Following the Way of the Prophet (with British Sign Language) - Shaykh Zakaullah Saleem

Khutbah Opening

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلَّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ

The Immense Favour of Having the Prophet as Our Guide

My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, amongst the countless favours and the bounties of Allah upon us as human beings, and particularly as believers and Muslims, is having Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ as our prophet, our guide, and our messenger.

Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was the messenger of Allah who conveyed the message of Allah to human beings, to mankind. And he عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ was the messenger of Allah not only by his statements, but through his actions and his practices as well. And Allah has therefore ordered us to obey him and to follow him:

Whatever the messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ gives you, you must hold on to it, you must take it, you must accept it. And whatever the messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ prohibits you from, you must refrain and abstain from it.

Allah has ordered us and obliged us to follow him, and He said:

Say to them: O people, if you truly love Allah, then follow me — Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — and as a result, Allah will love you and Allah will forgive your sins.

Allah also said:

Whoever obeys the messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, he actually obeys Allah. Obedience to the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is obedience to Allah.

The Prophet's Statements, Actions, and Silence Are All Part of the Deen

So the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was not sent by Allah to simply convey the message and report whatever Allah revealed to him to mankind. Rather, he صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was a messenger of Allah through his actions and his conduct as well. And it is not only his statements and his actions — even his silence is part of the religion of Allah. That is why the companions, رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ, did not only record, report and narrate the statements and the actions of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — in fact, they reported, recorded and narrated the silences of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ as well.

In this regard, Muhammadur Rasulullah — my Nabi and your Nabi — صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is the only human being in the history of mankind whose statements, actions, practices, and silences are recorded and are given authority within the Deen of Allah. This is why, because of these qualities that Allah had blessed him with — along with many others — Allah gave him preference over every single human being, including all the prophets and messengers. That is why he صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is Sayyidul Anbiya' wal Mursaleen — the chief of all the messengers and prophets of Allah.

The Prophet's Rank Above All Creation

Amongst the creation of Allah, the prophets and the messengers are the best of human beings. And amongst the prophets and the messengers of Allah, five of them are known as Ulul 'Azm: Sayyiduna Nuh عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, 'Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, and our beloved Nabi Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. And amongst these five, two of them are the Khalilullah — the best friends of Allah: Ibrahim Khalilullah and Muhammad Khalilullah عَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ. And then amongst all the prophets and messengers, Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ is given authority over all of them.

The Incident of 'Umar and the Torah

At one occasion, Sayyiduna 'Umar ibn al-Khattab رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ obtained a page of the Tawrah and started reading and studying it in the presence of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. The Prophet's face went red out of disappointment and sadness, and he was upset at 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ. 'Umar asked him the reason for this, and the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 14736; also reported by al-Darimi)

By Allah, if Musa — the one who was given the Tawrah — if Musa were alive today, he would have no option except to follow me, Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. To that extent, Allah has given him authority. And we, as believers and Muslims, need to hold him صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ with that high level of honour, respect, esteem, obedience and following.

No One's Opinion Supersedes the Sunnah

When it comes to the obedience to the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and following the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, none of us — without exception — is allowed to give anyone's statement, anyone's action, anyone's opinion preference over the hadith and the sunnah of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, including the companions رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.

We believe, as Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama'ah, Ahlul Hadith, that the best of the creation of Allah — as I just mentioned — are the prophets and messengers of Allah. And after the prophets and messengers, we believe that afdalul khala'iqi ba'dal anbiya' — the best of human beings after the prophets and messengers of Allah — is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ. Just imagine: if a statement or action of Abu Bakr were to go against the statement, action and practice of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, you must follow Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

The Statement of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar

Likewise with 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ. We find some examples where 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ — not deliberately but unintentionally or unknowingly — held opinions that contradicted the hadith of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

On one occasion, his own son 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ had a small argument with someone. Ibn 'Umar is also a great sahabi and companion of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ who loved the messenger and loved his sunnah to an extraordinary level — he would follow the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ even in matters that were not part of religious obligation, such as walking the very paths the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ walked. Someone said to him: "O Ibn 'Umar, your father — your own father 'Umar — says this and that." And Ibn 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ responded with a beautiful statement that is an example and a lesson for all of us. He said:

Would the statement of the messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ be followed, or the statement of 'Umar? I am telling you this is the hadith of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, and you are arguing with me by giving me evidence from the statement of 'Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ.

