Obedience to Holy Prophet (pbuh) is Obedience to Allah
Prophets and Messengers are the people through whom Allah has arranged guidance of the mankind. When Allah, the Exalted, sent man into the world, He continued two lines of guidance to guide him until the end of the Prophethood. One is of the scriptures in the form of Divine books and the other is of the Prophets and Messengers who taught them. From Prophet Adam to the seal of Prophets, the Holy Prophet (pbuh), came more or less one hundred and twenty-four thousand Prophets, including three hundred and thirteen Messengers.
Difference between a Prophet and Messenger
The difference between a Prophet and a Messenger is that the Messenger does not have any Divine scriptures or books as secrets. While the Prophet conveys the message of sharia to the people. The importance of teacher remains an important factor for the education and training of man. Even if it concerns heavenly guidance. The real teacher of a person can only be a person, the book can never be a teacher or mentor.
Role of Prophets and Messengers of Allah
Many wisdoms were hidden in sending Prophets and Messengers.
- The Prophets and Messengers were sent to the world to invite people to the religion of truth. To call people to faith and to order the worship and obedience of Allah, the Almighty. So that the people are well aware of the truth and the obligation is fulfilled, no one can say we did not know anything. As Allah says, “And there is not a single Umma (community) but amongst whom there came (some) Warner.” (35:24)
“The Messengers who were bearers of good news and warner’s (were sent) so that after (the arrival of these) Messengers people may not have any plea against Allah. And Allah is Almighty, Most Wise.” (4:165)
2. Another wisdom is that if human beings were left to the limits of their intellect, they would not be able to find out the perfect path of blissfulness and salvation. One can see the condition of the intellectuals of the world. If they do not agree on one thing, even the things that are observed day and night, then how can the scholars know the right thing about the hereafter. Therefore, it has to be accepted that without the help of Prophets, human intellect alone could not find the way to happiness and salvation.
Gnosis of Allah
3. Gnosis of Allah is obligatory for mankind. Without the Prophets it was impossible to gain gnosis of Allah. Today, after looking at the nations of the world, it becomes clear that the nations that denied Prophets and the Messengers of Allah have not been blessed with any part of the gnosis of Allah.
- Fakhruddin Razi says: “He who denied the Messengers of Allah and Prophethood was deprived of the gnosis of Allah.” (Al-Tafsir al-Kabir)
Allah Almighty spoke to Mankind through Prophet
4. It is the Sunnah of Allah Almighty that He does not talk to his creation directly. Therefore, He sent Messengers and revelations to them to inform the people about good and bad deeds. Allah says, “And every man does not have the faculty that Allah should speak to him (directly) except by Revelation (He bestows upon some the holy status of Prophethood), or (should speak) from behind a veil (as He spoke to Musa on Mount Tur of Sinai), or by sending some angel as a Messenger to reveal with His permission what Allah may will. Surely, He is Most High, Most Wise.” (42:51)
5. Ibn Taymiyyah says: “Whatever mankind needed in religion and the world; Allah created it in greater numbers accordingly. From the religious aspect, after the gnosis of Allah, Prophethood was the most needed. When a human being cannot know the reasons of happiness and displeasure of another human being like him without being told, how can he know the reasons for the happiness and displeasure of the Creator without being told? That is why Allah sent the Prophets so that through them, He would give the noble knowledge of His Essence and attributes along with the causes of His happiness and unhappiness, reveal the innumerable realities of the world, of the unseen and the eternal life of man.”
Importance of Prophets being human beings
6. It is the great wisdom and mercy of Allah that He chose His Prophets and Messengers from among the mankind. If Allah had sent Messengers for us from the angels or any other creation, they would not have known our habits and characteristics. Nor would they have had the compassion that similar creatures have for one another. It would not have been easy for us to follow them, nor would they have understood our weaknesses. That is why Allah made Prophets and Messengers from among human beings. Allah says, “Say: ‘Had there been angels (instead of human beings) walking about, residing in the earth, then We (too) would have certainly sent down from heaven some angel as a Messenger.’” (17:95)
Guidance of Mankind
Prophets were sent for every nation. Allah had promised Prophet Adam that He would send guidance from Himself to guide his descendants. This guidance was given to the children of Adam through the Prophets. After receiving the message of Allah through revelation, they conveyed that truth to the people, gave good news to those who believed in it, and warned those who disbelieved of a bad end. Therefore, Allah addressed the Holy Prophet in the Quran and said: “Surely, We have sent you with the truth and guidance as a Bearer of good news and a Warner (for the Hereafter).” (35:24)
Obedience is the right path
Allah made it obligatory on every nation to obey their Prophet. He has repeatedly mentioned in the Quran the fate of those nations who deviated from obedience. In fact, obedience is the right path. This is the path on which the truthful, martyrs and the righteous people travelled and became the rewarded ones.
