from the revealed law, then, by the consensus of the Muslims, it is not permissible to punish him, prevent him from expressing that view, or rule that he must not express it, when he says, “This is what the Quran and Sunnah indicate, as such-and-such Muslim scholars have also stated.” If such a person exercises independent scholarly judgment and errs, he may be judged only according to the Quran and Sunnah. His opponent, however, speaks without knowledge, and the ruling he has issued has not been stated by any Muslim scholar. Even if the leading Muslim scholars expressed a view like that of the judges, they could compel people to accept it only on the basis of evidence from the revealed law, not merely on the strength of their own ruling.
For the one whom Allah has obliged people to follow and obey is the Messenger, whose judgment, command, law, and religion they must follow. He is Allah’s proof against His creation. Through him Allah distinguished between truth and falsehood, guidance and misguidance, right conduct and error, and the path to Paradise and the path to Hell. Through him Allah guided His creation. Allah Most High says:
“Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Tribes, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon; and We gave David the Psalms.”
“And messengers We have already told you about, and messengers We have not told you about. And Allah spoke directly to Moses.”
“Messengers bringing good tidings and warnings, so that people would have no argument against Allah after the messengers.”
An authentic report relates that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“No one loves to accept an excuse more than Allah; for that reason He sent the messengers as bearers of good tidings and warnings.”
Thus, the proof against creation is established through the messengers. What the Messenger brought is the revealed law that all people must accept, and everyone must refer their disputes to the Quran and Sunnah.