In the Name of Allāh
It is with a heavy heart that I share my thoughts this morning about those among us who declare their love for Allāh and His Messenger (ﷺ), yet choose to reject the guidance of the Sunnah, the path set by our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). Truly, loving Allāh means loving and obeying His Messenger (ﷺ). How can one claim to love Allāh while turning away from the path of His Messenger (ﷺ)? If your love for him is genuine, then wholeheartedly embracing his way should be cherished. Allāh says: “Say (O Muḥammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allāh, then follow me (i.e. accept Islāmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ān and Sunnah), Allāh will love you and forgive you of your sins…” [Sūrah Aal-‘Imrān (3): 31]
Sadly, hypocrisy is evident among some. You might find certain Muslims react defensively when presented with evidence against their views, particularly if it comes from a Ḥadīth. They might dismiss it with sarcasm, saying, “Don’t you know more than Ḥadīth?” These individuals harbor bitterness and resort to derogatory remarks about fellow Muslims (both living and deceased) who strive to adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ). They may proclaim, “See! We are all Ahlus-Sunnah,” fully aware that they are far from following the Sunnah. For some, the mere fact of not being Shi’a automatically classifies them as people of the Sunnah.
In the guise of promoting moderation, some allow themselves to become lax. They resist encouraging good deeds and forbidding evil. They use their false claim of promoting unity in Islām to fight the true scholars, opposing the very Sunnah they might profess to uphold, and falsely labeling any challenge to falsehood as a threat to unity in the Ummah. As-Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (Hafiẓahullāh) states that one of the two factors causing division among Muslims is the rebellion against (i.e., opposing) the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) through innovations and newly invented practices in the religion. [Mafhum al-Bay’ah, pg 11]
Dear brethren, let’s not be deceived by those who hide their malice behind the cloak of unity. Let’s strive to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) with sincerity and devotion, for that is the path to Allāh’s Love and Forgiveness.
In conclusion, I remind us all of the words of Imām Aḥmad Ibn Hanbal (Raḥimahullāh): “I advise you and myself with the Taqwā of Allāh and to adhere to the Sunnah. For you have seen the consequences for those who opposed it and the rewards for those who followed it!” [Tabaqāt Al-Hanābilah 1/342]
I beseech Allāh to protect us from hypocrisy and guide us to sincerely follow the Sunnah of His beloved Messenger (ﷺ). Aameen.
