What does ‘ Obey GOD and obey the Messenger’ really mean ?

[Union]

Analysis of the noble expression ‘ Obey GOD and obey the Messenger’
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Though both of the Arabic words’ Hadith’ and ‘Sunnah’ can be found in the Qur’an , but not for a single time Almighty ALLAH had related them with Prophet Muhammad . It is redundant to even Imagine that if Sunnah/Hadith could be the second source of Islam , Almighty ALLAH just kept quite about them . Overwhelmingly Almighty GOD announced that the Qur’an described details for anything a Mumin needs to know to achieve certainty about Islam but didn’t care to mention about Prophet’s Hadiths or Sunnah .


Whatsoever , the quest of sectarian Muslims to relate verses to Prophet’s Sunnah is a desperation . Among them ‘ Obey GOD and obey the messenger’ is the most famous . A little unbiased thinking can clarify what that verse wants to predict .


01. Messenger = Who deliver the message
=> Obey the messenger = Obey the message he delivered .

And we know very well that Prophet Muhammad (p) was sent to deliver GOD’s message the Qur’an , nothing else .

[005:092] Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and beware! But if ye turn away, then know that the duty of Our messenger is only plain conveyance (of the message).

[064:012] Obey Allah and obey His messenger; but if ye turn away, then the duty of Our messenger is only to convey (the message) plainly.

[005:067] O Apostle! deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.

[005:099] The duty of the messenger is only to convey (the message). Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide.

Therefore , ‘Obey the messenger ‘ = Obey the Qur’an .



02. Why not for a single time All-knowing ALLAH did reveal ‘ Obey GOD and obey Muhammad’ but HE did reveal ‘Obey GOD and obey the messenger’ more than 25 times ? Was it a coincidence? No, not at all .All-knowing GOD’s deliberate word choosing in the Qur’an always lead us to the right path . Muhammad , the human was not extraordinary . Like any average human he did make mistakes and slipped away in many occasions . Muhammad without the message is just a regular human being, he frowned and turned away when the blind poor man came to him, (See 80:1-11), he feared the people when he was supposed to fear only God, (See 33:37), and he prohibited what he should not prohibit, (See 66:1)

That is why there has never been a single order in the Quran from God,the Most Cognizant to "Obey Muhammad." If we were to obey Muhammad the human being,(not the messenger), we were to frown at the poor, fear the people instead of God and prohibit what God did not. We are required to obey the messenger, because it is the message (QURAN) that made the obedience a requirement, not the person, Muhammad, that made it a requirement. If Sunnah of Human Muhammad is obligatory for us , we surely have been commanded by Almighty by the expression ‘ Obey GOD and Muhammad’ . It is very interesting to observe that even the wives of the Prophet were not instructed to obey the ‘Husband Muhammad’ but were instructed gravely to obey ‘Messenger Muhammad’ in verse 33:30-31 .

Also consider the following verses as the evidence for what we have discussed :

[018:110] Say, “Surely, I am just a man like you. Revelation has been sent to me that your God is only one God! Hence, those hoping to meet their Lord should seek the righteous acts, and should not accept any partners in the worship of their Lord!”

[093:007] He found you unguided, and guided you!

[042:052] And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants; and most surely you show the way to the right path:


03. Another misunderstanding encircled around the phrase ‘ Obey GOD and obey the messenger’ is that they are two different entities : 01) Obey GOD which is Qur’an & 02) Obey the messenger which is the Sunnah . But such is not the case . This phrase expresses a single unit of instructions through an inseparable obedience . Almighty GOD clarified :

[004:080] He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you as a watcher over them.

Also please ponder on the following verses whereas GOD and the messenger are being expressed as the single entity in action and in obedience in return :

[009:001] Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty.

If Allah releases the believers from the treaty, the Messenger automatically does too.

[002:279] And if ye do not, then be warned of war (against you) from Allah and His messenger. And if ye repent, then ye have your principal (without interest). Wrong not, and ye shall not be wronged.

Notice, the war is from Allah as well as the Messenger, although it is waged physically by the Messenger.

