The First Point

THE STAIRWAY OF THE SUNNAHThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims.
and the Remedy for the Disease of BidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحٖيمِIn the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

لَقَدْ جَاۤءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ اَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُفٌ رَحِيمٌThere has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Your suffering grieves him; he is deeply concerned for you and is compassionate and merciful toward the believers. — The Quran 9:128

The first station of this verse concerns the Path of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him), while its second station concerns the Stairway of the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims..

فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِىَ اللّٰهُ لاَ اِلٰهَ اِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِBut if they turn away, then say: ‘Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god except Him. In Him I place my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.’ — The Quran 9:129"

قُلْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّٰهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّٰهُSay: ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you, forgive your sins, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ — The Quran 3:31

In this treatise, eleven of the countless points related to these two sublime verses will be discussed briefly.

The First Point

The Noble Messenger (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) said:

مَنْ تَمَسَّكَ بِسُنَّتِى عِنْدَ فَسَادِ اُمَّتِى فَلَهُ اَجْرُ مِائَةِ شَهِيدٍWhoever holds firmly to my Sunnah at a time when my community becomes corrupted shall receive the reward of one hundred martyrs.

That is:

“Whoever clings to my SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. at a time when my ummahThe worldwide Muslim community. has become corrupted shall receive the reward of one hundred shahīdsMartyrs who die for the faith and for the sake of Allah..”

Indeed, adhering to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. is of immense value. It becomes even more valuable during periods in which bidahsReligious innovations that are not prescribed by the Qur’an or by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). are widespread. Especially in times when the ummahThe worldwide Muslim community. has become corrupted, observing even a simple etiquette of the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. demonstrates praiseworthy taqwāGod-consciousness; avoiding sins and fulfilling the obligations prescribed by Allah. and a strong īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar)..

For following the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. causes one to remember the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him), and that remembrance leads to an awareness of being under the watchful gaze of Allah. Even when a person performs the simplest acts—such as eating, drinking, and sleeping—in accordance with the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him), those ordinary actions and natural habits are transformed into acts of worship and become a source of reward.

For while carrying out those actions, he is conscious that he is following the Noble Messenger (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) and adhering to the manners prescribed by Islam. He remembers that the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him) is the bearer of the SharīahThe body of Islamic laws and guidance, based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that prescribes the proper way of life; Islamic law., and from this his heart turns towards Allah, the True Source of the SharīahThe body of Islamic laws and guidance, based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that prescribes the proper way of life; Islamic law.. Thus he attains an awareness of the Divine Presence, and those actions become acts of worship.

Indeed, through this secret, one who makes adherence to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. a habit can transform his ordinary habits into acts of worship and make his entire life fruitful and rewarding.