The Sixth Point

It is both necessary and self-evident that Allah, Who has filled the universe with an abundance of blessings and displays the splendour of His generosity throughout creation, expects conscious beings to show gratitude for those blessings.

Likewise, Allah, Who has adorned the universe with wondrous works of art and governs all things with infinite wisdom, will undoubtedly appoint from among conscious beings an exceptional individual to receive His commands and prohibitions, convey them to others, and serve as an imam and guide for His servants.

Moreover, Allah, Who possesses infinite perfection and beauty and has adorned the universe with countless manifestations of His beauty and perfection, will surely appoint a person who serves as the most comprehensive and perfect manifestation of the beauty, perfection, names, and artistry that He loves and wishes to display. Naturally, He will grant that person the most perfect state of servitude and present it as an example for all to follow, encouraging others to emulate him so that those noble qualities may become manifest in them as well.

In short, love for Allah requires and leads to following 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). Blessed is the one who abundantly adheres to the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims., and woe to the one who belittles 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 and turns instead to bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).

The Sixth Point

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

كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ وَكُلُّ ضَلاَلَةٍ فِى النَّارِEvery religious innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire. – Abu Dawud, Sunnah, 5

In other words, since the radiant principles of Islam and the foundations of 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) have been completed and perfected, as declared in the verse:

اَلْيَوْمَ اَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْToday I have perfected your religion for you. — The Quran 5:3

to regard those principles as deficient or incomplete and to introduce new inventions and bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) is an act of misguidance that leads to the Fire.

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) is divided into two categories. The first consists of obligatory practices that cannot be neglected. These are explained in detail in the clear rulings 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.. Since they are definitive commands and prohibitions, they are not subject to alteration under any circumstances.

The second category consists of non-obligatory practices, which are themselves divided into two subcategories.

The first comprises those aspects of the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims. that are connected with acts of worship. These too are explained in the books 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 altering them is regarded as bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).

The second consists of conduct and etiquette, known as ādābGood manners and proper conduct in accordance with Islamic teachings and moral virtue., as recorded in the biographies of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him). Departing from these is not considered bidahA religious innovation not prescribed by the Qur’an or the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). However, it does constitute a departure from the Prophetic way of conduct and deprives one of the light, refinement, and true etiquette embodied in the SunnahThe sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that serve as a model for Muslims..