Evidence from the Wise Book (i.e. the Qur’an):
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Ash-Shura (42:13):
شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ
“He (Allaah) has ordained (Shar’iah) for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nuh (Noah) , and that which We have inspired in you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)].”
Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah:
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “Whoever would like to meet Allaah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him regularly attend these prayers whenever the call for them is given (in the mosques), for Allaah prescribed (Shari’ah) for His Prophet ‘ways of guidance’, and they (i.e., these prayers) are part of those ‘ways of guidance.'” [Muslim no. 654b and Riyadh As-Saliheen no. 1069]
Linguistic Meaning:
Ash-Shar’e: To follow or pursue a clear path.
It is said, ‘The path was Shari’at (laid out / ordained / prescribed) for him.’
Ash-Shar’e is the origin, and then it was made a noun for ‘the path’…
It is also used to refer to the religious path of Allaah. It is said:
لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا
“To each among you, We have prescribed a law (Shir’a) and a clear way.” [Surat Al-Ma’idah (5:48)]
The Meaning in the Sharee’ah:
Allaah (Jalla Jalaaluh), our Lord, is the Sole Legislator, with no partners, Who Alone Commands, Prohibits, Judges, and Legislates. Through this, it is known that the door of Tahleel [making something Halaal (lawful)] and Tahreem [making something Haraam (unlawful)], and Tashree’ (Legislation) are closed upon all creations, even the Prophets, let alone the general slaves.
Legislation is exclusive to the Lordship of Allaah. [See ‘Ash-Shirk billaah anwau’hu wa-Ahkamuhu’ by Majid Muhammad Shibala (531, 528) with a slight adaptation.]
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) has legislated a single Sharee’ah for all His Messengers, which is the worship of Him Alone, without partners. This is the Deen (Religion) that all the Messengers came with. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-‘Anbiyaa’ (21:25),
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
“And We did not send any Messenger before you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] but We inspired him (saying): ‘La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).'”
In a Hadeeth, Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different, but their religion is one.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari nos. 3442, 3443 and Muslim 2365] – i.e., the common factor amongst them is the worship of Allaah Alone without associates even though their religious rulings (legislations) and their ways differed as Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Ma’idah (5:48):
لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا
“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way.”
Thus, it is understood that Allaah’s Legislative Rulings ceased with the completion of revelation upon the passing away of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). As for His Universal Tashree’ (Ordainments and Commands), it will continue to occur in accordance with His Magnificent Wisdom until the establishment of the Day of Judgment.
Know, may Allaah protect you, that “the greatest blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon His slaves is that He has legislated the best, most virtuous, purest and untarnished religion for them; the religion of Islam…” [Tafseer As-Sa’adi (754)]
Our Lord has blessed us with it without us asking for it, without Him having any intermediary or any trouble/hardship. So, do not be ungrateful for this blessing from Allaah, for there is no blessing greater than this; the Most Generous has bestowed upon us that what most people have been deprived of.
Therefore, remember it in every situation, and do not forget it as time passes, and remind your loved ones and relatives of it, and remind every close and far acquaintance. We pray that Allaah preserves this Deen for us until the Day of Meeting with Him.
Source:
At-Ta’aliq Al-Ulaa fee Sharh Asmaa’ illaahi Al-Husna wa Sifaatihi Al-Ulaa, by Maahir Al-Muqaddim
🌿
Always feel free to share the khair!
