[AndyScouchek]

Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
A to Post 1: There are degrees in the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH): some are compulsory; these may not be given up. This sort are described in detail in the Illustrious Shari’a. They are incontestable and can in no way be changed. Another sort are voluntary, and these are of two sorts:
One sort are those Practices of the Prophet (PBUH) that concern worship. They too are described in the books of the Shari’a, and to change them is innovation. The other sort are called “conduct” (Adab), and are mentioned in the books of the Prophet’s biography. Opposition to them cannot be called innovation, but it is opposition of a sort to the Prophet’s conduct and means not benefiting from their light and true courtesy. This sort is to follow the Noble Prophet’s (PBUH) actions in customary, natural acts and dealings, which are known through unanimous reports. For example, there are numerous Practices showing the conduct of speaking, and explaining the principles of the conduct of eating, drinking, and sleeping, and concerning social intercourse. Practices of this sort are called “conduct.” One who follows this conduct transforms his habitual actions into worship and receives significant effulgence from the conduct. Practising the smallest aspect of such conduct recalls the Noble Prophet (PBUH), and imparts a light to the heart.

A to Post 2: The verse,
Say: “If you do love God, follow me: God will love you
proclaims in definite fashion just how necessary and important it is to follow the Practices of the Prophet (PBUH). Yes, among the syllogisms of logic, this verse is the most powerful and certain of the sort called hypothetical or conditional syllogisms. It is as follows:
As an example of a hypothetical syllogism it is said in logic: “If the sun comes out, it will be daytime.” For a positive result it is said: “The sun has come out. It therefore points to the conclusion that it is now daytime.” For a negative result, it is said: “It is not daytime. One therefore draws the conclusion that the sun has not come out.” According to logic, these two conclusions, negative and positive, are definite.
In just the same way, the above verse says: “If you love God, you will follow God’s Beloved. If you do not follow him, it points to the conclusion that you do not love God.” If a person loves God, it entails following the Practices of God’s Beloved. Yes, one who believes in Almighty God will certainly obey Him. And the most acceptable, the most direct, and the shortest among the ways of obeying Him is without doubt the way God’s Beloved showed and followed.
Yes, it is necessary and self-evident that the All-Generous One of Beauty, Who fills the universe with so many bounties, should want thanks from conscious creatures in return for the bounties. And clearly that All-Wise One of Glory, Who adorns the universe with so many miracles of art, will make the most excellent of conscious creatures His addressee and interpreter, and herald and leader of His servants. And certainly and self-evidently that All-Beauteous One of Perfection, Who makes the universe reflect the innumerable manifestations of His beauty and perfections, will give the most perfect worshipful stance to the one who is the most comprehensive and perfect measure and means of displaying His beauty, perfection, Names, and art, which He clearly loves and wants to display; He will make his conduct a fine example to others and encourage them to follow him so that his fine conduct may appear in others too.
A to Post 3 :All the states and acts of the Noble Messenger (Upon whom be blessings and peace) testified to his veracity and prophethood, but not all of them had to be miraculous. For God Almighty sent him in the form of a human being so that he might be a guide and leader to human beings in their social affairs, and in the acts and deeds by means of which they attain happiness in both worlds; and so that he might disclose to human beings the wonders of Divine art and His disposive power that underlie all occurrences and are in appearance customary, but in reality are miracles of Divine power. If, then, he had abandoned the human state in his acts and become extra-ordinary in all aspects, he could not have been a leader, or have instructed human beings with his acts, states, and conduct.
A to Post 4: The Most Noble Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace) said: “Whoever adheres to my Practices when my Community is corrupted shall receive the reward of a hundred martyrs.”
Yes, following the Practices of the Prophet is certainly most valuable. And at times when innovations are prevalent following them is even more valuable. And particularly when the Prophet’s Community is corrupted, to comply with a small matter of conduct of the Practices signifies a powerful belief and fear of God. Following the Practices directly recalls the Noble Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace), and that recollection and remembrance is transformed into recollection of the Divine Presence. The moment the Practices are complied with in even the least significant dealings, in the conduct of eating, drinking, or sleeping, such habitual, natural acts become meritorious acts of worship in compliance with the Shari’a. For through such commonplace actions a person thinks of following the Noble Prophet (Upon whom be blessings and peace) and conceives of them as conduct of the Shari’a. Then he recalls that he is the owner of the Shari’a. And from that his heart turns to Almighty God, the True Lawgiver, and he gains a sort of sense of the Divine Presence and worship.

Assalamualaikum,

Dear Learned brothers,

I have a serious problem. A sister I know is questioning the hadith and the Sunnah of Rasulullah s.a.w. I'm going to qoute here her facebook postings on her wall. Please advise me on how to reply. She even has some of her friends defending her stance, friends I believe are also influencing her thoughts to go astray.

Post 1

''Following the Prophet's example means following his morals, his intelligence, his patience, honor, leadership, kindness and alot more. It is not literally following how he dressed, how he brushed his teeth, riding a camel and alot of other cultural and obviously era-based actions. Sunnah means example. Surely we have enough common sense to understand the difference?''

Post 2

''I would highly recommend reading the biographies of the Prophet. In them we learn that his sole aim was to spread the message he received, i.e. the Quran. How he lived his life as an example according to it. This is the true meaning of Sunn...ah. What I see is many people are on the verge of worshipping him by literally following publications of his sayings without investigating how it is related to the Quran, even glorifying him, instead of solely surrendering to the one God. He is a human being, like any of us, who makes mistakes. Being a human means he also does actions that are time-based, applying principles and god-given laws to the time he was living in. He didnt drive a car, or eat with forks and knives, or had flushing toilets - does this mean that we too must do the same? Obviously not. Therefore we must look at how he thinks, his reasons, his application of the Quran in his time and use the same analogy in our time.

The Quran states several times that there is only one law and one hadith (and this word was used), and that is God's laws. But it also states to obey the messenger. So what do these two messages mean together. Does this mean that we must also wash, dress, even urinate the way he did? Isn't this insulting? Obeying the messenger obviously means that the messages that he gives must come from the Quran, and quran alone. This is why throughout the Quran we read that there is only one law, god’s law. At the same time, obey the messenger. I have never seen anywhere in the Quran which says that there are two sources of law. Yet, many seem to follow certain sayings of his which do not corroborate with the Quran. In fact, in the Quran, God forbids Muhammad and anyone to create their own laws. I invite everyone to investigate and seek to find truth in this matter for themselves.

For example, the quran says specifically that we are forbidden only pork, carrion and blood – many times. But we hear of people saying you also cannot eat alot of other things like snakes, clawed animals etc. Not that anyone would want to eat these things anyway, but the point is that there are so many many rules now attributed to the prophet, or others who are so called "knowledgeable" and treated as law. Where did these rules come from?? I thought we are only supposed to follow ONE law from ONE God – isn’t this the message reiterated many times in the Quran?

I believe that God knows our hearts, God is aware of our intentions, and our sincerity in doing things. That's why I think intention, if always placed with God, we will naturally do good, be kind, dress appropriately, generous in thoughts, lead with humility, etc.

I really hope we follow the example of the Prophet in this, instead of focusing on rituals he supposedly did at his time, as an Arab man in the 7th century. Obey the messenger in so far as the message of the Quran goes. That is why it is of essential importance that we read the QURAN FIRST before reading hadith. Always read in context. Have a questioning mind. Otherwise, we are blind, deaf, dumb. The Quran asks us many times to reason, judge, think. Yet I have been accused before of questioning my faith.

On the contrary. My Iman is stronger because of the questions I have explored.
Never ever forget the prophet was just a man, who worshipped God alone, who followed the quran. WE must do the same. Follow his example in this thoughts and CHARACTER, but dont worship him. There is only ONE god, ONE law.''

Post 3

''quote from Al-Quran

Say, (O Muhammed) "I am no more than a human being like you...." (Quran 18:110)

Also, there is no distinction among the prophets
...
“Say (O Muslims): We believe in God and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob, and their children, and that which Moses and Jesus received and that the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and unto Him we have surrendered.” (Quran 2:136)

Many times in the Quran, Allah swt warns, corrects, guides the PRophet, showing that he is fallible like us. He has made several mistakes, which had to be corrected by Allah as in the Quran. Also read his biography when he got angry with a passerby, he was sad over something he shouldnt be, and many other incidences. This shows he is subject to the same passions, temptations, mistakes as we are. However, he is guided by Allah.

He makes mistakes, otherwise, he would be perfect, but only Allah is perfect.

There is only one revelation at the time of the prophet muhammad. And that is the Quran which was recited by him, and recorded and memorised by his companions. He did not have two sets of sayings. He is not a magical person. I can also show you verses in teh Quran to CATEGORICALLY say this.

Thanks for your comment though. Would be happy to show yo u more, if yo u are open..''

Post 4

''More proof that following the prophet's example is alot broader than what he have been doing.

Two authoritative books on hadiths, Muslim and Musnad by Ýbni Hanbal, founder of the Hanbali religious sect, make the following comment: “Take down... nothing other than the verses revealed. Anyone that may have written any of my sayings, let him destroy it” (Muslim, Sahih-i Muslim Kitab-ý Zühd, Hanbal, Musnad). The hadith quoted by Darimi is as follows: “The companions of the Prophet asked him permission to take down his sayings. They were refused” (Darimi, es-Sunen). The hadith transmitted by Alm Hatib is as follows: “While we were engrossed copying the hadiths, the Prophet came and asked what we were doing. We are copying your sayings, we replied. Is your intention to create a book other than God’s Book? People that preceded you swerved from the straight path because they dared write books other than God’s Book” (Al Hatib, Takyid). And Tirmizi had this to say: “We asked permission to copy the sayings of God’s messenger, but he refused to give it” (Tirmizi, es-Sünen, K. Ilm).

Let's follow fact, rather than opinion. Let's be logical rather than literal.

I do not reject hadith, i just dont think it should be followed literally. Sunnah, means way of life, or example. Otherwise, we should have more pahala by living in the desert and brushing our teeth the way he did? Does this even make sense? Whoever said this? Arent we creating our own rules?

Let us question for the sake of truth, rather than blindly following man-made rules. This is what i'm saying.''

I hope the learned brothers here can assist it effectively leading her back to the right path Insya-Allah. Unfortunately, she is a relative of mine and that is why I urgently need advice brothers. Thank you, Jazakallah.