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The necessity of going back to the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah according to the method of the Predecessors

Sheikh `Atef `Abdul-Mu`iz Al Fayyumy

Our nation between reality and going back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah

No doubt that the Muslim nation is in dire need to guidance to the features of Shari`ah according to the ways of guidance which Allah (may He be Exalted) willed. The beginning of guidance for this nation lies in true going back to the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and holding firm with them according to the guidance of the Predecessors of the nation (may Allah be pleased with them). So, when we go back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, we shall win and succeed, and when we turn away from them, we shall go astray. All the actions taking place today are the result of turning away from the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Allah tells the truth when He says: "He (Allâh) said: "Get you down (from Paradise to the earth), both of you, together, some of you are an enemy to some others. Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed. * But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. * He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)." * (Allâh) will say: "Like this: Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came to you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allâh's Mercy)."" [Surat Taha: 123 - 126].

Here we have some important pauses:

First, The necessity of going back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah:

Indeed, going back to the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in all aspects of life is not a voluntary or a supererogatory act by which we draw nearer to Allah. Nay, going back is an obligatory act on every incumbent, adult, and reasonable Muslim whether a man or woman. Let us be sure that there is no glory, victory, or dignity for our nation except through this beginning and that serious turning to Allah (Glory be to Him) and to His Messenger (peace be upon him) Let it be known that nothing will fix the end of this nation except the same thing which had fixed its beginning, so let us double the pace to go back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and applying their rulings because they contain goodness and guidance for all of us if we want to.

Indeed, the Qur'an and the Sunnah are great fundamentals for this religion because they are the pillars of faith, so whoever disbelieves in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah has disbelieved in the entire Islam. So, it is incumbent on every Muslim to believe in the Book of Allah and Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), to glorify them, esteem, and serve them. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Thus it is [what has been mentioned in the above said Verses (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is an obligation that mankind owes to Allâh] and whosoever honors the Symbols of Allâh, then it is truly from the piety of the hearts." [Surat Hajj: 32].

It is incumbent on every Muslim to submit to Allah and His Messenger, believing in the necessity of abidance by the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and the necessity of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) as Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission." [Surat An-Nisa': 65].

Hence, it is incumbent on every Muslim whether a man or woman to know for sure that he or she must abide by the Qur'an and the Sunnah in every movement and every breath. Many texts reported in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) exhorted to the necessity of abiding by them, of the Ayahs mentioned in this regard are the following:

Allah's Saying: "O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority." [Surat An-Nisa': 59].

And Allah's Saying: "And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allâh." [Surat Al Hashr: 7].

And His saying: "And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves." [Surat Al `Imran: 32].

And Allah's Saying: "Indeed, there has come to you from Allâh a light (Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) and a plain Book (this Qur'ân). * Wherewith Allâh guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will to light and guides them to the Straight Way (Islâmic Monotheism)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 15 - 16].

And Allah's Saying: "(This is) a Book (the Qur'ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember." [Surat Sad: 29].

Al Hasan said: The meaning of pondering over His Ayahs is: Following it and acting accordingly.

As for the texts of the Prophetic Sunnah, they are as follows:

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "The best talk is Allah's Book (Qur'an), the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the worst matters are the innovated, and what you are promised is coming and besides Allâh you have neither any Walî (Protector or Guardian) nor any Helper."

At-Tirmidhy reported on the authority of Al Miqdam ibn Ma`d Yakrib who said: "Know that a man will receive a Hadith from me while he is reclining on his couch and he will say: Between us and you is Allah's Book. What we find in it to be permissible, we will regard it as permissible and what we find in it to be disallowed, we will regard it to be disallowed, Indeed, what the Messenger of Allah prohibited is as what Allah prohibited." The narration of Abu Dawud is: "I have been given the Qur'an and something like it, yet the time is coming when a man replete on his couch..."

During the Prophet's Farewell Sermon, he exhorted the people to hold firm with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), where he said: "I have left in you what if you hold to, you shall not go astray: It is a clear matter which is: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet." [Reported by Imam Malik].

Mentioning these texts will not be enough here, so we will only dispense with these texts that we mentioned. Allah is the Only One sought for help. Islam in the beginning and in the end is the submission to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) imply everything that a fully competent person needs. Allah (may He be Exalted) says about the Qur'an: "And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything." [Surat An-Nahl: 89].

Allah (He may be Glorified) says: "And a detailed explanation of everything." [Surat Yusuf: 11].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And We have also sent down to you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) the Dhikr [reminder and the advice (i.e. the Qur'ân)], that you may explain clearly to people." [Surat An-Nahl: 44].

The Glorious Qur'an includes everything that people care about in their living and Hereafter: Whether `Aqidah (creed), worship, and behavior at individual and collective level, the local and the international, and in many cultural, social, economic, and political aspects. We explained that in the book of "Majalat Ad-Da`wah Fi Al Qur'an Wa Usuluha" and detailed the Qur'anic texts which call to all these aspects whether they are humane, creed-related, juristic, and ethical; which you may refer to in their sources.

Hence, the Qur'an is a clarification for everything and that Qur'anic clarification may be done by clear text or by reference. This matter made the Qur'an everlasting in giving humanity everything they need and proved that Islam is valid for time and place, so, there is no religion to complete or abrogate it as Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3].

Second, the causes of going back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah:

If we are calling the Muslim nation to go back to the Qur'an and the Sunnah in words and actions, in creed, following, in power and economy because there are important and fundamental causes:

1- Because the approach of the Qur'an and the Sunnah is the complete divine approach which is reserved from every change, alter, or distortion as Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)." [Surat Al Hijr: 9].

2- Because the Qur'an and the Sunnah are the revelation which is inclusive and perfect for every aspect of human life and fulfilling all human needs as Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3].

3- Because the nation experienced all methods of aberrance and doctrines of secularism and apostasy, opened the gate of desires, turned away from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and left morals and values behind their backs, accordingly what was the result? The nation has become so due to the reasons which we described and mentioned previously; There is no might nor strength save in Allah the Great.

4- To refute the doubts of the claimers that is because Islam is the religion by which Allah concluded the divine Messages and Codes and was the last link between the heaven and the earth because he is in particular is exposed more than others to doubts and defaming his fundamentals particularly the Qur'an and the Sunnah as well as defaming the reporters of this knowledge from the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that is because the Qur'an says: "confirming the Scripture (Books) that came before it and Muhaiminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 48].

The doubts which are stirred against Islam since its very beginning until today are repeated and do not differ with one another except in wordings, or trying to give it a scientific shape falsely, whereas knowledge has nothing to do with it. Muslim thinkers and the scholars of the Sunnah undertake to refute these doubts everyone according to its own way. 5- Because happiness in this world and in the Hereafter is based on abiding by the Qur'an and the Sunnah. This happiness is achieved for those who want it and search for it that is because when a person knows his Lord and believes in Him, and believes in His Messengers for sure, he must abide by His Shari`ah which He revealed so that his life would be luxurious and be happy after his death Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says: "Then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed." [Surat Taha: 123].

The Summary:

The real happiness is in abiding by the Shari`ah of Allah (may He be Exalted) and His Religion. His Religion is represented in the Qur'an and the Sunnah and abiding by them during the human life until death by the will of Allah. For all these causes we ask people to go back to the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and to the arbitration of the Shari`ah.