By Kidr Amari
“He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah . . .” [al-Nisaa’ 4:80]
Atwi’ou means to ‘obey’ and this comes first then ‘ittibaa’ means to ‘follow’. We cannot follow without obedience. The Arabic word ‘ittibaa’ that means to follow is a concept which should be well overstood and well researched. What does it mean to ‘ittibaa/follow?’ Does ‘ittibaa/follow mean to follow the messenger in all his
1) private matters and
2) hobbies
Does ittibaa/follow mean to follow the messenger when he committed mistakes and we should do the same and so on?
The Prophet Muhammad was allowed to forget some verses, but not a total forgetfulness. He would forget for some time due to his being human.
Allah says:
“By degrees shall We teach you (The Message) so you shall not forget, except as Allah wills, for He knows what is manifest and what is hidden” [Sûrah al-A`lâ: 87]
In certain matters, the Prophet Muhammad was allowed by Allah to exercise his own judgment (ijtihâd). In these cases, he would not be left to err. If he made a mistake in judgment, he was publicly advised about it.
What is the ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) or ‘Speech of the Prophet?’
When we study the Qur’an its clear that the Book of Allah has differentiated between the ordinary human speech of Nabi ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ and the "wahi" or revelation sent to him, and has clarified that it is only the Book of Allah, Al Qur’an that is revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and all that Prophet Muhammad uttered in life was not ‘wahi’ revelation.
Hence, it is only the Qur’an alone that was the inspired revelation from Allah and not including the‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi).
Some Muslims who follow Hadith/Sunnah outside of the Qur’an and they use Surah 53 1:4 to justify that the Prophet Muhammad didn’t speak of his own desire:
“By the star when it goes down, (or vanishes). Your companion has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.”
The Sunnis and other sectarians use this verse and interpret that the wahi (which is commonly translated as inspiration or revelation in this verse to be referring to the ‘speech’ of Muhammad in other words its suppose to be the ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi)' allegedly recorded in those hadiths compiled by Sahih Bukhari and company and Sunni’s say is the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad.
Several examples of this differentiation in the Qur’an such as in Surah 9:43 Allah says, “Allah pardon you! Why did you give them leave until those who spoke the truth had become manifest to you and you had known the liars?”
In the above ayat the Prophet Muhammad is admonished as to why he had given permission to the Hypocrites until the truthful people were made distinct from the liars. Had everything spoken by Prophet Muhammad been a ‘wahi’ (revelation) from Allah, then the above ayat would not have opposed the outside of ‘wahi’ revelations of the Qur’an which is ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi)or the Speech of Muhammad in which its clear that he had given the permission to the Hypocrites for non-participation in Jihad. This ayat also confirms that whatever the Prophet Muhammad uttered outside of the Qur’an is not ‘wahi’ (revelation) but his human speech is separate from Divine revelations.
Another example is in Surah 7:203 Allah says,
“And when you bringest not a verse for them they say: Why hast you not chosen it?”
Hence, had everything uttered by the Prophet Muhammad outside of the Qur’an been a ‘wahi’(revelation) from Allah, then in the above ayat it would be meaningless to identify this objection of unbelievers as to why the Messenger has not selected the ‘wahi’ (revelation) by himself, as under the assumption, whatever the Prophet Muhammad speaks is considered as ‘wahi’ (revelation) of Allah.
Allah has identified in the above ayat that it is the Qur’anic ayat that are the ‘wahi’ revelations that the Prophet Muhammad used to bring to his people, and not everything the Prophet Muhammad uttered as a human being.
It is clearly evident from the above ayats that whatever the Prophet Muhammad spoke outside of the Qur’an was not ‘wahi’ (revelation), as otherwise Allah would not have identified this aspect when Allah says:
"And when you bringest not a ayat for them"
If everything spoken by the Prophet Muhammad were ‘wahi’ (revelation) Allah would never have said the above as everything uttered by the Nabi (The Prophet) because everything the Prophet Muhammad said would have then already be revelations from Allah. It should be noted that while in the ayat 203, it is confirmed that whatever the Prophet Muhammad spoke was not revelation, in ayat 204, it is being urged that when the Qur’an is being recited then it should be listened to attentively, thus indicating that it is the Qur’an alone and not the outside speech of the Qur’an, the ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) which is not the Qur’an which is the only revelation of Allah.
