Belief in The Books

It’s obligatory to believe that Allah, the one free from defects, sent down books to his Prophets and Messengers in order that they may explain and clarify his right and call to him. He the Most  High, says:

“indeed, we have sent our Messengers with clear proofs and revealing within them the book and the balance (justice) that mankind may stand forth in justice” (57:25)

“mankind were one community and Allah sent prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them he sent the book in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed” (2:213)

We believe in the books mentioned by name, including the Torah, Injeel, Zaboor and the Quran.

The noble Quran is the last and best of all the books. It testifies to the truth within the old books, and it is obligatory for everyone to follow and judge by it along with the sunnah of the messenger of Allah (sallalahu alayhi wasallam). This is because Allah has made the Quran a cure for what is in the hearts, clarification for everything, and a guidance and mercy for the believers. Allah says:

“and we have sent down to you the book (Quran) as an exposition of everything and as a guidance and a mercy, and glad tiding are for those who have surrendered (to Allah as Muslims)” (16:89)

Importance of Following the Sunnah

Al-irbad ibn sariyah (radiyallahu anhu) said:

“the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) admonished us one day after the early morning prayer, the admonition was heartfelt and eleqouent and caused the eyes to shed tears and the hearts to tremble. A man from amongst us said, certainly it is as if this is a farewell admonition, so with what do you advise us, o messenger of Allah? He replied, ‘ I advise you to fear Allah and to listen and obey those in authority over you even if it were an Abyssinian slave. Indeed, whoever from amongst you lives long will witness much differing. And beware of newly invented matters for surely they are misguidance. Whoever from amongst you lives to witness this, then cling to my sunnah and the way of the rightly guided khullafah (caliphs) who will come after me and grab onto it with your molar teeth. ” (at-thirmidi and others)

Ibn Abbas ( radiyallahu anhu) narrated that: ” the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) delivered a sermon the the people during his farewell sermon wherein he said, ‘ O people, I have left you upon something that if you adhere to it, you will never be misguided: The book of Allah (Quran) and the sunnah of his prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).'” (Al-bayhaqi)

Imam Malik said:

“The Sunnah is like the Ark of Noah. Whoever embarks upon it reaches salvation, and whoever refuses it is drowned” 

The messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“everyone will enter jannah except those who refuse.” It was asked, ‘and who will refuse, O messenger of Allah?. ‘ He said, “whoever obeys me enters jannah, and whoever disobeys me, refuses.” (Bukhari)