al-Ta’si bi al-Nabi Salla Allah’Alayh wa Sallam: Dirasat Hawl al-Arkan wa al-Awjuh [The Imitation of The Prophet: Studies of Pillars and Aspects]

Abstract

The imitation of the Prophet PBUH is the compliance with the directives of Shari’a in applying
the denotation of the Shari’a provisions involving permissible and forbidden acts as narrated in
God’s command “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids
you, abstain (from it). The denotation of the general shari’a ruling as seen in the verse is the
obligation to follow and imitate the prophet PBUH. However, the defining law of the branches
of rulings is divided into obligatory, recommended for the do’s and don’t’s, forbidden and
reprehensible as indicated by the shari’a sources. For instance, the hadith of the Prophet
Muhammad PBUH says “Pray as you have seen me pray” connotes that the general obligation
of performing prayer. While some words and movements of prayer are obligatory, there are
others that are only recommended or forbidden or reprehensible. Therefore, the ruling of
imitating the Prophet PBUH varies due to the diversity of the discourse and its connotations. In
fact, imitating the acts of the Prophet PBUH according to the Islamic shari’a must comply with
two basic pillars which are the intention and compatibility with the imitation of the Prophet
PBU. The computability can take different aspects: compatibility with the cause and reason,
compatibility with the type and kind of worship, compatibility of the amount, if number is
specified, compatibility of the way, if the way is specified, and spatial and temporal
compatibility, if time or place is specified. Taking into account the necessity of the causes for
doing of prohibition with consideration to achieve the maslahah ‘public interest’ and that is in
what was a common worship matter. And whoever imitates the Prophet PBUH, he does need
to imitate anyone else in the shari’a rulings. However, Muslim can imitate the habits and
attributes of others if the Muslim unless it contradicts the objectives of shari’a.