Who should we obey when there is no Prophet among us as the chain of Prophethood has ended?
It is important to know who should be obeyed when the chain of Prophethood has ended as apparently there is no Prophet among us. Verse 59 of Surah Al-Nisa commands the believers to obey, “O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those (men of truth) who hold command amongst you.” (4:59)
In this sacred verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned three types of obedience, whereas in reality obedience is only one.
What is obedience to Allah?
It is important that he who is to be obeyed or followed must be present in front of us. Moreover, he must be from among us. Now Allah is not visible to the naked eye, and He is not a creature, so then how to obey Allah practically? Allah Himself has declared obedience to His Messenger as His obedience. As Allah’s commands are not directly revealed to humans, therefore obedience to Allah is possible through the obedience of the Holy Prophet. In fact, obedience to the Prophet is obedience to Allah.
Allah says, “Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah indeed.” (4:80)
Obedience to a Messenger is not his personal obedience, rather he is obeyed as the Messenger of Allah. In other words, the real obedience is to Allah and practically to the Holy Prophet.
Hadiths
- It is narrated from Abu Hurairah that Prophet Mohammad said: “Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah.” Every command of the Holy Prophet is the command of Allah. It is the duty of the entire Muslim umma to follow it.
- It is narrated from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari that the Holy Prophet said, “The example of me and that with which Allah has sent me is like that of a person who came to his people and said: ‘O my people, I have seen an army with my eyes. I have clearly told you of this and am warning you to find your own way of salvation.’ Now one group took advantage of him, left overnight and he they were Saved. However, one group did not listen to him and stayed there, then in the morning the army attacked them and killed them. So, whoever obeyed me and followed what I brought, he is like a group that was saved, and whoever disobeyed me and denied what I brought, then he is like a group that disobeyed and perished.” (Muslim
Obedience and Faith
It is a very far-fetched thing to reject and disobey the order of the Holy Prophet which is an open rebelliousness. But even if one accepts the order of the Holy Prophet and follows it but feels discomfort and distress in one’s nature, then this condition is also contrary to faith. In this regard there is a Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari:
- Abu Hurairah narrated that the Holy Prophet said: “My whole umma will go to paradise except for those who themselves deny.” It was asked, O Messenger of Allah, who is there who refuses to go to paradise? He said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me, it is as if he himself refused to enter Paradise.”
Together with obedience to Allah and Prophets obedience to Ulil Amr is important.
Ulil Amr (Man of Authority)
Ulil Amr refers towards the Man of Authority, truthful, the perfect spiritual guide. Their obedience means obedience to the Holy Prophet and hence obedience to Allah. The perfect spiritual guide is the representative of Prophet Mohammad in each era and whose responsibility is to spiritually train people. The Quran turns our attention towards following him as an obligation. Some people derive the meaning ‘worldly leaders’ from the term Ulil Amr. However, this is not the case because the majority of them are not the followers of the Holy Prophet. Their obedience is against the obedience of the Prophet. This Man of Authority is the perfect Saint who is the perfect follower of the Holy Prophet. His path is the same as that of the Holy Prophet. Following him is following the Prophet and obeying the Prophet is obeying Allah.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jillani
Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani says, “As Prophet Mohammad is not physically present for you to follow so when you follow the sacred men who are his perfect followers and have always obeyed him steadfastly, it is as if you have followed the Prophet. Seeing them is like seeing him. (Al-Fath ar-Rabbani, Section-14)
Most of the people refrain from obeying Saints. While denying the position of Saints they declare only obeying and following the Prophet as permissible and following the Saints as impermissible, although the path of the Saints is not separated from the Prophet.
Mohammadan Reality
It is mentioned in Mirat-ul-Arifeen: “These are the people whose own self has annihilated due to the passion of Divine love and love for the Holy Prophet. They have reached their reality, the Mohammadan reality which is the Oneness of being. Now the Mohammadan light is their reality. The actual existence of the Holy Prophet himself is present in the beings of these individuals.”
Ibn Arabi says: “From pre-existence till eternal end, the Holy Prophet keeps changing his physical dresses in every era and only in the beings of ‘perfect individuals’ does he manifest himself.” (Fusus al-Hikam)
The outer aspect of Prophethood of the Holy Prophet has come to an end. Now it is obligatory upon us to follow Ulil Amr, the Man of Command. As the inner aspect of Prophethood continues in him.
The Holy Prophet says, “Whoever obeys the Ameer, obeys me, and whoever disobeys the Ameer, disobeys me.” (Bukhari)
Ameer does not refer to a wealthy representative or the worldly leaders, but the Universal Divine Man of the era, the perfect spiritual guide, the perfect Fakir.
Is Obedience to Holy Prophet possible without love?
In the Quran and Hadith, wherever obedience has been commanded, it has also been said to love the Holy Prophet. As without love one cannot be obedient. The one whom a man loves, he obeys and is compliant at all times. There is well known Arabic saying, “A lover is submissive to his beloved.” He always worries that his actions may not hurt his beloved or become a source of displeasure for his beloved. The Creator seeks love from his slave before obedience. So, that His Beloved, the Holy Prophet is obeyed with love.
Love
Ismail Merathi expresses:
محمدؐ کی محبت دینِ حق کی شرطِ اوّل ہے
اسی میں ہو اگر خامی تو سب کچھ نامکمل ہے
Explanation: The love for the Holy Prophet is the first condition of the religion Islam. It is a requirement of faith and an obligatory duty of Islam, an act of obedience to Allah. One must fulfill it in order to practice Islam as well as to please Allah. As the Holy Prophet says, “None of you will have faith until you love me more than your father, your children and everything else.” (Bukhari -14) If there is flaw in the love for the beloved Holy Prophet then faith, religion and everything is incomplete. Such a person is ignorant who cannot enter paradise nor follow the straight path to attain gnosis of Allah.
The Foundation of Religion Islam
Today, following or obedience refers only to the outward acts of prayer, fasting, Hajj and Zakat, which are devoid of love and affection. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman says: “The real foundation of religion Islam is devotion, sincerity and ardent love for Allah Almighty and His Prophet Mohammad and following all the outward and inward aspects of Prophets’ life.”
In short, love for the Holy Prophet is the test of faith. Particularly, whoever does not love the beloved Prophet his claim of faith is false and such faith is not acceptable in the sight of Allah. Then how can we obey such a person?
Wasif Ali Wasif says: “Compliance is a combination of obedience and love. It is the heart that obeys. Without love obedience is not possible.”
Mysticism
Wasif Ali Wasif also says:
Mysticism is Sharia (Islamic law) and love. That is: “Mysticism includes love and obedience. This is the straight path, the way of blessed and rewarded people.”
Both love and obedience are inseparable. Allama Iqbal considered obedience to the Holy Prophet as true ardent love. In his opinion, love without obedience is incomplete.
Loyalty
Allama Iqbal says:
کی محمدؐ سے وفا تونے تو ہم تیرے ہیں
یہ جہاں چیز ہے کیا لوح و قلم تیرے ہیں
Explanation: Loyalty and love to the Holy Prophet is of utmost importance. It is the focal point of the universe as well as Islam, Faqr (Sufism). Above all, if you are loyal and obedient to the beloved Prophet, Allah is yours. Moreover, you have gained everything. As the one who reaches the sacred essence of Holy Prophet in fact reaches Allah Almighty. This universe is nothing, the Guarded Table and the Pen are all yours. He is on the straight path and gets the Divine Vision and gnosis of Allah.
He further expresses:
قوت عشق سے ہر پست کو بالا کر دے
دہر میں اسمِ محمدؐ سے اجالا کر دے
Explanation: With ardent love you can raise every low to a higher status. Allah has declared passionate love for Him and His beloved Prophet an attribute and sign of the true believer (Mumin). It is in the very nature of human soul. The power of love helps a believer to surpass all spiritual stations. Iqbal asks the seeker to contemplate and invoke the sacred name of Prophet Mohammad as in Ism-e-Mohammad. It is not just name. Rather it is the sacred Essence and source of spiritual enlightenment of the inward. Ism-e-Mohammad is entirely Divine compassion, beauty and light for the era.
Conclusion
Outward as well as inward obedience to the Holy Prophet is the complete obedience. In fact, this is the Islamic law, sharia.
