الفصل 42: Interpretation of ‘The Sole Source of Religion’

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi regards the existence of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), as the ultimate manifestation of human perfection and the embodiment of God’s justice on earth. He considers his being as the center of both devotion and obedience and deems the unquestioning fulfillment of his commands as obligatory. He believes that religion is centered in his person, and consequently, he accepts the words, actions, approvals, and endorsements of the Prophet as a binding authority until the Day of Judgment. In the discussion on the source of religion, he has adopted a unique interpretation called ‘the sole source of religion.’ As a result, the focus of acquiring religion has entirely shifted towards the person of the Prophet (PBUH), and the dependence of religion on his existence has emerged more prominently and concentrated compared to prevailing interpretations.¹ In his book Meezan on Islam, he begins by writing:

Religion is the guidance of Allah Almighty, which He first instilled into human nature and then conveyed to humankind through His prophets, along with all its necessary details. The last prophet in this sequence is Muhammad (PBUH). Therefore, the sole source of religion on this earth is now the noble and exalted personality of Muhammad (PBUH). (13)

As a necessary result of accepting the esteemed personality of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the sole source of religion, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi considers the entirety of the religion to be based on Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) words, actions, tacit approvals, and

endorsements. Thus, advancing the aforementioned premise, he writes:

…It is only his (Prophet) being through whom the descendants of Adam can receive guidance from their Lord until the Day of Judgment. And it is solely his position that through his sayings, actions, and tacit approvals, whatever he declares as religion will remain the true religion until the end of the world. (13)

This means that, according to Javed Ahmed Ghamidi:

1. On this planet, the exclusive right to prescribe religion belongs solely to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). No one else holds this authority or legitimacy.

2. This right of his is forever valid. As long as this world exists, humanity must turn to him alone for Allah’s guidance.

3. Regarding religion, every belief and creed, every form of knowledge and wisdom, every method and practice, and every law and commandment has its source, origin, and reference in his esteemed and noble personality.

4. Whatever he declares about religion through his words, that is religion.

5. Whatever religious actions he performs through his deeds is religion.

6. His silence regarding people’s knowledge and actions is religion. His implicit approval (taqrīr), his explicit endorsement (ta’yīd), his disapproval (tarḍīd), and his validation (taswīb)—all are part of religion.

7. The Qur’an is religion because it has been given to us through his words.

8. Sunnah is religion because it has been preserved through his actions.

9. Hadith is religion because it records his sayings, actions, implicit approvals, and endorsements.

10. Among previous divine scriptures and the legacy of the religion of Abraham, only those elements hold religious authority that have been affirmed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In this regard, from the perspective of a specific law, my esteemed teacher has articulated this concept in his book Burhan with the following words:

…The commands and directives of Muhammad (PBUH) are obligatory to obey until the Day of Judgment, in the same manner as the Qur’an itself is obligatory to obey. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was not merely a messenger of God whose role ended after delivering the Book. As a Messenger, every word and action of his holds the status of legal authority and evidence. (38)

[November 2020]