Section 2: The Obligation of Obeying Him and Following His Footsteps

It is obligatory to obey the Prophet by acting upon his orders and abandoning whatever he prohibited. This is one of the implications of the testification that he is the Messenger of Allah. Allah - the Most High - has ordered obedience to him in several verses; sometimes closely associated with obedience to Allah, as He - the Most High - has mentioned in His statement: “He who obeys the Messenger [Muhammad Ml, has indeed obeyed “...And obey the Messenger [Muhammad / that you may receive mercy (from Allah). ” (Qur’an 24: 56) In other instances, He threatens those who disobey His Messenger, such as in “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger And similar other verses. At other times, He orders it separately, such as in His statement: “...A n d let those who oppose the Messenger’s [Muhammad,J commandments (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. ” (Qur’an 24: 63) Meaning, that a Fitnah should afflict them in their hearts such as disbelief, hypocrisy or Bid'ah (innovation), or that a painful torment such as killing, or prescribed punishment (in Shari’ah), or imprisonment and such other immediate punishments afflicts them in this world. Allah has made obedience to him and following him a factor for a slave to achieve the love of Allah and forgiveness for his sins. Allah - the Most High - said: “Say [O Muhammad to mankind/: ‘If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sin s...” He also made obedience to him guidance and disobedience to him misguidance. He - the Most High - said: “Ifyou obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. ” (Qur’an 24: 54) He - the Most High - also said: “But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lust. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lust, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Dhalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists). ” (Qur’an 28: 50) He, Glorified and Exalted, also informed that in him Hi is an excellent example for his Ummah (followers). He - The Most High - said: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah [Muhammad Ml you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last day and remembers Allah much. ” (Qur’an 33: 21) Ibn Kathlr said: ‘This noble verse is an basic principle about imitating the Messenger of Allah Hi in his utterances, actions and conditions. This is why Allah, Blessed and Exalted, ordered people to imitate the Prophet Hi on the day of The Confederates in regards to patience, perseverance, effort, struggle and expectation of victory from his Lord, Honored and Glorious. May the Grace and Peace of Allah always be upon him, till the Day of Judgment Allah has mentioned obedience to the Messenger and following him in about forty places in the Qur’an. People are more in need of knowing what he has come with and following him, than they are in need of food and drink. The consequence of not getting food and drink is death in the life of this world, but if obedience to the Messenger and following him are lost, permanent punishment and perdition occurs. He £g had commanded that he be emulated in the observance of acts of worship and that they should be performed according to the manner he used to perform them. Allah - the Most High - said: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah [Muhammad M/ you have a good example to follow... ” (Qur’an 33: 21) The Prophet said: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray. ’9 He also said: ‘Take from me your pilgrimage rites.''0 He also said: ‘Whoever performs a deed which we have not given approval, it is He also said: ‘Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.''1 And other such texts which contain the command to emulate him and the prohibition of contradicting him. 9 Reported by al-Bukhari 10 Reported by Muslim 1 1 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim 12 Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim