Allah Ta’ala has informed us that He has perfected the Deen - the religion - the way of life for us, and as such there is no need for any additions or deletions to or from Islam. This is stated in Surah Al-Maa’idah where Allah says:
This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion. Yet do not fear them, but fear Me. This Day have I perfected your Deen for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen. [5:4]
Understanding this aayah - this verse, is vital to all who combat against innovations and stick to the revealed way. It is failure to appreciate the import of this aayah that enables a sincere person to succumb to innovating and innovations, and it is imperative that a Muslim who cares about saving himself from the Fire does not labor under any misconceptions regarding it.
The famous tafseer - the exegesis of Ibn Katheer, quite clearly explains that in the completion and perfection of the Deen, lies the greatest blessing which Allah ta’ala has bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah. After this, there no longer remains any need for a new way, nor of a new Prophet, but all that is Halaal - allowed by Allah, has been made Halaal, and all that is Haraam - forbidden by Allah, has been made Haraam. The Deen - the way of life, contains no falsehood, and all we are informed of is correct and true. Its orders and prohibitions are fair, and accepting the Deen in one’s life, makes Allah pleased with us. The believer loves the Deen as it is preserved in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Thus the aforementioned aayah was revealed so that we may be grateful to Allah and not deviate or go astray, having the full satisfaction of possessing the complete manner and the absolutely perfect way to worship Allah.
This aayah was revealed on the Day of Arafat, and no Halaal and Haraam was revealed after it, till our Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) passed away eighty-one days later, according to Ibn Jareer. When this aayah was revealed, Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) wept, so the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to him: What makes you weep? He said, I wept since we used to be in receipt of increase in our Deen, however, if it is completed, then that which is complete can only decrease thereafter. So the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, You have spoken truthfully.
Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) understood that if the revelation has ceased concerning recommendation, command and prohibition pertaining to worshipping Allah, then the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was soon to leave this world. How correct he was in observing that only decrease in guidance can take place is borne out by the fulfillment of the hadeeth where the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) informed us: Verily! Islam began as a stranger and will return as a stranger - therefore give glad tidings to the strangers.
The Present Situation
At present, it has become a struggle to practice the Sunnah since it is looked upon by the vast majority to be an oddity at best, and on the other scale something to be covered up for the sake of practice as established by a particular school of thought. Reinforcing the authentic Sunnah is taken by many as an affront - as an insult openly to the civilization and the culture in which Muslims live, and the one blindly following his mentor resents it as an attack upon his so-called religion!
Innovations have lodged themselves so strongly that countering or opposing them with the Sunnah is widely hated. Deplorable and aggrieved terms are coined to label those who in their humble ways try to revive the way of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). They are stereotyped and falsely accused so their efforts can be rendered ineffective but the sublime way of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) cannot be dimmed by transparent lies.
The people and their favorite supposed-scholars have simply not cared to do justice to this aayah. Even the Jews in the time of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) recognised the significance of this aayah and thus approached Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) and exclaimed, as is found in Saheeh Al Bukhaaree where it states: You read a verse which if it had been revealed to us we would have taken it as an ‘Eid - a public holiday for celebrations. So Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: I know when it was revealed and where it was revealed and where the Messenger, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was when it was revealed: It was the day of Arafah - and by Allah I was at Arafah.
In a similar narration in the Musnad of Ahmad, Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) further states that it was in the evening of Arafah being the Day of Jumu’ah. Ali (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: This aayah was revealed to the Messenger, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) while he was standing in the evening, between Asr and Maghrib of Arafah. Reported by Ibn Mardawaih.
Take note. The companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) knew the exact time and place of the revelation of the aayah which favored them with the assurance and approval of Allah of having the complete and perfect Deen. This is a favor from the Rabb of the worlds which is enviable to the extreme for any nation. It is a fact that gives rise to justified hope and exuberant joy in the hearts and minds of people of that nation. Yet, for all that it constituted, and all the aforementioned and more, so much so that even the Jews recognized and envied it, the companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) did not innovate and do anything special to commemorate this great honor! Doing so would have made them violate the very truth of this aayah and it would have been an act so perverse as to make them do something tantamount to denying the verse by giving precedence to their own desires. That was something which the noble Companions were very far from ever doing at any time, unlike so many of us today.
Islam Covers Every Aspect of Life
Islam covers every aspect of life, and the Deen has not left us in the dark in any of our affairs. That it also teaches us how to fulfil every department of life is acknowledged by every Muslim, except he who is absolutely uneducated and wishes to have it his own way. The person who does not want to follow his vain desires but seeks to be ennobled by the Sunnah, which nurtures and brings out the very best of being human, does not but crave to practice the Sunnah. The Sunnah teaches us even the way to relieve ourselves from the call of nature, the way to go to sleep and awake, the way to bathe and dress, the way to procreate, in fact everything, Alhamdulillah!
Every matter has been left with clear instructions as to what is permitted or prohibited in it, and again the malevolent Jews recognised this too, and taunted the believers with their sneering statements and questions about what they thought were belittling aspects of the Deen of Islam. Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Zayd (radiallahu ‘anhu) related that the Jews said to Salmaan al-Faarsee (radiallahu ‘anhu), “Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to relieve yourselves.” Salmaan said, “Certainly! He forbade us from facing the qibla whilst doing so...” Reported Saheeh by Muslim, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee.
Nowadays, if such an encounter were to take place it is doubtful if the general Muslim would respond with such clear cut conviction and pride. Rather one would find, that he would be more likely to struggle for finding an acceptable answer to what he would think were embarrassing aspects of his religion that this infidel so cleverly spotted and mocked at, fumbling for apologies and thus confirming himself to be even a greater fool in the eyes of the jeerer, though the jeerer is in fact the foolish one. It is this inferiority complex and lack of knowledge which erodes into our defenses against evil by not giving the Sunnah its rightful place and consequently leaving the heart open for accommodation of innovations and consequently straying from the correct way.
There is nothing left for us to do except follow what has been shown to us by the practices of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions (radiallahu ‘anhum). The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has fulfilled his mission faithfully and told us all we need to know for keeping to the Straight Path leading to Paradise and obtaining the pleasure of Allah. It is not possible that a Muslim can think that he can improve upon the knowledge that Allah gave Muhammad, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: It was the duty of every Prophet, Allah sent to guide his nation to the best of what he knew and to warn them of the evils of what he knew. Reported Saheeh - narrated by Imam Muslim.
The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also said, I have not left anything which Allah ordered you except that I have ordered you with it, nor anything that Allah forbade you, except that I forbade you from it. Reported Saheeh and narrated by Al-Baihaqee.
Thus this aayah is perhaps the greatest proof against the innovators, and it is imperative that a Muslim understands the full import of the aayah and challenges the innovators, and those who fall into it with the understanding of it. In doing so, he will do both himself and the others a favor and help in building the real Imaan - faith, because real Imaan cannot be established on false and evil premises and practices.
This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion. Yet do not fear them, but fear Me. This Day have I perfected your Deen for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen. [5:4]
Understanding this aayah - this verse, is vital to all who combat against innovations and stick to the revealed way. It is failure to appreciate the import of this aayah that enables a sincere person to succumb to innovating and innovations, and it is imperative that a Muslim who cares about saving himself from the Fire does not labor under any misconceptions regarding it.
The famous tafseer - the exegesis of Ibn Katheer, quite clearly explains that in the completion and perfection of the Deen, lies the greatest blessing which Allah ta’ala has bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah. After this, there no longer remains any need for a new way, nor of a new Prophet, but all that is Halaal - allowed by Allah, has been made Halaal, and all that is Haraam - forbidden by Allah, has been made Haraam. The Deen - the way of life, contains no falsehood, and all we are informed of is correct and true. Its orders and prohibitions are fair, and accepting the Deen in one’s life, makes Allah pleased with us. The believer loves the Deen as it is preserved in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Thus the aforementioned aayah was revealed so that we may be grateful to Allah and not deviate or go astray, having the full satisfaction of possessing the complete manner and the absolutely perfect way to worship Allah.
This aayah was revealed on the Day of Arafat, and no Halaal and Haraam was revealed after it, till our Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) passed away eighty-one days later, according to Ibn Jareer. When this aayah was revealed, Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) wept, so the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to him: What makes you weep? He said, I wept since we used to be in receipt of increase in our Deen, however, if it is completed, then that which is complete can only decrease thereafter. So the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, You have spoken truthfully.
Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) understood that if the revelation has ceased concerning recommendation, command and prohibition pertaining to worshipping Allah, then the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was soon to leave this world. How correct he was in observing that only decrease in guidance can take place is borne out by the fulfillment of the hadeeth where the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) informed us: Verily! Islam began as a stranger and will return as a stranger - therefore give glad tidings to the strangers.
The Present Situation
At present, it has become a struggle to practice the Sunnah since it is looked upon by the vast majority to be an oddity at best, and on the other scale something to be covered up for the sake of practice as established by a particular school of thought. Reinforcing the authentic Sunnah is taken by many as an affront - as an insult openly to the civilization and the culture in which Muslims live, and the one blindly following his mentor resents it as an attack upon his so-called religion!
