Were the Prophet's Instructions for All Time?

"Indeed, in their stories there is a lesson for those of understanding…"

In whose stories? The Prophets.

So Allah is telling us that within the stories of the Prophets, we can learn lessons, gain wisdom, and take guidance.

Now we have people who tell us that when it comes to the Hadith, it contains the sayings of the Prophet: how he dealt with his people, things he told his people to do, etc. And we are told that we are supposed to follow it.

However, that is not necessarily the case. We know that during the Messenger's time, there were things he told his people that were specifically meant for his people at that time. It does not mean we are required to follow those same instructions today.

Now, since Allah says we can learn from the stories of the Prophets, let us take the story of Moses as an example.

"And [recall] when Moses said to his people, 'Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow.' They said, 'Do you take us in ridicule?' He said, 'I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.'"

"And [remember] when you killed a man and disputed over it, but Allah was to bring out that which you were concealing. So We said, 'Strike him with part of it.' Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His signs that you might understand."

So in this context, we can see that Moses commanded his people to slaughter a cow because they had killed someone, and then they were told to 'strike him with part of it.'

This was something Moses instructed his people to do during that time. So if I was a follower of Moses today, and I killed someone, does that mean I would need to slaughter a cow as well?

It is the exact same principle. Moses told his people to do something during their time. So if I am a follower of Moses today, should I do the same thing and slaughter a cow after killing someone?

No, it does not mean that. No one would agree that I would need to do this, even if I was a follower of Moses, because it is clear that this command was specifically for his people during that time—not a ruling meant to be followed by everyone who followed him throughout history.

So why do they say that when it comes to Muhammad, whatever he told his people to do back then, we must follow it today?

Clearly, based on the example from the Quran, that is not the case. We are not required, nor did Allah command us, to follow the personal instructions that the Prophet may have given to his community during that time. That was a different era, with different circumstances, lifestyles, and challenges.

The Prophet used the Quran to make judgments and guide his community based on their specific situations at that time. Those instructions were not meant to become religious guidance for all generations. Only the Quran holds that role, because it is the revelation from Allah and the guidance meant for all people and all times—not other books or writings.

And the example I used in regards to Moses is actually found in the Quran itself, whereas Hadith followers want us to accept and follow something that is not found in the Quran at all.

To follow and accept something religiously that is not found in the Quran at all…that would make me a kafir…

because I would become one of those people who does not judge by what Allah revealed, but instead by what someone else invented—which is what makes someone a kafir according to the Quran.

"…And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed — then it is those who are the disbelievers (Kafirun)."

Allah SWT continues in 12:111 to tell us that '…it (the Quran) is not a fabricated Hadith, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of everything…'

Now, when we tell this to sectarians—that the Quran is a detailed explanation of everything—some of them go as far as to ask:

'Everything…in regards to what?'

This question itself is just foolish. But Alhamdulillah, Allah SWT still gives us the answer very clearly.

What is the Quran meant for?

"This is a Book about which there is no doubt, a GUIDANCE for mankind."

The Quran is guidance for us. It is meant to guide us to the straight path.

So when Allah says that everything is explained in detail, He clearly means everything related to guidance. This includes matters such as rituals, how to do certain things, wisdom, what is lawful, what is unlawful, and much more.

The sectarians will do everything in their power to keep their Hadith narrations alive and relevant. But Allah SWT will always establish the truth, even if the disbelievers dislike it.

According to Allah SWT and His guidance, the Hadith narrations will always be nothing more than a path filled with corruption.