02 Mar
Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is the greatest benefactor of humanity and a light source for humankind. His (PBUH) arrival pulled the people of Arabia out of the darkness and showed them light. Of course, the best way to express your love for Muhammad (PBUH) is to send salutations to him. As Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:
“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:56)
However, merely sending peace on him (PBUH) without making any other efforts is not enough. It is essential for the Muslims, living in today’s chaotic world, to revive the lifestyle taught by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
As Anas Bin Malik narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to me: ‘Whoever revives my Sunnah then he has loved me. And whoever loved me, he shall be with me in Paradise.'” (Tirmidhi: 2678)
But before we jump to discuss how we can adopt a Sunnah lifestyle, it is vital to shed some light on the link between the Quran and Sunnah.
The Connection between Quran and Sunnah
The relation between the Quran and Sunnah is such that the latter is the clarification of the former. The Sunnah explains and sheds light on the laws or regulations mentioned in the Quran. Some things are briefly mentioned in the Quran, and we need the guidance of Sunnah to clarify the deeper issues related to those.
A good example is the Salah. The Quran orders Muslims to pray, but it does not mention how many times they are supposed to do so. This is when the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guides us through the way.
When focusing on the aspect of Sunnah, one should make sure that they are proficient in the Quranic studies too. Studying the Quran and Sunnah courses simultaneously would offer tremendous help to make things easier for driven Muslims. You can take Online Quran Classes where the tutors use Skype or any other platform to deliver authentic information regarding the Quran and Sunnah.
The key is to make efforts. If you strive for the sake of Allah (SWT), He will surely ease the matters of this Dunya for you. As He (SWT) says in the Quran:
“And obey Allah and obey the messenger; but if you turn away, then upon Our Messenger is only [the duty of] clear notification.” (At-Taghabun 64:12)
Thus, if you want your character to be like the one preferred by the Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH), you need to study the Sunnah. It can be a challenge to follow the Sunnah in this age of modernism and technology. Nonetheless, Muslims should make a constant effort to stay adrift in the Divine waters.
5 Ways to Follow the Sunnah
Here are five ways to help you follow the Sunnah:
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Look for Authentic Information
One of the biggest fitnah of our age is the existence of false information. We heavily rely on the facts that we learn from online platforms without rectifying them from a scholar or a credible tutor.
As Muslims, it is crucial to make sure that the places you collect information about Sunnah are verified. You can study the books of Ahadith and Seerah that are certified. Or you can also ask for information from your online Quran tutor, who would guide you on how to filter the accurate information from a pool of incorrect knowledge.
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Obey Every Sunnah
Besides some Sunnahs that are gender or time-specific, there are many general Sunnahs that we can implement in our lives. Once you have heard about a Sunnah from a credible resource, you must work towards its implementation.
There should be no excuses or arguments from our side. Allah (SWT) beautifully defines the character of His obedient servants in the following verse:
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.” (2:285)
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Learn About the Companions
After Muhammad (PBUH), his Companions are the most significant source of inspiration for us. We must learn about these superheroes and understand how they managed to follow the Sunnah despite living with limited resources. They didn’t have access to technology and luxuries like we have today. Yet they posed an uncanny resemblance to the lifestyle of our beloved Prophet (PBUH).
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Keep Good Company
Keeping good company is crucial to ensure that we stay on the track determined for us by Our Lord (SWT). Having righteous friends will keep reminding us that we have a higher authority to give our accounts to. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also emphasizes upon the importance of having good friends. He (PBUH) says:
“Man is on the religion of his friend, so let every one of you examine whom he befriends.” (Tirmidhi)
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Seek Reward from Allah (SWT)
As mentioned earlier, we will face some severe challenges when trying to follow a Sunnah lifestyle. People might humiliate us or make it difficult for us to travel this path. In these dark times, we have to remember that our reward awaits with our Lord. These people do not have any power to give us respect or demean us in front of society.
Make sure that you do everything for Allah (SWT). Having intentions to please people or flaunting your righteousness will push all your efforts down the drain. May Allah (SWT) grant us the company of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Companions in the Hereafter. Aameen!