Proof of Authority of the Sunnah – I

17/07/2011| IslamWeb

 {Nor does he speak of his won desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.} [Quran 53: 3-4]  

It is necessary to present all evidences—valid in the Islamic Law—in support of the authority of the Sunnah not only to complete the discussion of the topic but also to affirm it and show in a logical fashion, that any claim that Sunnah has no authority in Islam or its role is merely optional, has no validity to speak of. We will first present textual evidence—from the Quran and the Sunnah—then follow it with evidence from Ijmaa’ and rational point of view—‘lsmah or protection of the Prophet against mistakes in the conveying of the Message and the difficulty of applying the Quran without referring to the Sunnah.

 

First: Evidence from the Quran

 

There are tens of verses in the Quran that deal—explicitly and/or implicitly—with this issue in terms of defining the role of the Messenger, commanding Muslims to obey him, prohibiting them from disobeying him, ordering them to submit to his command and follow his example. Here are some of those verses, no comments provided here for the sake of brevity and because most of these verses have previously been discussed:

 

Allah Says in the following verses (what mean):

• “…And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.” [Quran 4: 13-14]
• “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn from him while you hear [his order].”[Quran 8:20]
• “O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life...” [Quran 8: 24]
• “He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away—We have not sent you over them as a guardian.” [Quran 4: 80]
• “Say, ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away – then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.” [Quran 3:32]
• “And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.”[Quran 3: 132]
• “…And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from…” [Quran 59: 7]
• “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.” [Quran 4: 59]
• “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.”[Quran 47: 33]
• “...So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet’s order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.” [Quran 24: 63]
• “And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.”[Quran 4: 14]
• “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” [Quran 33: 21]
• “Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.” [Quran 3: 164]
• “We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.” [Quran 16: 44]

Proof of the Authority of the Sunnah – II

Proof of the Authority of the Sunnah – III