Importance of the Sunnah: a few points

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

1. Part of the belief of a Muslim is to believe in the Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم:

* The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Islaam is based on five (Pillars): To testify that none has the right to be worshiped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah…” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

2. Part of sincere faith is to accept the judgment of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Sunnah:

* Allaah تعالى says:

{فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا}

{But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 65]

3. The love of Allaah can only be attained through following the Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

* Allaah تعالى says:

{قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّـهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ}

{Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 31]

4. One of the conditions for the deed to be accepted is that it should be according to the Sunnah:

* The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “He who does something contrary to our way  will have it rejected.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

Another narration:

“if any one introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.” [Saheeh Muslim]

5. Opposing the Sunnah is the beginning of all the troubles:

* Allaah تعالى says:

{فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ}

{And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment (i.e. his Sunnah, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.} [Surah al-Noor (24): 63]

6. Opposing the Sunnah is the cause of misguidance:

* Allaah تعالى says:

{وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّـهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا}

{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 36]

7. Opposing the Sunnah is the ultimate cause of differences and divisions in the Ummah:

* Allaah تعالى says:

{وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ}

{And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He (تعالى) has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 153]

8. Opposing the Sunnah leads to humiliation in this world and the Hereafter:

*Allaah تعالى says:

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَـٰئِكَ فِي الْأَذَلِّينَ}

{Those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), they will be among the lowest (most humiliated).} [Surah al-Mujaadalah (58): 20]

9. Those who oppose the Sunnah will be driven away from the Haudh (lake) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

* The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I am your predecessor at the Lake-Fount (al-Kauthar) and some men amongst you will be brought to me, and when I will try to hand them some water, they will be pulled away from me by force whereupon I will say, 'O Lord, my companions!' Then the Almighty (Allaah) will say, 'You do not know what they did after you left, they introduced new things into the religion after you.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

10. Opposing the Sunnah is the path towards Hellfire:

*Allaah تعالى says:

{وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا}

{And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 115]

Also:

{ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَاقُّوا اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ}

{That is because they opposed Allaah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allaah and His Messenger - indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty.} [Surah al-Anfaal (8): 13 and Surah al-Hashr (59): 4]