Another example is in Surah 7:203-204 Allah says,
“Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my Sustainer. This (Qur’an) is insight from your Sustainer, and guidance and a mercy for a people that believe. And when the Qur’an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy."
Allah says clearly that it is the Prophet Muhammad was instructed to follow the Qur'an that was inspired to him and that the Qur'an alone was a guide and mercy for the people that believed in it. Also when the Qur'an alone is recited people were to be attentive to hearing it. It doesn't say that the Prophet Muhammad's ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi)' people heard every day was to be paid attention to. There is a differentiation.
Another example is in Surah 66:1 Allah says, “O Nabi! why do you forbid (yourself) that which Allah has made lawful for you; you seek to please your wives; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
In the above ayat it is again confirmed and overstood that whatever the Prophet Muhammad did outside of the divine revelations or acted upon outside of the divine revelations was not entirely revelation, but he also acted upon his own initiative, otherwise the admonition from Allah would not have come in which it is said:
"why do you forbid (yourself) that which Allah has made lawful for you"
It is evident from this ayat that the Prophet Muhammad made decisions on his own and acted on his own initiative outside of the divine instructions at times instead of the revelation of Allah, and thus proves that all the decisions and actions of the Nabi (Prophet Muhammad) were not "wahi" or revelation of Allah. Despite the fact that these verses were criticizing him, the Prophet Muhammad conveyed these ayats to people, and did not care what the unbelievers and hypocrites would say.
In Surah 2:23 Allah says, “And if ye are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto Our slave, then bring a Surah similar to it, and call your witnesses beside Allah if ye are truthful.”
In the above ayat the challenge is " that which We reveal unto Our slave", and against it, a "Surah" is called to duplicate. All those of sane mind know that it is only the Qur’an alone which is composed of Surahs, and the books which these various sects term as revelation of Allah besides Qur’an, are not composed of Surahs such as the books of Hadith and Sunnah.
Had Allah sent some outside ‘wahi’ revelation apart from the Qur’an, then such revelation would also have been included in the challenge to produce something like it, but the words
"then bring a Surah similar to it"
clearly establish that Allah has revealed only the Surahs of Al- Qur’an alone which were sent down to the Prophet Muhammad and which are called to duplicate
"that which We reveal unto Our slave".
In Surah 5:101 the believers are instructed that they should not raise any questions about things which may cause them confusion, but if they question about them during the ‘wahi’ (revelation) of the Qur’an, then the Qur’an will give provide them with the answers:
Surah 5:101, Allah says, “O you who believe! do not put questions about things which if declared to you may trouble you, and if you question about them when the Qur’an is being revealed, they shall be declared to you; Allah pardons this, and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.”
Now if everything uttered outside of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad which is ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) were ‘wahi’ (revelation) then the believers would not have been restricted to seek the answers to their questions from the Qur’an. Hence, by Allah restricting the believers to the Qur’an alone for getting their answers to their queries, it is confirmed that apart from Qur’an alone whatever the Prophet Muhammad spoke ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) was not Divine inspiration but his ordinary human speech, otherwise the believers would not have been restricted to get answers through Qur’anic ayats.
There are other ayats that tells us that the ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) that was spoken by the Prophet Muhammad was not ‘wahi’ (revelation) and Allah chastise the Prophet Muhammad for them. I reference: Surah 9:64, 47:20.
Allah tells us in His Book which is the Best Hadith that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad:
"Allah has revealed the best ‘Hadith’ (speech) , a book conformable in its various parts, repeating, whereat do shudder the skins of those who fear their Sustainer, then their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah; this is Allah's guidance, He guides with it whom He pleases; and (as for) him whom Allah leaves to err, there is no guide for him." (39:23)
It’s clear that the most beautiful 'Hadith', is the Qur’an and the Qur’an informs us that it contains the ‘Hadith’ of the messengers of Allah:
Surah 20:9 “Has the ḥadīthu حَدِيثُ of Moses reached you?”
Surah 79:15 “Has the ḥadīthu حَدِيثُ of Moses reached thee?”
