28th Hadith - The Obligation of Following the Sunnah (Abu-Dawud: 4607)

الحديث الثامن و العشرون 

عَنْ أَبِي نَجِيْحٍ الْعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَاريةَ رَضي الله عنه قَالَ : وَعَظَنَا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلىَّ الله عليه وسلم مَوْعِظَةً وَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوْبُ، وَذَرِفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُوْنُ، فَقُلْنَا : يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ، كَأَنَّهَا مَوْعِظَةُ مُوَدَّعٍ، فَأَوْصِنَا، قَالَ : أُوْصِيْكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ تَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْكُمْ   عَبْدٌ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلاَفاً كًثِيْراً. فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِيْنَ الْمَهْدِيِّيْنَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ اْلأُمُوْرِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ 

[رَوَاه داود والترمذي وقال : حديث حسن صحيح]

28th Hadith - Translation

It was narrated on the authority of Abu-Najih Al-Irbad-Bin-Sariyah (R.A.), who said:

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bidah) is an error." 

Abu-Dawud: 4607

Brief Narration

In one of the narrations of this hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet (S.A.W.) gave this talk after the Fajr prayer. Based on other hadiths, it was the practice of the Prophet (S.A.W.) to give admonition to his companions from time to time, however, without burdening nor boring them. Ibn Rajab points out the characteristics of the Prophet's (S.A.W.) speeches and admonitions: brief, concise, and conveyed in beautiful understandable manner.

The admonition consists of three main issues:

1. To have 'Taqwa' (God-consciousness/piousness) of Allah where it is Allah's Advice to all mankind. 
2. To listen and obey the leaders for it will lead to better management of the affairs of the community, of peace and unity. However, the hadith lays a fact that rightly-guided leadership will be the first Islamic concept to be violated. 
3. The hadith anticipates a historical fact: i.e. the Muslim disunity and split into groups and sects due to heresies. It indicates the main principle to be followed in such situations: adhering to the Sunnah.  
   

The emphasis, then, in the advice given in the hadith is to adhere to the Sunnah and to avoid heresy (bidah).  

In order to adhere to the Sunnah and to be able to refrain from heresy (bidah), a Muslim needs to fully understand and apply the principles pinpointed by our great scholars. Doing so can also minimize disputes and quarrels among Muslim community members over many debatable issues every now and then.

(Reference: Commentary of Forty Hadiths of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmed Badi)