PART 2
Implementing the Sunnah
Reaching out to the Community
Once, the Prophet SAW was travelling with a group of people in the desert. When they were hungry, duties were allocated amongst them. One volunteered to hunt, another to find water and another to clean and cook the hunt. One of them volunteered to erect a camp for Rasulullah SAW in order to provide him shade while everybody else attended to their duties. Rasulullah SAW disagreed, for he said that he was as in need of Allah’s rewards to get closer to Allah as they were. Instead of relaxing, he allocated himself the task of foraging for firewood – this being a difficult and tiresome job given that wood was scarce in the desert.
This incident teaches us that the Prophet SAW did not sit around waiting for people to come to him for counsel. Instead, he engaged and became a part of the community. He did not distance himself or consider himself above the rest, issuing orders and decrees at his convenience.
Where is the Caring?
On the other end of the spectrum, people who claim to be of the sunnah have built divisions within the ummah. They are confident that theirs is the only correct path, but they do not guide others to follow the right path. Why the selfish attitude? Jannah has an infinite capacity, and inviting another to jannah does not deprive the inviter of his place in it. Why are some people happy to backbite and criticise people for practicing Islam wrongly, but shirk their responsibility to guide them to the correct way? Islam is a collective body, and none is a true believer unless he wants for his Muslim brother and sister what he wants for himself.
Compare this to the excellent attitude of Rasulullah SAW. Each of the Prophets and Messengers were granted an exclusive supplication of their own choice by Allah. Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) said, “For every prophet there is one special invocation (that will not be rejected) with which he appeals (to Allah), and I want to keep such an invocation for interceding for my followers in the Hereafter” (Bukhari). Muhammad SAW did not reserve his allocated dua to his close family and companions. His dua was instead dedicated to the whole of his ummah. What higher level of selflessness and caring is there, and where are we in comparison?
Implementing the Sunnah
The sunnah is not just about adopting the correct posture while praying or eating with the right hand.
One who claims to be Muslim should follow the sunnah whole heartedly, in every aspect of life. Every action we take, if done within the guidelines of the Qur’an and sunnah, can be a form of worship which can reap great benefits for us.
When it comes to our daily dealings, how much of the sunnah is properly implemented? A simple example is when parents marry their children off. The criteria for the intended spouse bears little or no element of the sunnah. Instead of focusing on piety, the priority is for the potential bride or groom to be an engineer or a doctor, with the right connections, the right amount of money, and the right looks. Even if both the parents have performed the hajj and claim to be pious, when it comes to marriage, all sunnah is abandoned, both in the choice of the bride or groom, and in the lavish wedding celebrations.
Even when it comes to advising their children on the choice of career, parents are lax in implementing the sunnah or giving them advice in accordance with the advice of the Prophet SAW. The criteria is the most lucrative career, without any analysis on whether the choice of university is beneficial or detrimental to the moral health, or whether intended path is allowed or forbidden in Islam.
Look at our daily dealings with each other. Do we conduct our business affairs in compliance with the guidelines and prohibitions taught by Prophet SAW? How many of us short change our customers, and how many of us have been cheated by Muslim service providers or traders? When we are entrusted with something, how many of us keep that trust and how many violate it to our advantage? How much profanity do we use in our daily conversations?
When it comes to marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance, do we prefer the decisions of the secular courts, instead of settling matters in the way advised by Allah and His Prophet? In matters of personal behaviour, do we control our anger, guard our tongues, behave kindly and try to eradicate arrogance from our behaviour – all of these actions being strongly advocated by authentic ahadith and are undoubtedly part of the sunnah? How do we resolve our disputes and differences – do we refer to the sunnah to determine such matters, or do we pick principles which are more advantageous to us?
If we cherry pick the aspects of Islam that we want to implement, and ignore the rest, then where is our sincerity towards Allah and His Messenger? If we call ourselves Muslims, but refuse to implement the sunnah when it comes to matter like divorce, inheritance and income, do we display the traits of believers or of hypocrites? This is the disjointed practice of Islam that many of us are immersed in today, and yet these are the same people who condemn others on the more minor aspects of the sunnah such as the length of fingernails!
A few centuries ago, a Muslim merchant from the Arabian Peninsular sold his wares in the Far East. Realising that he might have sold defective merchandise, he waited for the customer to come back. Days passed with no sign of the customer. His caravan departed back to Arabia without him. He stayed behind on his own accord, trying to find the customer. Almost a year later, he spotted the customer, and offered him a refund. The customer was astonished at the merchant’s integrity. The merchant explained that what motivated his actions was derived from a hadith in which the Prophet SAW said that the honest merchant would be his close companion in jannah. On the strength of this one action, the customer embraced Islam and from there, Islam took it roots in ancient Malaya and Indonesia. The strength of one’s actions in reflecting the sunnah should never be underestimated.
Another point is to also deepen our understanding of the sunnah. Ensure that we are spreading the correct message, and not something which originated from our own cultural traditions which have been confused with Islamic principles. Do not spread a sunnah if you are uncertain of its principle, and understand that all hadith were revealed in a particular context and in response to a particular situation. Use your wisdom, there is no point arguing about tattoos and body piercings, when the person you are talking to does not even understand how to perform salat correctly.
What does the Qur’an say about this?
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah’s Apostle SAW said, “Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah, and whoever obeys the ruler I appoint, obeys me, and whoever disobeys him, disobeys me.” [Bukhari]
Also narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) that Rasulullah (SAW) said: “Everyone of my Ummah will enter Jannah except those who refuse”. He was asked, “Who will refuse?” He said, “Whoever obeys me, shall enter Jannah, and whosoever disobeys me has refused (to enter Jannah)”. [Al-Bukhari]
The Qur’an contains numerous verses which confirm the joining of the obedience to Allah with the obedience to the Prophet SAW.
Surah Al Nisa states: And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favour of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions. [4:69]
Verse 80 of Surah Al Nisa further states: “He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah…” [4:80]
Surah Al Anfal advises us in further detail: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn from him while you hear [his order]. And do not be like those who say, “We have heard,” while they do not hear. Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason. Had Allah known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would [still] have turned away, while they were refusing. O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.” [8:20 – 8:24]
Later in the same chapter: “O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].” [8:27]
Hence denying the sunnah is akin to denying the command of Allah. While some people dispute this point, the Qur’an is unequivocal in its statements and leaves no avenue for argument.
How much of the sunnah should be obey? Surah Al Ahzab states: 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. [33:36]
The above makes it clear that following Allah and His Messenger, including the sunnah is not a matter of choice for the believer. It is an obligation, not an option. It is not the right approach when people to pick and choose the sunnah that they like. Following the sunnah is an intrinsic part of the whole Islamic package, it is not fitting for us to run away from the parts of the sunnah that displease or inconvenience us.
How do I implement the Sunnah?
Like many starting points when we try to behave for the betterment of the people around us, the best starting point is with ourselves. To implement the sunnah, we should firstly work on our connection and relationship to Allah.
It is most fitting to apply the sunnah to ourselves first. We have no right to reprimand our family members if our own actions are flawed to begin with. A sincere implementation of the sunnah should increase our humbleness and humility. It should make us understand that when we try to enjoin people to follow the sunnah, it is for their own good, and not for the satisfaction of our egos, our need to win an argument, or to show off our superior knowledge.
We should reflect how generous Allah has been to us, and should praise Allah in abundance for letting us out of the darkness and into the light. We should remember Allah’s vast mercy to us and the great reward that awaits us if we live our lives in His obedience.
The job of the Prophets and Messengers was that of clear notification – both as bearers of glad tidings and as warners: O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp. [33:45-33:46]
How do we, as people of the sunnah, continue the mission of illuminating others out of their darkness? It should be done by kindness and generosity, even to the sinner and those who practice bid’ah. For the only way to lead them is to get close enough to guide them, especially for the elderly whose erroneous habits have already been formed.
For example, Rasulullah SAW used to talk in gentle tones and repeat what he said three times so that people could fully understand his point. He used to talk to people according to their level of understanding and mentality. When he gave advice, it was done with sensitivity to their personal situations and circumstances. He gave knowledge in small doses,
so that the people would be able to implement it into their lives with ease. He kept his lectures short so that people would not get bored of him.
Mostly, he did not spread Islam through rattling off long lists of do’s and don’ts. He did it by instilling love of Allah, to the extent that his followers ended up loving Allah and His Messenger above all else, including their families and even themselves. That is why, when the time came for the implementation of the rules and regulations, they responded willingly.
Bring Back the Compassion
Today, we have to learn to avoid commanding people with harshness; and to be alert to their personal situations. Someone new to Islam for example, may find certain things difficult to do, even if for us it is second nature. As the Muslims who are supposed to guide them, we should be tactful and encouraging. After all, we are all sinners and have also made mistakes in the past.
Many things in Islam are allowed. We want to practice the sunnah for rewards in this life and in the hereafter. We implement the sunnah to seek the pleasure of Allah. Each of our actions – drinking, eating, and even sleeping – are opportunities for us to gain reward. The more we love, the more we will implement the sunnah in our lives, and these are the wonderful opportunities that we want to share with those around us.
We should try to reach out to them and attend to their needs, with compassion, warmth and good behaviour. Instead of taking the hard-line approach, listen to their problems and seek to understand what motivates their behaviour. Understand that a teenage girl views life differently from a middle aged man. Little by little, with empathy, you can win the hearts of the people. If we are harsh Allah will not open the hearts of the people to us.
If we want to be the follower of the sunnah, we cannot afford to give Islam a bad name through our conduct and behaviour. If we do so, we will be the enemy of the sunnah, not its spreader.
As a final note, let us remind ourselves on how the Prophet SAW conducted himself, not just with the Muslims, but with Christians, Jews and non Muslims. It was always with extreme respect, and not with humiliation or attacks on their dignity. He was indeed a mercy for all mankind. This is what sunnah is all about, it is a struggle against our desires and to reach the level of loving Allah and His Messenger.
May Allah instil all these qualities within us and make us worthy of living and spreading the sunnah, ameen.