Surah 51:24 “Has the ḥadīthu حَدِيثُ reached you, of the honoured guests of Ibrahim?”
and it is none else but the Book of Allah itself which is the actual ‘Hadith’ given to the Prophet Muhammad as the following ayat indicates:
"Then maybe you will kill yourself with grief, sorrowing after them, if they do not believe in this الْحَدِيثِ 'Hadith'." (18:6)
Allah tells us clearly in His Book that the Qur’an alone is the ‘Speech of the Messenger’ in Surah 69:40
“That this is ‘laqawlu’ (surely the Word) ‘rasūlin’ (of a Messenger) ‘karīmin’ (noble)...”
Now what isn’t the ‘laqawlu’ (surely the Word) ‘rasūlin’ (of a Messenger) is the outside ‘Nataq-un-Nabi’ (Speech of Nabi) that are contained in the Books of Sahih Bukhari and company books called Hadith and Sunnah.
However, this is another typical weak Sunni argument which can be clearly refuted by using the Qur’an alone.
They have been indoctrinated to believe that ‘Obey the Messenger’ means to follow Hadith of Sahih Bukhari and company and I know it’s hard to digest this.
“He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah . . .” [al-Nisaa’ 4:80]
I cannot imagine for one second that a great man like the Prophet Muhammad went around telling people to literally be like him in his personal life.
Would Allah sent any Prophet to tell his people to:
1) to look him,
2) act like him,
3) dress like him,
4) think like him,
4) eat like him,
5) sleep like him,
6) drink like him,
7) urinate like him
8) make love like him
9) stand like him
10 walk like him
11) brush our teeth like him
12) take off our shoes like him
Is this not extreme to obey a human being when Allah tells us not to make any distinctions from His Prophets? Allah says no Prophet would come and say be a worshiper but they would call to the worship of Allah. We are told not to make any distinctions between Allah's Prophets:
“The Apostle believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His apostles. "We make no ‘nufarriqu’ (distinction) between one and another of His (Allah's) apostles." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." [2:285]
“Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no ‘nufarriqu’ (distinction) between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam)." [2:136]
“ ‘Qul’ Say, ‘mā’ (not) ‘kuntu’ (I am) ‘bid'an’ (a new one) ‘mina’ (among) ‘l-rusuli’ (the Messengers) I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner." [46:9]
Honestly, we have to ask ourselves does Allah truly want us to be exactly like the Prophet Muhammad? Is this what Allah wants from us? Even Allah Himself says that piety is not turning one's face to the east or the west (i.e. outward actions) but piety is to be a believer, to be kind, charitable, patient etc.
“Piety does not lie in turning your face to East or West: Piety lies in believing in God, the Last Day and the angels, the Scriptures and the prophets, and disbursing your wealth out of love for God among your kin and the orphans, the wayfarers and mendicants, freeing the slaves, observing your devotional obligations, and in paying the zakat and fulfilling a pledge you have given, and being patient in hardship, adversity, and times of peril. These are the men who affirm the truth, and they are those who follow the straight path.” Surah 2:177
We should understand that 'Follow' is in itself a concept which should be well overstood... and thoroughly researched.
Now lets’ thoroughly examine atwi’ou which means to ‘obey’ then ‘ittibaa’ which means to ‘follow’.
Again, we cannot follow without obedience and the Arabic word ‘ittibaa’
The Arabic root word for ‘ittibaa’ is Tabi’a which means:
1) To follow
2) come with
3) imitate
4) obey
5) be the follower of
Taba’un and Tabi’un means:
1) Follower
2) Helper
3) One who follows or attends upon any one
Atba’a means:
1) To follow
2) Follow up
3) make to follow
4) pursue
5) prosecute
Muttabi’un means:
1) Successive
Ittiba’un means:
1) Following after
Muttab’un means:
1) One who is pursued
Allah says in Surah 3:31, “Say: "If ye do love Allah, ‘fa-ittabi’ūnī’ (then follow me): Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Now, Allah says, “Say: "If ye do love Allah, ‘fa-ittabi’ūnī’ (then follow me)….”
Hence, to follow definitely does not mean follow the messenger in all his private matters and hobbies or when he committed mistakes we do the same... and so on and so on.
"Those who ‘yattabi’ūna’ (follow) the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, ‘wa-ittaba’ū’ (and follow) the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper." Surah 7:157
Allah says clearly, “So those who believe in him and respect him and support him and follow the light which was send down with him are the successful ones”.
Hence, the LIGHT that was sent down with him is the Book of Allah, the Qur’an alone.
