Obedience to the Quraan means obedience to the Prophet

[Zainab_M]

 


By K. A. Shehzada


MISCONCEPTION

There is a strong misconception among the mainstream hadith adherents that while obedience to the Noble Quraan means obedience to the Almighty Allah, obedience to the Prophet means obedience to other books apart from the Quraan.  


CLARIFICATION

When the Qur’an says that we have to obey the messenger then it does not stop there only but also identifies as to what is the Divine Message that is bestowed on the messenger and in turn the messenger propagated to the people. The following verses inform us what is that Divine teaching that the messenger received from Allah and is then delivering to mankind:

WHAT IS THAT TEACHING THAT THE MESSENGER RECEIVED FROM ALLAH?

In Surah Al-Maidah, the messenger is ordered to deliver the Divine revelation received by him, otherwise he would not have fulfilled his mission.

"O Messenger! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Sustainer <balligh ma_ unzila ilaika mir rabbik>; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people." (5:67)

In the above verse the messenger of Allah is ordered to deliver what has been revealed to him.  Or what the Qur’an identfies as "ma_ unzila ilaika mir rabbik". Now what are those Divine teachings and laws that are revealed on the messenger? The following verses clarify as to what consists of  <ma_ unzila ilaika> (what has been revealed to you):

"And We have revealed the Book to you which has the clear explanation of everything <wa nazzalna_ 'alaikal kita_ba tibya_nal likulli shai'iw>, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit." (16:89)

Thus it is the Book of Allah which contains the clarity for all matters requiring guidance that has been revealed to the messenger.

In Surah An-Nisa, the Divine teaching received by the messenger is again identified as:

"Surely We have revealed the Book to you with the truth that you may judge between people by means of that which Allah has shown you; and be not an advocate on behalf of the treacherous." (4:105)

Once again it is the Book of Allah which has been identified as the Divine teaching  bestowed upon the messenger and through which the messenger himself is to judge the people.

Again we are reminded:

"And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you;" (5:48)

Thus, it is confirmed that the messenger received the Book of Allah and he is to govern among people by Allah’s Book and he cannot deviate the slightest from the Qur’an. It has been confirmed by the above and many other verses in the Qur’an that the messenger has received the Book of Allah as Divine teaching.  

What is that teaching that the messenger is to pass on to people, through which they are admonished by him? The following verses identify this aspect.

WHAT IS THAT TEACHING WITH WHICH THE MESSENGER ORDERED PEOPLE?

Allah commands the messenger:

"We know best what they say, and you are not one to compel them; therefore remind him by means of the Quran who fears My Promise." (50:45)

Hence, Allah commands the messenger to admonish people by the Qur’an, and the messenger confirms himself that his mission is <tazkir bil Qur’an> "Admonishing with the Qur’an",  not any other book.

"Allah is witness between you and me; and this Quran has been revealed to me that with it I may warn you and whomsoever it reaches." (6:19)

Yet again:

"O People of the Book! Indeed Our Messenger has come to you making clear to you much of what you concealed of the Book and passing over much; indeed, there has come to you light and a clear Book from Allah; With it Allah guides him who will follow His pleasure into the ways of safety and brings them out of utter darkness into light by His will and guides them to the right path." (5:15-16)

According to above verse the messenger is propagating the Book of Allah among the people of the Book.  We are reminded what the messenger is giving to his people as a teaching so that they receive Divine guidance.

"I am commanded only that I should serve the Sustainer of this city, Who has made it sacred, and His are all things; and I am commanded that I should be of those who submit; And that I should recite the Quran. Therefore whoever goes aright, he goes aright for his own soul, and whoever goes ' astray, then say: I am only one of the warners." (27:91-22)

The messenger is to recite the Qur’an, so that whoever wishes, he can take guidance, says the above verse.  It is emphasized that only the propagation of the Qur'an has been made an obligation on the messenger.

"Most surely He Who has made the Quran binding on you will bring you back to the destination. Say: My Sustainer knows best him who has brought the guidance and him who is in manifest error." (28:85)

The above verse identifies that it is the Qur’an which is <Farz> (an obligation) on the messenger. The above evidence from the Qur’an makes it quite clear that the messenger received the Book of Allah as Divine teaching and he is delivering the message of Allah as is contained in Qur’an to the people. The above verses also make it evident that the messenger cannot deviate the slightest from the Qur’an and all his judgements are based entirely on Allah’s Divine Book as said in 5:48. The messenger does not propagate his own laws or teachings, but only the Divine message received by him, and that Divine message has been identified in the above verses as the Book of Allah.  Obedience and subservience is only to Allah’s laws which is contained in the Qur'an.  The messenger does not tell people to obey laws and teachings based on his own thoughts and ideas.  

Thus, obedience to the Quran means obedience to the messenger of Allah, and also conversely, obedience to the messenger means obedience to the message of Allah because the messenger is delivering the Message of Allah to mankind, and no other laws.