NULLIFIERS OF ISLAM -17

By

A. Haroun (Abu Imran)

To Believe that some people are exempted from following the dictates of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

In it's obvious forms, this may not be common amongst us. However, this kind of belief is propagated in some sects who believe a person may rise in his closeness to Allaah and then be granted such special considerations that they are no longer bound by the directives of the messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم). To such, it is claimed that observing the 5 daily prayers is not compulsory, and sins like Zina (adultery/Fornication) are not binding on them! What a misguidance!

They typically provide as evidence the case of AlKhidr, the man whom Prophet Musa was sent to, to learn a few things from, who wasn't bound by the laws of Musa (عليه السلام). We accept without contention that Musa's prophethood was limited and did not extend to Alkhidr, but the quickest refutation for such a deviant belief is the statement of the rasul "صلى الله عليه و سلم"

"كان النبي يبعث إلى قومه خاصة، و بعثت إلى الناس عامة"

اخرجه البخاري و مسلم من حديث جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهم.

"(Before me) A prophet used to be sent to his people (alone), but I was sent to all of mankind"

So Musa (عليه السلام) was sent to the children of Isreal, just as to the people of Aad, Allaah sent Hūd, to the Thamūd (Talmuds) He sent Saalih and to the Madyan (Midian) He sent shu'aib (Qur'an 11: 50, 61 and 84).

As for Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم), Allaah says "And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not." ( Qur'an 34:28). So, we see that attempting to justify this using the story of AlKhidr is dead on arrival. For the full story of Alkhidr, see suratul Kahf (Qur'aan 19) from verse 60 - 82.

Al-Khidr:

He was a man who lived in the time of Musa (عليه السلام), some say he was a prophet while others say he was a waliyy (friend of Allaah) wallaahu a'lam. Musa l عليه السلام) was sent to learn a thing or two from him to understand the vast expanse of Allaah's knowledge which He bestows on whoever he wishes among his slaves. Some claim he is alive, but the most correct opinion is that he is dead, and scholars present as evidence Allaah's statement "And We did not grant to any man before you eternity (on earth); so if you die -  would they be eternal? (Q 21: 34). That which is obvious is that he was not under the sharee'ah of Musa and this does not stand as a justification for anyone to not follow the sharee'ah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) for even if he was alive he would have come to him and accepted Islaam, wallaahu a'lam.

Allaah says "Say (O Muhammad): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, none has the right to be worshipped but He; It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and His Words, and FOLLOW HIM SO THAT YOU MAY BE GUIDED."

 (Q 7:158).

In a subtler form, I find some educated muslims partly guilty of this, especialy those who do not acquire adequate Islamic knowledge. They usually feel "too educated to follow Islamic dictates as should". They would rather pick verses of the Qur'an and interprete them using their intellect (aql) because they believe acquiring some form of education has made them too intelligent to subject themselves to 'blind followership' as they term it. This is a growing cancer among the ummah! 

There is no doubt that the Qur'an was sent to people who reflect, who do intellectual justice to all their endeavours, however, intellectual deductions are only welcomed when due diligence has been given to Islamic knowledge. Today, a person who can barely construct a proper sentence in arabic, reads the Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur'aan and becomes a grand mufti, interpreting the Qur'aan with reckless abandon! May Allaah protect us from such fitnah. 

Following and obeying the rasul (peace be upon him) is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. If what you seek is true Islamic guidance, then you MUST follow the path set down by he who brought Islaam to us, as every and any other path will only lead you to misguidance.

"And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path...." 

Q 6:152.

...and Allaah knows best.

TO BE CONTINUED