The Quran about obedience

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

The reason for the legitimization of non-Quranic sources is signs, interpreted outside the context of the Quran, being not assembled into a single theme. Not bothering themselves to analyze the Word of God, to justify their ideology, the “defenders of the sunna” easily present their arguments in the form of the following passage:

And obey God and obey the messenger and beware! And if you turn away – then know that upon Our messenger is only clear notification. (5:92)

In this place, the verb in the imperative mood in plural form “atyy,uu” is used, formed from the root “ta,a”, which means “obey, comply, listen to.” In the Quran, God used this word in connection with the prophet in 23 cases, so the traditionalists continue to insist that it is necessary to follow the hadiths, since this is the obedience to the Lord, giving the following argument:

He who obeys the messenger has obeyed God; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian. (4:80)

The Prescription contains more than 340 passages with Muhammad’s direct speech. There is no doubt that following God means adherence to the messenger, therefore, when addressing us, the messenger of God commanded to follow him and showed the way:

Say, “If you should love God, then follow me, [so] God will love you and forgive you your trespasses. And God is Forgiving and Merciful.” (3:31)

Inviting to follow him, the messenger of God clearly indicated the path of following, and we, as believing people and FOLLOWERS of Muhammad, must obey him:

And this is my path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow other ways, for you will be separated from His way! This has He instructed you that you may beware! (6:153)

The fact that the passage refers precisely to the Quran is revealed in the following passage:

And this is a Prescription We have revealed blessed, so follow it, being circumspect, that you may receive mercy! (6:155)

An impartial, not-clouded mind shows to the reader that the Quran is the way the messenger went, and the path by which we are bound to go. However, the tradition claims that this way is the “sunna” of the messenger, narrated in the hadiths. But this is what Muhammad himself told his entourage by the order of God:

Say, “I do not tell you that I have the depositories of God or that I know the hidden, nor do I tell you that I am a maintainer. I only follow what is suggested to me!”

Say, “Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?” (6:50)

And when you do not bring them a sign, they say, “Why have you not selected it?”

Say, “I only follow what is suggested to me from my Lord. This is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe!” (7:203)

…I only follow what is suggested to me! … (10:15)

Say, “If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord suggests to me. Indeed, He is Hearing, Intimate!” (34:50)

… I only follow that which is suggested to me, and I am not but a clear warner!”… (46:9)

Often the meaning of these passages is artificially attributed to the words and deeds of the messenger, described outside of the Quran, considering it as a suggestion from God. But as can be seen from the above passage, the messenger was inspired only by the Prescription and he followed only it. And what is very important, the messenger clearly indicated that he does not know the hidden.

I would like to especially note that Muhammad was guided by the Quran, forbidding only what was prescribed by the Most High:

Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you… (6:151)

Muhammad could not read to his fellow tribesmen anything other than the Quran. The whole logic of the Quran points to the only mission of the messenger of God – the transmission and delivery of the Prescription to the people.

But if they turn away, – then only upon you is clear notification. (16:82)

Say, “Obey God and obey the messenger; but if you turn away – then upon him is only that with which he has been charged, and upon you is that with which you have been charged! And if you obey him, you will be guided! And there is not upon the messenger except the clear notification!” (24:54)

And if you deny it – already headships before you have denied. And there is not upon the messenger except clear notification! (29:18)

And obey Allah and obey the messenger; but if you turn away – then upon Our messenger is only clear notification! (64:12)

If we carefully read the above ayats, we will see that the essence of the mission of the messenger is CLEAR NOTIFICATION, RECITATION (OF REVELATION/OF MESSAGE). We know that the clear message is the Quran. Muhammad transmits the message of God. Therefore, obedience to the messenger means obedience to the MESSAGE, which he reads to people.

The justification of the legality of the “sunna” is the following legends from non-Quranic sources:

“Verily, the Quran and the like are revealed to me” (“hadith” is given by Abu Dawud).

“I left you two things, after which you will not get lost, this is the Book of Allah and my Sunnah” (“hadith” narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak).

However, the Quran unequivocally asserts that such statements and beliefs based on them are inadmissible:

Say, “If mankind and the invisible creatures gathered in order to produce the like of this Literature (Quran), they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other helpers!”

And We have certainly diversified for the people in this Literature (Quran) from every kind of example, but most of the people refused anything except closed nature. (17:88-89)

Then let them produce a story like it, if they should be truthful. (52:34)

In fulfilling his mission, Muhammad faced with the rejection towards the Prescription and resistance to the truth:

And when Our signs are recited to them as clear evidences, you recognize in the faces of those who closed themselves denial. They are ready to attack those who recite to them Our signs. (22:72)

Is not the behavior of the critics who allegedly hold on to the Quran similar to the people mentioned above?! Read carefully the following words of the Lord

These are the signs of God which We recite to you in truth. Then in what story after God and His signs will they believe? (45:6)