Now before we can ‘ittibaa’ the Prophet Muhammad we have to atwi’ou which means to ‘obey’.
In Surah 36:20, Allah says, “Then there came running, from the farthest part of the City, a man saying "O my people! ‘ittabi’ū’ (follow) the messengers:”
In Surah 36:21 Allah says, " ‘ittabi’ū’ (follow) those who ask no reward of you (for themselves), and who have themselves received Guidance.
However, we have to ‘atwi’ou’ (obey) the Prophet Muhammad before we can follow him but the question is what is the message we should obey?
Very important point:
A messenger perhaps ‘any’ messenger must have a message to be a messenger, hence, when you call someone a "messenger" you are directly linking them to the message, no ifs or buts about it.
Allah says in Surah 4:80 “He who ‘yuti’i’ (obeys) the Messenger, ‘aṭā’a’ (obeyed)Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds).”
Now let’s examine the usage of the Arabic word ‘yuṭi’i’ (obeys) in the Qur’an for further clarity of the matter and how its used.
In Surah 2:285 Allah says, “The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His apostles. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His apostles." And they say: "We hear,‘wa-aṭa’nā’ (and we obeyed): (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."
Remember also the expression:
“He who ‘yuti’i’ (obeys) the Messenger, ‘aṭā’a’ (obeyed) Allah”
This is not a unique expression for the Prophet Muhammad, thus it is for all of the Prophets of Allah:
In Surah 26:108, Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet Noah, "So fear Allah, ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me)"
Also in Surah 71:3, Noah said, “That ye should worship Allah, fear Him ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me)…”
Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet Hud in Surah 26:126 – “So fear Allah, ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me)…”
Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet Saaleh in Surah 26:144 “fear Allah, ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me) and in Surah 26:150 “fear Allah, ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me)”
Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet LOT in Surah 26:163 “ You shall fear Allah ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’(and obey me).”
Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet Shu’aib in Surah 26:179 – “fear Allah ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me)”
Allah tells us to OBEY Prophet Jesus in Surah 43:63 “When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me).”
Now compare what the Prophet Muhammad was instructed to say:
"And ‘wa-aṭī’ū (obey) God and ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (obey) the messenger and be cautious; but if you turn back, then know that the sole duty of the messenger is the deliverance (of the message)" Surah 5:92
"And ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (obey) God ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (and obey) the messenger, but if you turn back, then upon Our messenger is the sole duty of the clear delivery (of the message)" 64:12
“Whoever ‘yuṭi’i (obeys) Allah and his Messenger will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow to live there (forever), and that will be the great achievement” (Surah An-Nisa 4:13)
In Surah 3:132 “ ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (and obey) Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy.”
In Surah 47:33 Allah says, “O ye who believe! ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (obey) Allah and ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ (obey) the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!”
Now if you research the word Messenger, is derived from the word Message. The duty of a Messenger is to deliver a Message. Now if there was no message there would be no messenger. Hence, to Obey the Messenger would thus mean to obey the message he is delivering.
Further research will make it clear in the Qur’an that in the Book of Allah we never read anywhere in the Quran words like "Obey God and obey Muhammad" or obey Jesus, or obey Moses as I have shown earlier.
The words used are always "obey the messenger".
This is to emphasize that it is the "message" of Allah that is to be obeyed and not the personal words or views of the messenger. Again, the word Messenger is derived from the word Message and if there was no message there would be no messenger.
Hence, to Obey the Messenger means to obey the message he delivered.
Let’s analyze the Arabic word ‘atwi’ou’ (obey) further the root word is Ta’a which means:
1) To obey, permit
Tau’an means:
1) With witting obedience
Tau’un means:
1) Obedient
Ta’tun means:
1) Obedience
Ta’i’un means:
Obedient
Tawwa’a means:
1) To permit, consent
Ata’a means:
1) To obey
Muta’un means:
1) Obeyed
When Qur’an instructs us to ‘aṭī’ū’ (obey) God ‘wa-aṭī’ū’ and obey the messenger it’s not talking about following the Prophet Muhammad in a literal sense and this is what Christians do when it comes to Prophet Jesus.
Remember Prophet Jesus also said in Surah 43:63 “When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said:
"Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah ‘wa-aṭī’ūni’ (and obey me).”