Sultan Bahoo (ra) says, “Sharia is the way followed by Prophet Mohammad. One who follows each and every step of the Holy Prophet and always obeys sharia achieves presence in Mohammadan Assembly and acquires entire knowledge of verses of Quran and Hadith directly from the Holy Prophet (pbuh) who is eternally alive.
In order to understand and practice obedience to Prophet as obedience to Allah, we need the Man of Authority, the perfect spiritual guide who fills our hearts with love for the beloved Prophet. He who encourages the straight path as in obedience to Holy Prophet.
Indeed Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman is the sacred personality who purifies the self (nafs) and cleanses the inward of a person. Above all, his personality is in accordance with the mentioned Hadith, “These are the people whose company can turn a wretched to a fortunate person.”
Invitation
It is open invitation to people to enlighten their inwards with the ardent love for the beloved Prophet through spiritual company of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen. As Iqbal said:
تیری الفت کی اگر ہو نہ حرارت دل میں
آدمی کو بھی میسر نہیں انساں ہونا
Explanation: If affection for the Holy Prophet is not present in the heart of a man, then he is not worthy to be human. Indeed, such is an importance of passionate love for the Holy Prophet. As it makes him dominant over the innerself by the order of Prophet. Man’s esoteric self should replete with love. Delightful passion for Prophet Mohammad engages one in his remembrance. Above all, his inward beholds Prophet Mohammad and engrosses him in Mohammadan deeds and hence Divine Union. Only through love one can gain all these blessing. Love makes man a human being.
It is man’s duty to obey the beloved and to follow his footsteps. It is the love and obedience which makes the man the best of the creation. We pray that Almighty Allah will make us obedient in the true sense. Ameen
Comments
36 Comments
Waheed Hassan
Thank you for sharing a great article.
Faiza Saeed
Nice
Hammad
This Essay is Treasure of Divine Love
Ghulam Dar e Najib ur Rehman Paak
Indeed Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman is the sacred personality who purifies the innerself and cleans the inward of a person. Above all, his personality is in accordance with the mentioned Hadith, “These are the people whose company can turn a wretched to a fortunate person.”
Noreen
Nice article
imran
محمدؐ کی محبت دینِ حق کی شرطِ اوّل ہے
اسی میں ہو اگر خامی تو سب کچھ نامکمل ہے
imran
تیری الفت کی اگر ہو نہ حرارت دل میں
آدمی کو بھی میسر نہیں انساں ہونا
imran
Nice Article
imran
Nice Article
Abeeha
Behtareen Beshak Hazoor pak saw ki itabah sabse zaroori hai 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
TahirAlisultan
Amazing
Salma Tabassum
Fakhruddin Razi says: “He who denied the Messengers of Allah and Prophethood was deprived of the gnosis of Allah.” (Al-Tafsir al-Kabir)
Mehreen
Best Article 👍❤️
Sofia Sultan
If affection for the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is not present in the heart of a man, then he is not worthy to be human. Indeed, such is an importance of passionate love for the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
Ashiq e Mustafa
The love for the Holy Prophet is the first condition of the religion Islam.
Ghulam e Sultan ul Ashiqeen
Amazing
moghees
The Prophets and Messengers were sent to the world to invite people to the religion of truth. To call people to faith and to order the worship and obedience of Allah
Maira Sarfraz
The importance of teacher remains an important factor for the education and training of man.
RAF RAF
❤
M Saeed
Best article
Mahroo
Beautiful and informative article
M Rafiq
❤❤❤
M Rafiq
❤❤
Nasir Majeed
Very impressive article
Zainab
Great!!👍👍
Amna moghees
Very well explained
Amna moghees
Very well written
Faiza
Outward as well as inward obedience to the Holy Prophet is the complete obedience.
Muhammad Amjad
It is the Sunnah of Allah Almighty that He does not talk to his creation directly. Therefore, He sent Messengers and revelations to them to inform the people about good and bad deeds
Muhammad Amjad
It is the Sunnah of Allah Almighty that He does not talk to his creation directly. Therefore, He sent Messengers and revelations to them to inform the people about good and bad deeds
Nasir Hameed
Best Article
Muqadas younas
Great article 👍
Abdul Haseeb Sarfraz
Obedience to a Messenger is not his personal obedience, rather he is obeyed as the Messenger of Allah. In other words, the real obedience is to Allah and practically to the Holy Prophet.
Fazal Dad
MashaAllah great article and very informative ❤❤❤❤
Ali Shan
Mohammad pbuh❤️❤️❤️
Ali Shan
👍👍👍