The meaning of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) and innovation

 The meaning of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) and innovation

In the light of the verse of divine love

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

Introduction: A claim of love or practical proof?

In Islam, love for Allah is not just an emotional state or a spiritual claim, but a practical commitment. The Holy Quran has set a clear and definite standard for this love. Thus, in Surah Al-Imran of the Holy Quran it is stated:

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins."

(Aal-e-Imran: 31)

Meaning:

“(O Prophet!) Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.”

This verse is actually a criterion for testing the claim of faith against the criterion of action. The path to the love of Allah passes only through following the Messenger (ﷺ).

The Quranic Standard of Divine Love

This verse is revolutionary in both its style and message. In it, Allah Almighty clearly states:

Claiming divine love is not enough.

Emotional attachment is not enough

Mere recitation of Naat or enthusiasm for speech is not enough.

Rather, practical adherence is the real standard.

The biography, Sunnah and Mannaj of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are the mirror in which a believer can see the truth of his love. If life's decisions, acts of worship, affairs, socializing and morals are all subject to the Sunnah, then this is true love.

Following the Prophet (peace be upon him): The path to forgiveness and closeness to God

The above verse describes two great fruits of obedience:

Allah's love

Forgiveness of sins

These two blessings are the greatest desire of every believer. This shows that the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is not merely jurisprudential guidance but is the foundation of the relationship between the servant and his Lord.

The stronger the adherence:

Spirituality will increase.

There will be sincerity in actions.

There will be peace in the heart.

And there will be moderation in society.

What is Bid'ah? A Scientific and Balanced Understanding

The issue of “innovation” is very important in the chapter on following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Innovation refers to the addition of something new to the religion, such as:

Which has no origin in the Quran

It is not in the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ).

And do not interact with the Companions.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever innovates something in this religion of ours that is not part of it, it is rejected.”

(Bukhari, Muslim)

This hadith teaches us caution and seriousness in religion. Religion is not a field of human experimentation but a trust of revelation.

The intellectual and spiritual harm of heresy

The biggest harm of innovation is that:

This replaces the Sunnah.

The true spirit of religion is obscured.

And gradually it leads the Ummah away from the true path.

Often innovations are invented in the name of goodness and reward, but when an action is not based on revelation, it is not considered worship but rather an addition.

The real beauty in religion lies in "following", not in "invention".

Sunnah: A living and balanced model of religion

The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is not just a collection of historical events, but a complete system of practical life:

Balance in worship

Moderation in society

Justice in matters

Softness in morals

Wisdom in leadership

The practice of the Companions was to first look at what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had to say or do in every issue. This approach is the guarantee of the unity and security of the Ummah.

The need for obedience in the modern era

One of the major reasons for the intellectual chaos, sectarianism, and spiritual weakness that the Muslim Ummah is suffering from today is that:

Love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) was reduced to emotional slogans.

While practical implementation was ignored

In the age of social media, new trends and unauthentic ideas spread rapidly in the name of religion. In such an environment, the verse of love reminds us that:

The only real standards are the Quran and Sunnah.

Some practical guidelines in a modern context

1️⃣ Research into worship

Try to perform every act of worship according to the Sunnah.

2️⃣ Moderation in religion

Both extremism and undue leniency are against the Sunnah.

3️⃣ Acquiring authentic knowledge

Seek guidance from authoritative scholars and reliable sources.

4️⃣ More reason than emotion

Religion is not about emotional attachment, but about following revelation.

Summary

The verse of the verse of Allah is this:

The standard of love is obedience.

The path to salvation is Sunnah.

The source of forgiveness is following Muhammad (peace be upon him).

And the reformation of the Ummah lies in returning to the Quran and Sunnah.

No matter how beautiful an innovation may be, it cannot replace following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). True spiritual awakening is possible only when we subordinate our individual and collective lives to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Closing message

If we want to:

May Allah love us.

Forgive us our sins.

And our society is on the path of reform.

So we

 have to mold our love into obedience. This is the message of the verse of love, this is the true spirit of religion, and this is the sure path to success.