Now Christians tries to obey and follow Prophet Jesus literally which is directly due to their idol worship of him and many Muslim are starting to walk in Christian foot steps with Prophet Muhammad. Not, I but Allah said in the Qur’an that He revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad and Allah no where in the Qur’an said that he revealed or sent down (nazala) hadith or sunnah to Prophet Muhammad.
Hence, we are suppose to worship Allah ALONE, and we do not follow Prophet Muhammad in the literal sense, we follow the Prophet Muhammad in the sense that Allah revealed a revelation to him called the Qur’an, so in actuality we are not following Prophet Muhammad literally we are following Allah because Allah is the Source of this revelation and it is Allah who sent the Prophet Muhammad into the world, ask yourself if you following hadith and Sunnah books outside of the Qur’an, who are you following?
Who are you worshiping? True Muslims follow, obey and worship Allah ALONE.
If you going ‘obey’ and ‘follow’ Prophet Muhammad literally because Allah says for us many times to ‘obey’ and ‘follow’ the Messenger then you can’t restrict this just to the Prophet Muhammad. Allah says this about many of His Prophets in the Qur’an as I mentioned above already.
Also in Surah 3:55, Allah says, “Behold! Allah said:
"O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who ‘ittaba’ūka (followed) you superior to those who reject Faith, to the Day of Resurrection; then shall ye all return unto Me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.
In Surah 6:90 Allah says, “Those were the (prophets) who received Allah's guidance:
‘iq'tadih’ (follow) the guidance they received; Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: this is no less than a Message for the nations."
It is clear that the path and the guidance we are to follow belong to no human being separate from the message they bring from Allah and this is what we follow that which the Prophets themselves were instructed to follow.
Prophet Muhammad was instructed to say, “Say:
"I tell you not that with me are the Treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but ‘attabi’u’ (follow) what is revealed to me." Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then consider not? [6:50]
Prophet Muhammad again was instructed to say:
“Say, "I am not different from other messengers, I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only ‘attabi’u’ (follow) what is revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner." [46:9]
Overstanding that the Prophets of Allah could not bring down any personal commands, laws, rules and injunctions on their own is because Allah makes in clear:
"Surely the ‘HUKM’ (Law and Rule) is for none but Allah." (12:40)
"He does not make any one His associate in His ‘HUKM’ (Laws and Ruling)." (18:26)
These ayats makes it quite clear that obedience and rule is only for the Law of Allah and no other law. Even a messenger of Allah does not have the authority to make anyone subservient, obey or follow his personal commands.
However, obedience and subservience is only for the law of Allah, as the following verse declares:
"It is not meet for a Human Being that Allah should give him the Book and Government and 'Nabuwah' (Direct reception of Divine Messages), then he should say to people: Be subservient to me rather than Allah; but on the contrary (he would say): Become sustenance providers (to mankind) because of your teaching the Book and your studying (it yourselves)." (3:79)
Conclusion, the Fact is when Muslims say they follow the ‘messenger’ by obeying books outside of the Qur’an called Hadith by Sahih Bukhari and company the reality is they are not following the messenger, its "allegedly following what the messenger did/said from other men.
And it amuses me that these Muslims believe that Muslims who obey and followed what all of the Prophets obeyed and followed including the Prophet Muhammad, they say we belittle the status of the prophet by saying he was human thus imperfect, like all prophets and humans etc. Now, does the Quran say he was perfect or error-free? No. So why would we follow a human being literally? There is a problem when Muslims are ignoring the words used by Allah in the Quran and equating them to mean "follow/obey Muhammad" as in the person irrespective of what capacity. Allah does not choose His words haphazardly.
There is no passage throughout the entire Qur’an that says ‘obey/follow’
- Imran
- Moses
- Aaron
- Lot
- David
- Solomon
- Saleh
- Zakaraia
- John the Baptist
- Jesus
- Muhammad
To follow only means following their example as set in the Quran...
1) How they was humble,
2) how they was patient,
3) how they had trust in Allah...
4) Following them on the straight path...
5) Following their attitude towards the poor and how they treated others
The Quran is filled with what we need to 'follow' from the Prophet Muhammad or any other messengers and who would dare to disagree with the Qur’an being sufficient for all of the Prophets of Allah examples that we need including the Prophet Muhammad?
Salamun alaykum
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