Before I begin to share the life of our Master Muhammad Mustafa (saw) I would like to make a very important reminder, which is of significant value, especially in contemporary times.

When particular hadiths and teachings of Muhammad (saw) are shared with certain people who claim to be Muslims, unfortunately they react:

“These are the words of the prophet. Is there a verse on this to validate it? If there is, then it is acceptable, but if there is no verse on this in the Quran then it’s not binding as it’s merely the personal opinion of the prophet… we don’t have to comply with it…”

So, I would like to take this opportunity to share the following verse as an answer to this approach: 

You accuse based on rumors and speak of things of which you have no definite knowledge as if this is a trivial matter... Yet in the sight of Allah this is a great (crucial) thing![1]

This verse clearly shows that talking about something, especially religious, without adequate knowledge – as though it is a mundane, trivial matter - is a serious offence!

Having made this reminder let us now address the second important point regarding the teachings of our Master Muhammad (saw) and the invalidity of those who claim “The teachings of Muhammad are ‘sunnah’ and are not ‘compulsory’ as they are not openly and clearly included in the Quran” …

Allah notifies us of the duty and authority of the Rasul (saw) in the Quran with the following verses:

1. Take whatever the Rasul gives you and refrain from what he forbids you... [2]

2. Nor does he speak from his own inclinations (imagination)!  It is only a revealed revelation![3]

3. Whoever obeys the Rasul, obeys Allah in the reality![4] 

4. When you fall into dispute concerning something – if you believe in Allah and the eternal life to come – turn that thing over to Allah and His Rasul...[5]

5. Say, “If you love Allah follow me so that Allah will love you and forgive your faults. Allah is the Ghafur, the Rahim.”[6]

6. Do they still not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Rasul, for him there is hellfire, in which he will reside eternally? That is the great disgrace.[7]

7. The Nabi is of higher priority to the believers than their own selves![8] 

8. Whoever opposes the Rasul after the reality becomes clearly evident; We will abandon him in his path and lead him to hell in the end! What a wretched destination that is![9]

9. When they are told, “Come to what Allah has revealed and the Rasul,” you will see the hypocrites turn away and distance themselves from you.[10]

10. Those who do not judge by what Allah revealed, they are deniers of the reality![11]

11. We have revealed every Rasul for them to be obeyed with the permission of Allah. Had they come to you after having wronged themselves and asked for forgiveness from Allah, and if the Rasul had asked for forgiveness on their behalf, they would surely have found Allah to be the Tawwab and the Rahim.

But that is not the case! By your Rabb, until they appoint you as an arbitrator for the conflicts between themselves, and comply with your judgment in full submission and without feeling any internal discomfort (objection), they would not have believed.[12]

In addition to these verses that clearly show the authority and mission of the Rasul (saw) and the importance of complying with his teachings, here are some hadith on this topic:

1- Do you think Allah has not prohibited to you other things that are not included in the Quran? Open your eyes, I have also given orders, preached and prohibited. They are as much (in number), if not more, than those in the Quran. (Abu Dawud)

2- “Open your eyes, besides the Quran I have been given as much again (Tırmıdhi - Abu Dawud) 

3- “Just as Gabriel (pbuh) brought and taught the Quran to the the Rasul of Allah (saw) he also brought and taught him the Sunnah” (Sahih Bukhari) 

After having shared the relevant verses and hadith on this topic and made this reminder to my dear readers I would like to make the following warning to those who may still have doubt:

Read the verses and hadith above carefully and try to discern their real meaning. Any Muslim who claims to have faith, will see clearly that the Rasul is not separate from Allah; all of his words are the order of ALLAH. Hence to refuse the Rasul is to refuse Allah…

The Rasul is free and beyond being the postman of Allah, as some assert him to be.

Therefore, do not throw aside the hadith thinking, “These are only the orders of the prophet, its ok to not practice them” as the verse above “Whoever opposes the Rasul…” addresses those with this mindset.

Istanbul, 1971