The Danger of Prioritising Scholars' Opinions Over the Hadith

That is why, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, unfortunately when it comes to matters of the religion, many times you find Muslims giving preference to the opinions of their scholars, their imams and their saints — those they love, respect, or even their teachers from whom they benefit — over the authentic hadith of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

We all know that amongst Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama'ah there are four main madhabs: the madhab of Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam ash-Shafi'i, Imam Malik, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَجْمَعِينَ. But we as Muslims must believe — and this must be part of our deen — that the hadith of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ must be given preference over the statement and opinion of Abu Hanifah, ash-Shafi'i, Malik, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَجْمَعِينَ. No doubt these were great scholars who made tremendous efforts for the deen of Allah. May Allah grant them a high place in Jannatul Firdaws al-A'la. They did great favours to us as Muslims, as the ummah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. But regardless, no one can be given preference over Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

The Imams' Own Statements on This Matter

That is why Imam Abu Hanifah رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ used to say:

Whenever you find an authentic hadith, you should believe that that is my way, that is my opinion.

Imam ash-Shafi'i رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ used to say:

If you find any statement in my book that contradicts the sunnah and the hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, leave my statement and hold on to the sunnah and the hadith of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Imam Malik رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ used to say:

There is none amongst all of mankind whose every single statement you accept entirely, except the one who is buried in this grave — and he used to point towards the grave of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ used to say:

Do not blindly follow me, neither Malik, neither ash-Shafi'i, al-Awza'i, or anyone. Yes, you learn from them and take knowledge from them — but if you find their opinion or statement goes against the hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, you must accept the hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

The Confusion Caused by Sectarian Divisions

Unfortunately, Muslims are divided into groups — Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali — and they cling to these groups and these madhabs to such an extent that even when you present the authentic hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, they try to twist its meaning. Whether we accept this or not, this is a reality, unfortunately. And this is what has led many Muslims to stay away from the deen of Allah. A person who does not pray, amongst his many excuses, says: "Which way should I pray — the Hanafi way? The Maliki way? The Shafi'i way?" We say: follow the way of Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

If we were to spread the hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and the sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, it would remove all kinds of confusion. There will be no confusion. And we must keep in mind that the best way is the way of Muhammadur Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, as the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ used to often say in his khutbahs:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith 2175)

The best of statements, the best of speech, is the speech of Allah — the Book of Allah, the Qur'an ul-Hakeem. And the best way is the way of Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Whether it comes to the worship of Allah, your conduct and your akhlaq, your interaction with people, your trade, or whatever it may be — khairul hady, hady Muhammadin صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. As a Muslim, you do not need to be confused. Always go back to the sunnah and the hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ — you will always find clear guidance within it.

May Allah give us tawfiq and the ability to follow him صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ the way he deserves to be followed, and to respect him and to obey him صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Indeed He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Second Khutbah: Returning to the Sunnah in All Affairs

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, whatever problem and issue we have in our lives, in order to resolve them we have to go back to the sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. If you are having issues within the family, go back to the sunnah and the hadith and the guidance of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. This very statement — khairul hady — can also be read as khairul huda, huda Muhammadin صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Whatever you want to do in your life, follow the footsteps and the way of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Seeking Knowledge Is Essential to Following the Sunnah

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, in order for us to truly and sincerely follow the sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, we have to seek knowledge. We have to seek knowledge. Without seeking knowledge, you cannot truly follow the sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

You need to learn the sunnah and the hadith of the Prophet عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ. The problem is, unfortunately, that many of us, when it comes to matters of the dunya, make every effort to learn. If you want to go into a business, you will try to know all the details of that particular business. If you want a job, you want to know all the details of that job. If you want to pursue any particular qualification, you will go into the depth of it. But when it comes to the matter of the Deen of Allah, you say: "I am a Muslim," and that label is enough.

Whereas the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ has encouraged us to continuously build our knowledge. And because of this, this masjid, alhamdulillah, always makes efforts to bring people closer to the knowledge of the Deen of Allah. A few months ago, we launched a series of lectures and lessons known as al-Bina' al-'Ilmi — "Building Knowledge" — regular weekly lectures that take place on the matters of 'aqeedah, fiqh, and the seerah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

And now, because it is the holiday season, we have arranged a conference that is going to begin in a few days' time. Please make sure you attend the conference and connect yourself to the scholars and the people of knowledge, and obtain and develop your knowledge of the Deen of Allah, so that you can truly follow the hadith and the sunnah of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. May Allah give us tawfiq and ability.