One of the best examples of a Submitter (Muslim) was the prophet Muhammad. We would do no harm in following his example as a Submitter, because he was indeed a prophet and a messenger. The question arises how we can follow his example when he is not with us now, and the information regarding him is imprecise and fabricated (the first Hadith was written 200 years after the prophet’s death). One way to obtain precise and accurate information regarding Muhammad’s way of life would be to look at the source of his knowledge. Obviously he was God’s messenger and would only follow the knowledge provided to him by God. Therefore it only makes sense to look at the only revelation he received from God, the Quran.
(5:48-50) informs us that the prophet Muhammad was specifically asked to rule among his people in accordance with the Quran. (69:40-47) Muhammad was forbidden any other religious teachings besides the Quran. (17:73-75) Muhammad was ordered to adhere strictly to God’s revelations and deviation from it meant
severe punishment. (6:19) Muhammad only preached the Quran, any other source (e.g., Sunnah and Hadith) is equivalent to the setting up of other gods beside God. This is emphasized also in verse (6:114):
Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He revealed this book fully detailed?
We know that Muhammad followed the Quran and he was a living example of it (6:114-115). There is an example in the Quran, where the prophet Muhammad can be seen following the Quran. In this example Muhammad initially made a grave mistake and did not follow the Quran, whereupon God reminded him to follow the Quran and made him abide by the Quran (33:36-38).
Recall that you (Muhammad) said to the one who was blessed by God, and blessed by you, “keep your wife and reverence God,” and you hid inside yourself what God wished to proclaim. Thus, you feared the people, when you were supposed to fear only God.
When Zeid was completely through with his wife, we had you marry her, in order to establish the precedent that a man can marry the divorced wife of his adopted son. God’s commands shall be done. (33:37)
The prophet is not committing an error by doing anything that is made lawful by God. Such is God’s system since the early generations. God’s command is a sacred duty. (33:38)
(33:38) points out that Muhammad was aware that he could marry Zeid’s wife after Zeid divorced her, but initially he did not. Therefore, there should be some information regarding marriage laws for the believers prior to Sura (Chapter) 33. Two essential facts should have already been mentioned in the Quran for Muhammad to establish that he could marry Zeid’s ex-wife.
a) One can marry more than one wife.
b) Prohibitions in marriage.
Mashallah both these facts were revealed before Sura 33 (based on the order of revelations).
These suras (chapters) are two and four. (4:3) tells us that we can marry more than one wife. (4:23) lists the women prohibited in marriage. This list does not include divorced wife of an adopted son. (2:221) tells us not to marry idolatress.
Obviously Zeid’s wife was a believing woman, and she was not blood related to Muhammad. Therefore he could marry her.
The chronological sequence of revelation for the suras 2, 4 and 33 are 68, 74 and 77, respectively. We see that Sura 2 and 4 were revealed before Sura 33 and in quick succession.
This proves that Muhammad did indeed follow the Quran, and whenever he failed he was strongly reminded to do so, and God made him abide by it. Hence if anybody seeks to follow the footsteps of the prophet, then he or she should follow the Quran alone.
We have cited for the people every kind of example in this Quran, that they may take heed. An Arabic Quran, without any ambiguity, that they may be righteous. God cites the example of a man who deals with disputing partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to God, most of them do not know. (39:27-29)
Ijaz Chaudry