Success Through the Sunnah

The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is a ship of salvation and a haven of safety. The Prophet ﷺ urged us to adhere to it and not neglect it. He said: "You must adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who come after me. Adhere to it and cling to it strongly, and beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation (bid’ah) and every innovation is going astray.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood (4607) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh]

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being something strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.” It was said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Those who are righteous when the people are corrupt.” [Narrated by Abu ‘Amr al-Daani in al-Sunan al-Waaridah fi’l-Fitan (1/25) from the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (1273); the hadeeth is also narrated in Saheeh Muslim (145)]

When evil and corruption become widespread and innovation and fitnah prevail, the reward for the one who adheres to the Sunnah will be greater, and the status of those who follow the Sunnah will be higher, for they are living as strangers with the light that they bear in the midst of that darkness and because of their efforts to set the people’s affairs straight. [Saheeh al-Bukhari]

The Prophet ﷺ has always indicated that Islam is an easy religion, with instructions to its followers that are easy to follow. He, therefore, through these hadiths has made it clear that a middle course is the most favoured course and that his example must be followed by all Muslims. Indeed, his guidance is the best of guidance, and following his actions meticulously will undoubtedly win us success in the Hereafter in sha Allah.