Conditions for Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil:
4. Following the Prophet: The fourth condition for enjoining good and forbidding evil is adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him). A preacher must completely follow the prophetic Sunnah, both inwardly and outwardly, adorning their inner and outer self with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This ensures that their words and speech have a greater impact, gain acceptance among people, and attract love and respect, leading to the acceptance of their message. Obedience to the commands and prohibitions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) must hold the same significance as the commands of Allah Almighty, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is merely a messenger of the Almighty. Everything he conveys to the people is from Allah.
As previously mentioned, obedience to the Prophet is obligatory and essential. Faith itself lacks meaning without obedience to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and does not fulfill the true mission of his prophethood. Therefore, in the journey of inviting others to good and forbidding evil, complying with the commands of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and embracing his traditions is both mandatory and essential.
Muslim scholars have unanimously agreed that following the sayings, actions, practices, and approvals of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is obligatory and a part of Islamic law. There is no alternative to this. Determining what is lawful and unlawful, the boundaries of these rulings, their specifics, and their application depend entirely on the explanations provided by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
For example, regarding prayer, Allah Almighty has commanded generally: “Establish the prayer” (Aqeemoo al-salaah), without specifying the timing, method, or the number of units (rak‘ahs) to be performed. Similarly, regarding almsgiving, Allah says: “Give Zakat” (Aatoo al-zakaah), but does not mention its exact amount. All Muslims rely on the detailed explanations and clarifications of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as he is the most trustworthy and reliable source. If his obedience were not obligatory, how would the Muslim community find guidance, act upon religious rulings, and understand the faith?
Thus, it must be acknowledged that adhering to the traditions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—whether in words, deeds, practices, or moral conduct—is not only obligatory for preachers and those who hold others accountable but also universally mandatory for all Muslims. It is akin to the commands of Allah Almighty. Anyone who deviates from these will face questioning and accountability. Allah, the Most Glorious, has addressed this matter with such clarity that no room remains for disagreement or interpretation. As He states: «لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ» [Aal-Imran: 164] Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been in manifest error before that.
The meaning of this verse is that the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) mission was not only a favor from Allah Almighty upon the believers but also aimed at reciting the Quranic verses, purifying the nation, teaching them the Quran, and imparting wisdom and divine knowledge. This mission serves as a means of guiding people and enabling them to live peacefully, which is best realized under the framework of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
If people distance themselves from Quranic teachings and the purpose of the Prophet’s mission, it will lead to misguidance, societal collapse, ideological instability, and the spread of immoral practices. Therefore, there must be someone to convey the meaning of Allah’s words to humanity and act as their guide in life. Otherwise, the teachings of the sacred book would remain unpracticed, and the Prophet’s mission would lose its meaning. Without this guidance, people would never truly comprehend and understand the divine revelation.
Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Hafnawi writes regarding the obligation of obeying the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “There is no disagreement among the prominent scholars of the Islamic world that the Sunnah of the Prophet, when authentically transmitted, is a valid source of authority. It stands independently in legislating the laws of Shariah, defining lawful and unlawful matters, just as the Quran does.”
Thus, the religion we hold and take pride in today is the result of the tireless efforts and sacrifices of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions, who nurtured it with their lives, wealth, and even their blood so that we may attain salvation.
It should not be overlooked that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was infallible and free from all sins and errors. It defies reason and sound intellect to reject the words of an infallible Prophet and fail to follow his Sunnah, especially considering that all these hadiths and traditions have reached us through rigorous scientific verification and multiple layers of scrutiny.
Furthermore, upon deeper reflection on the verses of the Holy Quran, it becomes evident that prophethood was a mercy from the Lord of the worlds to humanity. The only path to human salvation and success lies in following the teachings of the noble Prophet and embracing the priceless gifts he brought forth.
«وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ» [Aal-Imran: 132] Translation: And obey Allah and the Messenger that you may receive mercy.
«تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ» [An-Nisaa’: 13] Translation: “These are the commands and decrees of Allah, and whoever follows the command of Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, where the obedient will abide forever. That is the great success.”
That is, when a person obeys the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while obeying the Lord of the worlds, he will achieve success and prosperity and will be the owner of the success of the Hereafter and the Paradise of Paradise. Allah the Almighty says more definitively in another place: «وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ» [An-Nisaa’: 64] Translation: “We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by Allah’s command.”
Many commentators (Mufasireen) have interpreted this verse as meaning that the wisdom of Allah in sending the messengers and prophets (peace be upon them) was to obey and carry out their commands, avoid their prohibitions, and follow their words, actions, morals, and character. This is why the prophets (peace be upon them) from Prophet Noah to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them) called all their people, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and they said: «فاتقوا الله و أطِيعُون» (Fear your Lord and obey me, the Prophet and Messenger.)
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