[003:172] As for those who heard the call of Allah and His messenger after the harm befell them (in the fight); for such of them as do right and ward off (evil), there is great reward.

Again, the same concept above.

[004:100] Anyone who emigrates in the cause of GOD will find on earth great bounties and richness. Anyone who gives up his home, emigrating to GOD and His messenger, then death catches up with him, his recompense is reserved with GOD. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

"[059:008] (And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah and His Messenger . Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say);-

In the above verse, how does a person help Allah? Does Allah need any help? No but the People were asked to help the messenger and they did so. Yet, the expression "Allah and His Messenger" is used. This is because they are a single 'entity' to be heeded.

[009:003] And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve,

The 'proclamation' is made by the Messenger himself to all people, yet it is from "Allah and His Messenger".

[005:033] The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.

In the above verse, if one fights the messenger, he automatically 'fights' Allah too. All these verses prove that Allah and His messenger are a single entity to be obeyed.

Cont..

 

[Union]

04. With grave tone Almighty Lord frequently reminded us that the authority of legislation in Islam belongs to HIM ONLY . HE is our Master and all of us , including all the Prophets and messengers are HIS servants . None of us has the upper hand to share/add/supplement laws with the laws of Almighty GOD . This is equally applicable to all the Pr0phets and the messengers .Almighty ALLAH clarifies :

[012:040] You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent down any authority for them; ‘HUKUMAH’ is only Allah's; He has commanded that you shall not serve aught but Him; this is the right religion but most people do not know:

[018:026] Say: Allah knows best how long they remained; to Him are (known) the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; how clear His sight and how clear His hearing! There is none to be a guardian for them besides Him, and He does not make any one His associate in His ‘HUKUMAH’

[006:057] Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islamic Monotheism), but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allah). I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently (the torment). The ‘HUKUM’ is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges."

That is the very reason Almighty ALLAH didn’t assign any authority to Prophet Muhammad for making laws for the Muslims , rather HE instructed the Prophet to follow the Qur’an and to rule the people according to the legislation as found in the Qur’an :

[006:050] Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of God, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me." Say: "can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then consider not?

[007:203] If thou bring them not a revelation, they say: "Why hast thou not got it together?" Say: "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord: this is (nothing but) lights from your Lord, and Guidance, and mercy, for any who have faith."

[010:015] And when Our clear communications are recited to them, those who hope not for Our meeting say: Bring a Quran other than this or change it. Say: It does not beseem me that I should change it of myself; I follow naught but what is revealed to me; surely I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the punishment of a mighty day.

[046:009] Say: I am not the first of the apostles, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but that which is revealed to me, and I am nothing but a plain warner.

[005:048] And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you; for every one of you did We appoint a law and a way, and if Allah had pleased He would have made you (all) a single people, but that He might try you in what He gave you, therefore strive with one another to hasten to virtuous deeds; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will let you know that in which you differed;

[005:049] And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors.

Now if Prophet Muhammad himself was obliged to follow the Qur’an ONLY , then what the expression ‘ Obey the Messenger’ should imply to ?

Obey the Messenger = Obey the message he delivered = Obey the Laws he followed = Obey the Qur’an

Thanks for your patience .

 

[safdar.dushantappeh]

Thanks Union for the great analysis. It makes perfect sense.

 

[Union]

Thanks Union for the great analysis. It makes perfect sense.

Its a pleasure .

 

[Shia Islam]

Messenger = Who deliver the message
Obey the messenger = Obey the message he delivered .
Therefore , ‘Obey the messenger ‘ = Obey the Qur’an .

I don't want to debate here in this DIR, however this simplification is not seving your goal...

We are talking about a messenger of God, who delivers a whole religion, not about a post man who delivers a letter. So here is the correct equation:

Messenger = Who deliver the message
Obey the messenger = Obey the message he delivered .
Therefore , ‘Obey the messenger ‘ = Obey whatever the messenger brings

 

[seeking4truth]

"You have in the prophet of Allah an excellent exemplar for Him who hope to meet with his Lord."

