Hadith "A Fundamental of Islam"
Source: Excerpt from a Book by Iqbal Kilani In Islam, obeying the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is as compulsory as it is to obey Allah. In Quran Allah says:
" Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah. And whoever turns away, We have not sent you as a keeper over them " [4:80]
" O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger
and make not your deeds vain " [47:33]The question, Why is it important to follow him? Is itself answered in the Quran:
" Nor does he speak out of desire.
It is naught but revelation that is revealed " [53:3,4]
Thus the Prophet taught his followers the same method of performing ablution which he learned from Allah through Jibraeel (the Angel). The prayer timings that he established were those, which were told to him by Allah through Jibraeel. Similarly the method of praying was the same which was taught to him by Allah through Jibraeel.
In the life history of the Prophet we find many examples of him being quiet to queries of religious issues by his companions, he answered when it was revealed to him from Allah. Some examples are mentioned below:
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Hazrat Awais (r.a.u) abandoned relations with his wife Hazrat Khaula (r.a.u) by Zihar1. Her wife came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to ask him about this issue. The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) did not answer until it was revealed upon him from Allah.
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When the Prophet was asked about Rooh (soul), he kept quiet until Jibraeel came to him with the answer from Allah.
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A person came to Allah's apostle and asked him about what should some one do if he sees his wife with another man?... The Prophet prayed to Allah for the solution of this issue. Allah revealed the verses of Surah Noor (verses 6 - 9) and the Prophet then answered the questioner.
While discussing the issue
of "obeying the orders of the Prophet" one thing to be kept in mind is
that, obedience to Prophet was not for a limited duration i.e. only when he was alive. Even after his death, it remains an obligation for everyone right up till the day of judgement. In Quran Allah (s.w.t) says:
" ... And this Quran has been revealed to me that with it
I may warn you and whom so ever it reaches... " [6:19]
Regarding obedience to the Prophet, the following authentic hadeeth is very important:
" Allah's Messenger said: Every one from my ummah will go to heaven except for that person who denies. The companions of the Prophet asked, who that person could be. Allah's Messenger replied: whoever obeys me, will go to heaven and whoever disobeys me, denies (i.e. denies going to heaven)" [Bukhari]
Other than this hadeeth we
find a verse in the Quran, regarding those who do not consider following
the Prophet an essential issue.
" But no, by your Lord! they believe not until they make you a judge of what is in dispute between them, then find not any straitness in their hearts as to that which you decide and submit with full submission " [4:65]
Thus obedience to The Prophet of Allah Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) is something which is going to decide about the faith or belief of a person. If there is no obedience, then there is no belief.
Thus after having studied some Quranic verses and Ahaadeeth regarding the issue of obeying the Prophet, it is not difficult to decide that following the Ahaadeeth is a fundamental of Islam and not just a side issue. Since obeying the Prophet after his death can only be acomplished by following his sayings i.e. Hadeeth.
1 Zihar:
A condition in which someone makes his wife unlawful to him by saying that "You are like my mother to me". This is not allowed in Islam and in Quran we find a verse which disapproves this:
"... nor has He made your wives whom you desert by Zihar, your mothers, ... These are the words of your mouths. And Allah speaks the truth and He shows the way " [33:4]
The only reason why Hazrat Awais (r.a) did it was, that at that time these verses had not been revealed as it is obvious from the example mentioned above.
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