In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may blessings and peace be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
This is a summary of what was presented in this part of the explanation of Imam al-Shafi’i’s book al-Risala, focusing on the important points and clarifications.
Chapter on the explanation of Allah’s obligation in His Book to follow the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ:
- The station of the Messenger ﷺ in the religion:
- Allah the Exalted made His Messenger ﷺ a signpost for His religion; obeying him is obligatory and disobeying him is forbidden.
- “So believe in Allah and His Messenger”: Imam al-Shafi’i cited it this way, but what is correct in the Qur’an is “So believe in Allah and His messengers” (An-Nisa 4:171). Shaykh Ahmad Shakir criticized this, but even with the plural reading, the verse indicates the obligation to believe in the messengers, and Muhammad ﷺ is among them.
- “The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission” (An-Nur 24:62): evidence of the obligation to seek permission from the one in charge in matters of common interest, and it contains evidence of the virtue of keeping the company of good people. The hadith of Ibn Mas’ud about the days of turmoil (harj) is mentioned.
- Complete faith is only by believing in Allah and in His Messenger ﷺ. The hadith of Abu Sufyan’s acceptance of Islam is mentioned. The testimony “There is no god but Allah” suffices for the polytheist to enter Islam, and then he is required to make the second testimony, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” For a person of the Scripture (a Jew or a Christian), the first testimony does not suffice; rather, he must testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to all people.
- The testing of the faith of the emigrant women is by faith in Allah and in His Messenger ﷺ.
- The Book and the Wisdom:
- “And remember the favor of Allah upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book and wisdom by which He instructs you” (Al-Baqarah 2:231); “And Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know” (An-Nisa 4:113); “And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom” (Al-Ahzab 33:34).
- The Book is the Qur’an, and the Wisdom is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Sunnah explains, on Allah’s behalf, the meaning of what He intended. The Qur’an’s need for the Sunnah is greater than the Sunnah’s need for the Qur’an.
- Obedience to Allah and obedience to the Messenger:
- “It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error” (Al-Ahzab 33:36). “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger” (An-Nisa 4:59).
- Obedience to Allah and His Messenger is unconditional, while obedience to those in authority is restricted by obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
- Those in authority (uli al-amr): the scholars’ views about them are: the scholars, the rulers, and the commanders of military detachments. The most preponderant view: everyone who holds a legitimate, non-tyrannical position of authority is one in authority (the father in his house, the director in his factory, and so on).
- If the one in authority commands disobedience to Allah, then there is no hearing and no obeying.
- If people disagree over something, it must be referred to Allah and His Messenger. If there is no text, it is referred to analogy (qiyas) on the Book and the Sunnah. Example: knowing the direction of the qiblah by analogy with a known direction.
- “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions” (An-Nisa 4:69). “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger” (Al-Anfal 8:20).
- The qualifier “among you” in the verse on those in authority indicates that they must be from among the Muslims. If a disbeliever gains control over the Muslims, he must be removed if possible; otherwise, peaceful coexistence is required until the strength of the Muslims grows.
- The story of the withholding of zakah in the time of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, is mentioned.
We ask Allah for success and right guidance.
All parts of Summary of the Explanation of al-Risala by Shaykh Dr. Ahmad al-Naqeeb