Quran and Sunnah

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Obedience to Allah Almighty and following the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the light of the Quran and Sunnah

 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Obedience to Allah Almighty and following the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the light of the Quran and Sunnah

Written by: Dr. Abu Ahmed Ghulam Mustafa Al-Rai, Karachi

Are we truly obedient or just bound by religious rituals?

Today's Muslim is seemingly committed to religion, but one fundamental question remains:

Are our lives truly shaped by obedience to Allah Almighty and following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?

We perform religious rituals and celebrate religious holidays, but are our decisions, our priorities, our economic behavior, and our social practices also subject to the Quran and Sunnah?

Islam is not a partial religious system but a complete code of life. It is based on two unwavering principles:

Complete obedience to Allah Almighty

Perfectly following the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

The Holy Quran declares:

“And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great success.” (Al-Ahzab: 71)

The criterion for success here is neither wealth, nor power, nor fame—but rather dual obedience.

Obedience to God: Not Just a Confession, but a Practical Revolution

The Holy Quran, addressing the believers, says:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah.” (An-Nisa: 59)

Obedience is not just a verbal claim, but a practical commitment. Its requirements are:

Our individual lives should be subject to the commands of Allah.

May our family decisions be in accordance with Sharia law.

Our economic affairs should be based on the principles of halal and haram.

Our political and social system should be based on justice and fairness.

Our digital behavior should also be bound by ethical principles.

In today's era, obedience to God also means:

Let's avoid character assassination on social media.

Be transparent in financial matters.

Don't be part of false narratives and intellectual chaos.

Guide the young generation with a combination of religion and reason

Obedience is actually the name of a comprehensive moral and intellectual revolution.

Following the Prophet (peace be upon him): The Sunnah is the practical standard

Allah Almighty did not separate His obedience from obedience to the Messenger (ﷺ). He says:

“Whoever obeys the Messenger, has indeed obeyed Allah.” (An-Nisa: 80)

This declaration makes it clear that the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the practical expression of divine revelation. He (peace be upon him) is both the interpreter of the Quran and a living example.

That is why it was said:

“You have indeed the best example in the life of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).” (Al-Ahzab: 21)

Following the Messenger (ﷺ) means:

Following the Sunnah in worship

Honesty in business

Trust in leadership

Tolerance in disagreement

Mercy in society

Wisdom in invitation

The biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is actually a complete social model in which spirituality, justice, morality, and wisdom are seen together.

Distance from the Sunnah: An intellectual and cultural crisis

There is a severe warning in the hadith:

"He who turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."

This tradition is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and contains a clear message:

The claim of the Quran and the disregard for the Sunnah is actually an intellectual contradiction.

Historically, when the Ummah ignored the Sunnah:

Increased mental confusion

Sectarianism was born.

Moral standards weakened

Social unity was affected

This same scenario still exists today in some form.

Obedience and obedience: in every aspect of life

Islam is not limited to acts of worship. It is a complete civilizational system:

Department

Quranic and Prophetic Criteria

Politics

Justice and trustworthiness

Economy

Honesty and transparency

Socializing

Modesty and respect

Education

Science and wisdom

Disagreement

Tolerance and dialogue

On the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: