Despite the widespread differing that has befallen the Ummah of Muhammad , the majority of Muslims profess love for Prophet Muhammad even if they do not understand the meaning of this love and the conditions related to it, such as obedience to him. The latest worldwide protests over the horrific cartoons clearly demonstrate this fact. Similarly the majority of Muslims agree that the understanding of Islam, the sources of textual evidences and the methodology for reform are to be found in The Quran and Sunnah. You will hear Muslims of diverse creeds, schools of thought, cultural and political affiliations all saying, ‘We believe in the Quran and Sunnah.’ So, if this is true then why is there so much differing, dividing and fighting amongst them? Nobody would dare conclude that Allah did not send the clear teachings to His slave Muhammad , nor would they argue that Muhammad did not clearly explain the religion to the people, nor would they argue that the textual sources have been lost and gone. So how is it possible to make reconciliation between the peoples love for Quran and Sunnah and their widespread differing?
The answer to this question lies in the fact that although many Muslims believe in The Quran and Sunnah, (1) they do not use it as a point of reference, (2) nor do they live in accordance with it, (3) nor do they settle their disputes by it, (4) nor do they seek to clarify how the companions of Muhammad understood it. So in all reality they do not earnestly return to The Quran and Sunnah despite vocal and emotional displays of love for it.
(1) We use the Quran and Sunnah together as our reference point.
And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves Faruddoohu (refer it) to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. (Quran 4:59)
Jaabir narrated that the Prophet said, ‘The most truthful speech is The Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. (saheeh of Muslim)
We have been commanded to refer all matters back to Allah and His Messenger by referring back to the Quran and Sunnah. So the Speech of Allah and the guidance of Muhammad become our ‘point of reference’ and our criteria whereby we judge and extract the truth. So if we profess belief in Allah and The Last Day then we should be upon this pure and simple methodology, yet the Ummah is plagued with different schools of thought and methodologies. Let us examine a few of them.
Firstly, there are those who do not refer back to the Quran and Sunnah at all and turn their backs from the religious teachings. There is no doubt that such people have opposed Allah and His Messenger, and in their severe negligence and love for other agendas they have taken their religion as a means of amusement, play and mockery.
Secondly, there are those who refer back to the Quran alone without making use of the Sunnah. Such a referral is erroneous and a clear contradiction to the Quran itself, wherein there are numerous verses, such as the above one, which direct the believers to the use of the Quran and Sunnah together. Suffice it to say that such a referral denies the need for messengers, denies the practical guidance Muhammad came with, and denies the belief that Allah sent Muhammad to clearly explain the Quran. And such a denial is a denial of many verses of the Quran so how can any person upon this methodology refer back to the Quran in its completeness? Furthermore how would we know the practical steps of the acts of worship such as Salaat, if it wasn’t for the Sunnah? So we should educate those who have embarked on this erroneous way and call upon them to use their faculty of intelligence and reason.
Thirdly, there are those who attempt to refer back to the Quran and Sunnah but go astray because they either refer to erroneous interpretations of Quranic verses or to fabricated and weak ahaadeeth. So if they are ignorant then the knowledgeable ones amongst us should help them and redirect them to the correct tafseer of the Quran and the authentic ahaadeeth of our beloved Prophet . If they accept, then alhamdulillah for all guidance is with Allah. But if they refuse then none can guide those whom Allah misguides, and you will see that one of the causes for their misguidance is Taqleed; blind following of the ignorant and deviant writers and preachers whether in their books, gatherings or person.
Fourthly, there are those who refer to the Quran and then refer to the Sunnah, one after the other. So they refer to the Quran and find a relevant text, quoting it as evidence. And if they do not find a relevant text then they look for a relevant hadeeth from the books of ahaadeeth. So they have dissociated the Quran from the Sunnah using one after the other separately. However they have erred as the correct methodology is referring back to the Quran and Sunnah together as ‘one referral.’ Notice how Allah mentions referring back to Him and His Messenger in the above verse, emphasizing that the Quran and Sunnah go hand in hand as ‘one referral.’ So even if we find a relevant text in the Quran we still have to know the Sunnah pertaining to that text for Allah sent Muhammad to clearly explain the Quran. This is an important principle we should all clearly understand and reflect on.
