Sharh Thalathat al-Usul - Salih Al-Fawzan - (182)

Even if a man were to support him—like Abū Ṭālib, who defended him while knowing full well that he is Allah’s Messenger—yet did not follow him, such a person would not be a Muslim until he follows him. For that reason the Shaykh said: “The meaning of bearing witness that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah is to obey him in what he commands, to believe him in what he reports, to avoid what he forbids and reproves, and to worship Allah only in the way he has legislated.”

Therefore, together with acknowledging his messengerhood outwardly, inwardly, and in one’s creed, it is essential to follow him, ﷺ. This requirement is summed up in the four phrases the Shaykh—may Allah have mercy on him—enumerated:

First: Obeying him in whatever he commands. Allah, exalted and majestic, says: “Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah” (An-Nisāʾ 4:80); and He says: “We sent no messenger except to be obeyed by Allah’s leave” (An-Nisāʾ 4:64).

He has thus coupled obedience to the Messenger with obedience to Himself, and He has likewise linked disobedience to the Messenger with disobedience to Himself: “Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger—for such there is the Fire of Hell, wherein they will abide forever” (al-Jinn 72:23). He also says: “If you obey him, you will be guided” (al-Nūr 24:54); and: “Obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy” (al-Nūr 24:56).

Obedience to him, ﷺ, is therefore indispensable. Whoever testifies that he is the Messenger of Allah is obliged to obey him in what he commands, as the Almighty says: “Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it” (al-Ḥashr 59:7).

حتى لو نصره مثل أبي طالب وحامى دونه، وهو يعرف أنه رسول الله لكن لم يتبعه، فإنه ليس بمسلم حتى يتبعه، ولهذا قال الشيخ: وَمَعْنَى شَهَادَة أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ طَاعَتُهُ فِيمَا أَمَرَ وَتَصْدِيقُهُ فِيمَا أَخْبَرَ، واجْتِنَابُ مَا نهى عنه وزجر، وأن لا يعبد الله إلا بما شرع. فلا بد مع الاعتراف برسالته ظاهرًا وباطنًا واعتقادًا، ولا بد من اتباعه ﷺ، ويتلخص ذلك في هذه الأربع كلمات التي ذكرها الشيخ ﵀: الأولى: طاعته فيما أمر: يقول الله جل وعلا: ﴿مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ﴾ [النساء: ٨٠] ويقول سبحانه: ﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ﴾ [النساء: ٦٤] . فقرن طاعة الرسول مع طاعته ﷾، وقرن معصية الرسول مع معصيته ﴿وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا﴾ [الجن: ٢٣] وقال: ﴿وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا﴾ [النور: ٥٤] وقال: ﴿وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ﴾ [النور: ٥٦] فلا بد من طاعته ﷺ، فالذي يشهد أنه رسول الله تلزمه طاعته فيما أمر لقوله تعالى: ﴿وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا﴾ [الحشر: ٧] .