The Holy Prophet no doubt obeyed the Quran but how do we know how and what he did as he is no longer here to show us?
Is our understanding and obedience to the Holy Quran equal to his?

 

[Union]

"You have in the prophet of Allah an excellent exemplar for Him who hope to meet with his Lord."

The Holy Prophet no doubt obeyed the Quran but how do we know how and what he did as he is no longer here to show us?
Is our understanding and obedience to the Holy Quran equal to his?

Yes , it is . Qur'an is a practical book which determines all day to day activities for Muslims within the fold of Islam as religion . Thanks .

 

[safdar.dushantappeh]

I don't want to debate here in this DIR, however...

Please do so, Shia Islam. The purpose of the forum is to discuss the arguments and get a better understanding of our religion. Just because the arguments make sense to me, it does not mean they are flawless. You would do a great favor to your Muslim brothers if you could explain which part of the arguments does not sound valid to you.

Thanks
Safdar

 

[seeking4truth]

Yes , it is . Qur'an is a practical book which determines all day to day activities for Muslims within the fold of Islam as religion .

I do not agree that our understanding is as great as that of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
He prepared himself through many years of self reflection and meditation, observing the lives and behaviour of those around him.
Do we know that everything he was taught by God is included in the Holy Quran or do we only know that this part was to be preserved for the benefit of future generations?

Unless you have the same degree of knowledge and the same concepts as he had I should say it is impossible to have the same degree of understanding.
That is why I think we were told to follow his example. It was his example which were the results of the best understanding.
We can copy the example but not the understanding.
Maybe by doing this we can increase our understanding.

 

[safdar.dushantappeh]

Unless you have the same degree of knowledge and the same concepts as he had I should say it is impossible to have the same degree of understanding.

People have different understandings of everything. I guess that is obvious.

That is why I think we were told to follow his example.

I appreciate if we eventually get to discuss that what "follow his example" mean in Quran. In another thread, we discussed that in detail and it does not seem to imply the Hadith-mining approach.

We can copy the example but not the understanding.

It seems that we jumped to two conclusions: (1) it is a good idea to copy the examples, (2) after thousands of years, we are actually able to COPY the examples. What the prophet did based on his understanding was a proper action based on the culture, the time, and the very particular situation that he was in. After centuries desperately searching for the examples through the unreliable source of history, and then pretending that applying the same examples is what the God wants no matter how different is the situations, is not only an unreasonable way of living but also not even remotely close to the image of the religion that Quran draws.

Maybe by doing this we can increase our understanding.

Maybe? I for one do not want to depend my life on a guess. And as a witness, after over 20 years of practicing Islam, the very details associated with religion did not improve my understanding, not even a bit.

 

[seeking4truth]

You are right in that following haddith alone will not bring understanding. That is not what is asked of us.
Two things are expected 1. to read and contemplate the meaning of the words of the Holy Quran and act on their instructions and 2. meditate and consider the qualities of our creator and try to reflect them in our own relationships with others.
Islam without these will produce only shallow activity and minimal understanding but with them real peace can be obtained both personal and with others.
Knowing how the Holy Prophet responded can guide us but we are not expected to do exactly as he did.
As you say circumstances have changed and day to day actions he did may not apply in our lives. eg. wearing his style of clothes, otherwise no Muslim would be using computers, phones or driving cars!!

 

[safdar.dushantappeh]

Knowing how the Holy Prophet responded can guide us but we are not expected to do exactly as he did.

Note that the majority of muslims at our time do not consider Hadith as a helper tool. They rather view it as a unique source of vital details (that are missing from Islam!!!), which are the key to salvation and without them there will be not much left from religion. This is quite different from the view you presented in which Hadith is a helper tool.
In fact, many things can help us to deepen our understanding of Quran and the image of ideal way of life that it describes. This includes (but not limited to) history, philosophy, sociology, psychoanalysis, literature, etc. The question is that at point in the history, among these helper tools Hadith-mining became the inseparable part of Islam to the extent that the majority of muslims do not even recognize Islam anymore if it is not attached with Hadiths.