Innovations have lodged themselves so strongly that countering or opposing them with the Sunnah is widely hated. Deplorable and aggrieved terms are coined to label those who in their humble ways try to revive the way of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). They are stereotyped and falsely accused so their efforts can be rendered ineffective but the sublime way of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) cannot be dimmed by transparent lies.
The people and their favorite supposed-scholars have simply not cared to do justice to this aayah. Even the Jews in the time of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) recognised the significance of this aayah and thus approached Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) and exclaimed, as is found in Saheeh Al Bukhaaree where it states: You read a verse which if it had been revealed to us we would have taken it as an ‘Eid - a public holiday for celebrations. So Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: I know when it was revealed and where it was revealed and where the Messenger, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was when it was revealed: It was the day of Arafah - and by Allah I was at Arafah.
In a similar narration in the Musnad of Ahmad, Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) further states that it was in the evening of Arafah being the Day of Jumu’ah. Ali (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: This aayah was revealed to the Messenger, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) while he was standing in the evening, between Asr and Maghrib of Arafah. Reported by Ibn Mardawaih.
Take note. The companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) knew the exact time and place of the revelation of the aayah which favored them with the assurance and approval of Allah of having the complete and perfect Deen. This is a favor from the Rabb of the worlds which is enviable to the extreme for any nation. It is a fact that gives rise to justified hope and exuberant joy in the hearts and minds of people of that nation. Yet, for all that it constituted, and all the aforementioned and more, so much so that even the Jews recognized and envied it, the companions (radiallahu ‘anhum) did not innovate and do anything special to commemorate this great honor! Doing so would have made them violate the very truth of this aayah and it would have been an act so perverse as to make them do something tantamount to denying the verse by giving precedence to their own desires. That was something which the noble Companions were very far from ever doing at any time, unlike so many of us today.
Islam Covers Every Aspect of Life
Islam covers every aspect of life, and the Deen has not left us in the dark in any of our affairs. That it also teaches us how to fulfil every department of life is acknowledged by every Muslim, except he who is absolutely uneducated and wishes to have it his own way. The person who does not want to follow his vain desires but seeks to be ennobled by the Sunnah, which nurtures and brings out the very best of being human, does not but crave to practice the Sunnah. The Sunnah teaches us even the way to relieve ourselves from the call of nature, the way to go to sleep and awake, the way to bathe and dress, the way to procreate, in fact everything, Alhamdulillah!
Every matter has been left with clear instructions as to what is permitted or prohibited in it, and again the malevolent Jews recognised this too, and taunted the believers with their sneering statements and questions about what they thought were belittling aspects of the Deen of Islam. Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Zayd (radiallahu ‘anhu) related that the Jews said to Salmaan al-Faarsee (radiallahu ‘anhu), “Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to relieve yourselves.” Salmaan said, “Certainly! He forbade us from facing the qibla whilst doing so...” Reported Saheeh by Muslim, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee.
Nowadays, if such an encounter were to take place it is doubtful if the general Muslim would respond with such clear cut conviction and pride. Rather one would find, that he would be more likely to struggle for finding an acceptable answer to what he would think were embarrassing aspects of his religion that this infidel so cleverly spotted and mocked at, fumbling for apologies and thus confirming himself to be even a greater fool in the eyes of the jeerer, though the jeerer is in fact the foolish one. It is this inferiority complex and lack of knowledge which erodes into our defenses against evil by not giving the Sunnah its rightful place and consequently leaving the heart open for accommodation of innovations and consequently straying from the correct way.
There is nothing left for us to do except follow what has been shown to us by the practices of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions (radiallahu ‘anhum). The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) has fulfilled his mission faithfully and told us all we need to know for keeping to the Straight Path leading to Paradise and obtaining the pleasure of Allah. It is not possible that a Muslim can think that he can improve upon the knowledge that Allah gave Muhammad, (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: It was the duty of every Prophet, Allah sent to guide his nation to the best of what he knew and to warn them of the evils of what he knew. Reported Saheeh - narrated by Imam Muslim.
The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also said, I have not left anything which Allah ordered you except that I have ordered you with it, nor anything that Allah forbade you, except that I forbade you from it. Reported Saheeh and narrated by Al-Baihaqee.
Thus this aayah is perhaps the greatest proof against the innovators, and it is imperative that a Muslim understands the full import of the aayah and challenges the innovators, and those who fall into it with the understanding of it. In doing so, he will do both himself and the others a favor and help in building the real Imaan - faith, because real Imaan cannot be established on false and evil premises and practices.
