I seek refuge from satan the rejected - In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Whenever in the Quran it is mentioned to ‘follow the messenger’, as in (2:143, 7:157), or to ‘obey the messenger’, as in (24:35, 5,92) it clearly means the messenger was assigned to deliver Gods revelations to mankind.
You need to ask yourself what was revealed to the messenger?
To help you understand what exactly was revealed to the messenger, is further clarified in surah 5 verse 48 below:
“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So, judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.” (5:48)
It becomes clear to the reader from reading the verse above that what in fact was revealed to the messenger was indeed ‘the book’.
What is the book?
We know the book to be the Quran and it is the revelation which the messenger revealed to the people. As you can read in both 2:97 and 41:3.
Say, "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - it is [none but] he who has brought the Quran down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers." (2:97)
“A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Quran for a people who know” (41:3)
The fact that the Quran is the revelation is cleared up in 26:192
“And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.” (26:192)
How does one ‘follow’ or ‘obey’ the messenger?
Now that we have clarified what was revealed to the messenger, we need to be clear on how to ‘follow’ or ‘obey’ the messenger. You will gain a better understanding of how to do this by reading both 7:35 and 7:36.
“O children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you and narrate to you My verses, then whoever fears Allah and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (7:35)
“But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (7:36)
What about other sources, for example, the volumes of hadith books, etc?
By adhering and following the volumes of hadith books as a source for deen, is not ‘following’ or ‘obeying’ the messenger. In fact, you are going against God and the messenger, as the Quran has made it clear what the revelation is, and the Quran was the book which was revealed to the messenger, as further exemplified in 81:19.
“[That] indeed, the Qur'an is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger.” (81:19)
The messenger recited the Quran only
The messenger was told not to waver in the delivery of the message of the Quran:
“Move not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur'an.” (75:16)
We also know the Quran was the only message the messenger delivered, as he was warned in (69:43-7)
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. (69:43)
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. (69:43)
And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, (69:44)
We would have seized him by the right hand; (69:45)
Then We would have cut from him the aorta. (69:46)
And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him. (69:47)
Gods message to follow the Quran alone
The Quran also makes it clear not to follow anything other than the Quran
“Then in what statement (hadith) after the Quran will they believe?” (77:50)
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.” (4:82)
May God guide us all
Peace and Respect!
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