Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalam Alaikum,

In regards to your answer this is my view, please correct me if I am wrong.

If this hadith is truly authentic, then the comment which says 'I would have ordered that a wife should prostrate herself before her husband' implies that the Prophet would have considered it his right to order people to do certain things without the direct instruction from Gabriel so long as there were no conflicting laws from God.  It was certainly necessary to do so since the Quran does not nearly cover every scenario and situation (it was not designed to do that).

In fact, I do believe this to be the case.  I believe the Prophet passed down certain rulings that he alone felt were right for his people of the time.  Of course, the problem is that, if there are certain rules created by a human without divine intervention should they, must they, apply to all people and forever?  In other words, does everything the Prophet said, is every rule he ever made, appropriate for all of man-kind?  

Or rather, are only the rules of the Quran worthy of that status?

Perhaps we should consider these human-made rules to be more like great ideas created for a people of a former time.   The ideas may or may not apply to us today.  However, we should consider them carefully and apply those which make good sense and is in keeping with the core beliefs of the religion.  Not every rule today would fit those criteria.  We certainly should NOT take everything that was said and apply it word for word.   That is the greatest mistake being made today and what is a source of major criticism for why Islam is not considered by some to be a religion of the future.

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Answer:

Every word of the prophet(saws) is law

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: In regards to your answer this is my view, please correct me if I am wrong.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 79-80:

We have sent you (O Mohamed) as a Messenger to mankind, and Allah’s witness suffices for this. Whoever obeys the Messenger, in fact obeys Allah, and whoever turns away from him, he will be accountable for his deeds. Anyhow, we have not sent you (O Mohamed) to be a guardian over them.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32:

O Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love those, who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 59 Surah Hashr verse 7:

So take what the Messenger (saws) assigns to you and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment.

Allah Subhanah, The Lord Creator Himself has sanctioned the unconditional obedience to the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

The guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) can be divided into two broad categories:

1. His guidance on anything regarding any aspect of religion, Shariah Law, deeds which bring about the Pleasure and Good Will of Allah Subhanah, deeds which ignite the Wrath and Anger of the Lord Most Majestic, Paradise, Hell, etc….basically any guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) pertaining to religion and/or to Allah Subhanah.
2. His personal opinion or guidance on any technical matter of the world; or matters which one can learn through experience, testing, research, study, etc.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 5830 Narrated by Talhah ibn Ubaydullah

I and Allah's Messenger (saws) happened to pass by people near the date-palm trees. He (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘What are these people doing?’ They said: ‘They are ‘grafting’, i.e. they combine the male with the female (tree) and thus they yield more fruit. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘I do not find it to be of any use.’ The people were informed about it and they abandoned this practice. Allah's Messenger (saws) (was later) on informed (that the yield had dwindled), whereupon he (saws) said: ‘If there is any use of it, then they should do it, for it was just a personal opinion of mine, and do not go after my personal opinion, but when I say to you anything on behalf of Allah, then do accept it, for I do not attribute lie to Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.’

Sahih Muslim Hadith 5832 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik ; Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) happened to pass by the people who had been busy in grafting the trees. Thereupon he (saws) said: ‘If you were not to do it, it might be good for you.’ (So they abandoned this practice) and there was a decline in the yield. He (the Prophet (saws)) happened to pass by them (and said): ‘What has gone wrong with your trees?’ They said: ‘You said so and so.’ Thereupon he (saws) said: ‘You have better knowledge (of a technical skill) in the affairs of the world.’

Thus sister in conclusion, it is the obligatory duty of every believer who indeed believes in Allah and the Last Day, and the very element of belief: to unconditionally obey and accept every single command, every single guidance, and every word and deed of the Messenger of Allah (saws) as law……whenever it pertains to absolutely anything regarding the religion or Allah Subhanah.

But in matters which are of a technical nature or matters of the world which one can learn or develop or evolve through research, or study, or experience, etc…..(what kind of houses to build, how to cultivate agriculture, how to build vehicles, what kind and type of communication devices can be built and used, etc.)….basically matters which do no pertain to religion….here one is not bound to unconditionally obey the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Respected Sister in Islam, rest absolutely assured that each and every word the Messenger of Allah (saws) said regarding Allah Subhanah, the religion, its every law, its rites, its rituals, the Hereafter, etc. was neither invented by the Messenger of Allah (saws), nor did he (saws) say aught of his own desire….but was information that was sent down unto him through inspiration by The Lord of The Worlds….and make no mistake, to disregard, or deny, or reject, or a refusal to obey any guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) regarding Allah or His Deen would be tantamount to disbelief in the Sight of Allah Subahnah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 1-6:

1 By the star when it goes down

2 Your companion (Mohamed (saws)) is neither astray nor being misled

3 Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire.

4 It is no less than inspiration sent down to him.

5 He was taught by one mighty in power

6 Endued with wisdom.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan