Some people say that the obligatory is found only in the Qur'an and that what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said is merely Sunnah and not binding. How do we respond to this?
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The questioner : A questioner says: Some people say that the obligatory is found only in the Qur'an and that what the Messenger said is merely Sunnah and not binding. What do we say in response to such people, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : That is, they say that the commands in the Qur'an are obligatory, while those in the Sunnah are recommended.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : We say that these people have made a great error, for what the Sunnah brought is like what the Qur'an brought. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:[An-Nisa 4:80] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Jinn 72:23] And He the Exalted said: [Ali 'Imran 3:31] In fact, what the Sunnah brought was brought by the Qur'an, for Allah commanded us to obey Allah and His Messenger, and He said: [Muhammad 47:33] And He the Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:59] There is no difference between the Sunnah and the Book in these matters. Yes, there is a difference between the Sunnah and the Book in terms of establishment: the Qur'an is established by mass transmission (mutawatir), whereas the Sunnah includes what is mass-transmitted, what is authentic (sahih), what is good (hasan), what is weak, and what is fabricated and falsely attributed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So one must verify it. But if it is established from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), then what is established from the Messenger is like what is in the Qur'an.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.
May Allah reward you for your excellence, and thank you for your good follow-up. In conclusion, please accept the greetings of my colleague, the sound engineer, Sa'd 'Abd al-'Aziz Khumays. And may peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : That is, they say that the commands in the Qur'an are obligatory, while those in the Sunnah are recommended.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : We say that these people have made a great error, for what the Sunnah brought is like what the Qur'an brought. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
مَن يُطِعِ الرَّسولَ فَقَد أَطاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلّى فَما أَرسَلناكَ عَلَيهِم حَفيظًاAnd whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger - then indeed, for him is the fire of Hell; they will abide therein forever.
وَمَن يَعصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ نارَ جَهَنَّمَ خالِدينَ فيها أَبَدًاSay, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
قُل إِن كُنتُم تُحِبّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعوني يُحبِبكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغفِر لَكُم ذُنوبَكُمO you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعُوا الرَّسولَ وَلا تُبطِلوا أَعمالَكُمO you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطيعُوا الرَّسولَ وَأُولِي الأَمرِ مِنكُمThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.
May Allah reward you for your excellence, and thank you for your good follow-up. In conclusion, please accept the greetings of my colleague, the sound engineer, Sa'd 'Abd al-'Aziz Khumays. And may peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.