Decisions of Allaah and His Messenger

Allah (T) said:

"It is not befitting for a believing man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allaah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision." [al-Ahzaab 33:36]

This ayah indicates that when it is confirmed that Allah (" ) or His Messenger () have made a decision or have informed about a particular matter, then no believer, male or female, may choose differently. Any opposing choice would contradict Iman.

Ash-Shafi'ee (r) reported a consensus among the scholars of the Sahaabah, the Tabi'een, and their followers, that:

"If a sunnah of Allah's Messenger (|) becomes manifest to a person, he does not have any choice but to follow it, regardless of what other people say."

No Muslim scholar disputes or doubts the truth of this statement. The only evidence that people are required to follow [besides Allah's Book] is the words of the Infallible (Muhammad () "who does not say anything out of (his own) desire" [an-Najm 53:3)]

Other people's talks could, at best, be acceptable to follow. But in no way may they oppose or outweigh the Texts (of the Quraan and Sunnah). We ask Allah (" ) to protect us from the failure [incurred on those who do not abide by this].

The Guidance Is in Obeying the Messenger

Also, Allah (" ) said:

"Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger: but if you turn away then he (the Messenger) is only responsible for the duty placed on him, and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only clear deliverance [of the Message]" [an-Nur 24:54]

Note that repeating the verb "obey" here has an important significance that will be discussed below.

Here Allah (" ) makes obeying the Messenger (|) a condition for guidance; guidance cannot be acquired without this obedience. The duty of the Messenger (|) is to deliver the Message; and people's duty is to follow, obey, and submit to him. Al-Bukhari (r) reported that Az-Zuhri1 said:

Thus if people neglect their duty of belief and obedience, they would harm themselves not him; his responsibility is not to make them believe, but only to deliver the Message to them; it is not required from him that people be guided and successful.

Addressing the Believers

And Allah (" ) said:

"Believers! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those charged with authority among you; if you differ in anything, refer it to Allaah and the Messenger (for judgment) if you (truly) believe in Allaah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final determination" [an-Nisa' 4:59]

Allah (" ) is requiring obedience to Him and to His Messenger (|). He starts the ayah with an address to the "believers", hinting that what is required thereafter is a consequence of that name with which they are addressed.

This is similar to saying, "You whom Allah has favoured and enriched with His bounties, be good to others as Allah has been good to you." And like, "Learned man, teach people what would benefit them." And, "Ruler, rule with justice." And so on.

For this reason, legislative matters in the Qur'an are frequently addressed to the believers, starting the address with "Believers". For example Allah says:

"Believers, fasting is prescribed for you..." [al-Baqarah 2:183]

And He says:

"Believer, when the call is proclaimed for prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allaah..." [al-Jumu'ah 62:9]

And He says:

"Believers, fulfill the contracts..." [al-Ma'idah 5:1]

Addressing the believers like this carries the implication that: "If you are true believers, you should perform the following action, because it is a requirement for the integrity and sincerity of Iman."

To Obey the Messenger Is to Obey Allaah

In the above ayah (an-Nisaa' 59), Allah demands obedience to Him, the Messenger, and those of authority. The verb "obey" is applied only once in regard to the Messenger and those of authority. One might expect the opposite - [that it would be applied only once in regard to both Allah and the Messenger] because:

"He who obeys the Messenger obeys Allaah indeed" [an-Nisa' 4:80]

However, this usage here has a subtle meaning. It implies that the Messenger must be obeyed in all that he commands, even if it were not something specifically required in Qur'an.

Let one then not imagine that the Messenger (|) should only be obeyed when his commands confirm the Qur'an, otherwise he need not be obeyed. [In refutation of such fallacy, al-Miqdam bin Ma'di Yakrib (R) narrated that] he (|) said :

"There will be a man with full stomach, reclining on his pillow, who will hear a command from me and say, "Let the judge between us (in this matter) be Allah's Book: we obey whatever we find in it." [Know that] indeed, I have been given the Book and, with it, that which is similar to it (the Sunnah)." 2

However, obeying the people of authority is not required independently, but as part of obeying the Messenger (|). This fact is confirmed by the hadith (narrated by Ibn 'Umar (R)):

"One should listen and obey (those charged with authority) whether it were something he liked or hated, as long as he is not commanded to disobey Allaah (" ). If he is commanded to disobey Allaah, he should neither listen nor obey."3

Toward the end of this ayah (an-Nisa' 59), Allah emphasizes obeying the Messenger (|) by saying (what means), "... refer it to Allaah and the Messenger ...." rather than saying, "... and to the Messenger ...". Referring matters to the Qur'an is equivalent to referring them to Allah and the Messenger. Also, Allah's judgement is the same as His Messenger's; and the Messenger's judgment is the same as Allah's.

Thus if you refer your disputes to Allah, i.e. to His Book, then you refer to His Messenger (|) as well. And if you refer to His Messenger (|), then you refer to Allah as well. This is one of the subtleties of the Qur'an.

The People of Authority

Two views have been expressed by the Sahaabah and the 'ulama (scholars) as to who are the ones "charged with authority". The first is that they are the 'ulama and the other is that they are the rulers.

In reality, it applies to both groups, because both the 'ulama and the rulers are in charge of the affairs concerning which Allah has sent His Messenger.

As for the 'ulama, they are charged with protecting the Deen, explaining it, teaching it, and refuting those who deviate from it or try to alter it. Allah (" ) gave them this charge, as He said:

"These [prophets] were the men to whom We granted the Book and Judgement and Prophethood; if these people [of the Scripture] reject them, behold! We shall entrust their charge to a new people who do not reject them..." [al-An'aam 6:89]

This is indeed a great assignment to the 'ulama that requires from people to obey and follow them.