(2) We live in accordance to the Quran and Sunnah
It is not for a Mu’min or Mu’minah, 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 into plain error. (Quran 33:36)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.’ It was asked, ‘Who will refuse?’ He said, ‘Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me has refused.’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
After establishing the Quran and Sunnah as one reference point we act upon the knowledge derived from it, and implement that which Allah and His Messenger have commanded. So we live in accordance to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. In the above verse Allah describes a basic quality of the believers in that they obey Allah and His Messenger, following the teachings without harbouring a choice or opinion in the matter. This is an important aspect of submission and sincerity in worship. Furthermore Allah describes opposition to this characteristic as ‘disobedience.’ And in the above hadeeth our Prophet equates disobedience with refusal to enter Paradise. So if we look around the world today we see ‘open disobedience’ in acts of worship but from the root of such disobedience is disobedience to the above principle, for many Muslims today exercise their own choices and opinions contrary to that prescribed by Allah and His Messenger. In fact they have opposed the above verse and strayed off into clear misguidance. As believers we have no choice or option but to obey Allah and His Messenger, submitting ourselves as Muslimoon.
(3) We settle our disputes by Quran and Sunnah
But no by your Lord, they can have no faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with full submission (Quran 4:65)
If disputes arise amongst the Muslimoon then they need to be resolved by referring back to the Sunnah of Muhammad . This is what the believers have been commanded to do. In the above verse Allah mentions two qualities of the believers.
(1) They refer their disputes to His Messenger for Allah brought forth guidance through him. This is an important attribute of the believers and Allah stresses its significance firstly by swearing by Himself and secondly by describing those who oppose this principle as being devoid of faith.
(2) They accept the decisions and verdicts of His Messenger with full submission, without any resistance, opposition or delay.
So today there is much dispute and differing amongst the Ummah yet why are these disputes not being settled by referring back to the authentic ahaadeeth which carry the Sunnah? And why are the Muslimoon not implementing the directives laid out in these ahaadeeth which will solve their problems and disputes? Before discussing issues pertaining to the science of ahaadeeth and interpretations of the texts of the ahaadeeth we must all agree, first and foremost, to settle our disputes using the authentic ahaadeeth. Resolution of disputes in this way will only bring us closer together and more importantly closer to the Quran and Sunnah.
(4) We understand the Quran and Sunnah the way the companions understood it.
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has been clearly shown to him and follows other than the believers path We shall keep him in the path he has chosen and burn him in Hell. What an evil destination (Quran 4:115)
Abdullah narrated that the Prophet said, ‘The best of people are those in my generation…’ (saheeh of bukhaari)
Abdullah bin Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘The children of Israel split into seventy two sects and my Ummah will split into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except one.’ They asked, which one is that O Messenger of Allah?’ he said, ‘That which I and my companions are upon.’ (sunan of Tirmidi/authenticated by Albaani)
Furthermore we need to understand the texts of the Quran and Sunna the way the companions of Muhammad understood them. This is a binding principle upon us as Muslimoon for Islaam is one religion, and Muhammad and his companions where one united group of believers. In the above verse Allah describes opposition to the Messenger as opposition to the Sabeel Al Mu’mineen (path of the believers) which is ‘the path of the companions’ for they witnessed revelation of the Quran. In the above hadeeth our Prophet describes the saved group as those who remain upon that which he and his companions were upon. So the texts are clear directing us to follow the methodology of the companions, understanding the Quran and Sunnah as they understood it, uniting ourselves with them under the command and leadership of our beloved prophet.
These are a few principles pertaining to the reality of what is meant by following the Quran and Sunnah and only after implementing them can we truly return; a return which is much needed in this time of ours when the anger of Allah has descended upon this Ummah.
Written by Kamillah Khan
