[Abu_Hind]

2. It is His Right that We Follow His Example

It is our duty to follow his example and emulate his manner of conduct. This is, in fact, another sign of our love for him. Al-Qâdî `Iyâd says:

Know that whoever loves something prefers it and prefers to bring himself into harmony with it. Otherwise, his love is not genuine, only pretended. Someone who truly loves the Prophet (peace be upon him) will show some visible signs of that love. At the forefront of the signs that a person will show is that he will emulate the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to follow his Sunnah. He will follow him in his words and deeds. He will exhibit the same manners as the Prophet (peace be upon him) in both ease and hardship and in matters that please him and those that displease him. The proof for this is that Allah says: "Say (O Muhammad): If you love Allah, then follow me. Allah will love you." [Sûrah Âl `Imran: 31]

Ibn Rajab has the following to say in this regard:

Genuine love requires emulation. It requires loving what the beloved loves and detesting what the beloved hates. So, whoever harbors genuine love for Allah and His Messenger in his heart must necessarily love what Allah and His Messenger love and hate what they hate. He must be pleased with what pleases Allah and His Messenger and be displeased with what angers them. He must then put these feelings of love and hate into actual practice.

An important aspect of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) is to hold his Sunnah in high regard and to give preference to it over all other opinions and aspirations. Ibn `Abbâs made the following statement to some people who mentioned the opinions of others after hearing what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had said on a given matter:

I fear that stones from the heavens might descend upon you. I tell you what Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, and you respond with what Abû Bakr and `Umar said!"

Ahmad b. Hanbal had the following to say:

I am startled by those people who after knowing the authenticity of a statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) take instead the opinion of Sufyân. They do this, even though Allah says: "Let those beware who go against the Messenger's command lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement." Do they have any idea what that "trial" is? That trial is polytheism. It is possible that if someone rejects the command of the Prophet (peace be upon him), his heart will become deviated and he will meet with destruction.

It is necessary to adhere firmly to the Sunnah and avoid innovating matters in Allah's religion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that is not a part of it will have it rejected."

Ibn Rajab makes the following comments on this hadîth:

This hadîth directly states that every action that is not explicitly sanctioned by the Lawgiver is rejected. It also implies that every action that is in accordance with His Law is not rejected. The "matter" being referred to in the hadîth is the religion of Allah. Therefore, the meaning of the hadîth is as follows: Whoever does an act outside of the parameters of Islamic Law and not in strict conformity with it will have it rejected."

(excerpted from the same article, more to come soon insha Allah)