgive us for any mistake we might have committed while revealing the truth.
Allah Hafiz Take Care.
References:
1. God, Man and Universe, by Inayat Ullah Khan El-Mashriqi. Akhuwat Publications, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Extract from Unity of Divine Message p. 26-35.
2. Man's Destiny (Tazkira), by Allama Inayat Ullah Khan Al- Mashriqi. Translated and edited from Urdu by Shabbir Hussain. Publisher: Mujahid Publications, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. p. 56, 57.
3. Exposition of the Qur'an, by Gulam Ahmed Parwez. Tolu-E-Islam Trust (Regd) 25B Gulberg, Lahore-11, Pakistan. p. 11.
4. The Bible The Qur'an and Science, by Dr. Maurice Bucaille. Publisher Seghers, 6 Place Saint-Sulpice 75006 Paris. p. 233.
5. The Holy Qur'an by Maulana Muhammad Ali. Published in USA by Specialty Promotions Co. Inc. Chicago, Illinois. p. 141, note 422.
6. The Message of the Quran, by Muhammad Asad.
Published by Dar Al-Andalus, Gibralter. p. 74. Footnote 38
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