The Prophetic Wisdom

those of the Madinah period, the sunnah of the Prophet applicable to us would be that or public prayer. While the circumstances are those of the Makkah period, the same way of prayer which the Prophet adopted in Makkah would be applicable to the believers. From this analysis one can form a correct idea of all the other examples set by the Prophet Muhammad. It should be kept in mind here that of all the prophetic examples, none is either superior or inferior, perfect or imperfect, eternal or temporary in nature. Each example to be found in the life of the Prophet is in itself a good example. Each example is equally a desirable sunnah of the Prophet. Given all these different sunnahs, the practice of anyone of them, according to a particular situation would amount to total adherence to the Prophet’s ideals. Provided the follower is sincere, he will be deserving of a full reward from God. According to the above division, every set of sunnah is a complete sunnah, and following any set of sunnah is to follow the complete sunnah. The believers are urged in the Quran: Believers, surrender yourselves totally to God. (The Quran, 2:208). According to this verse, total submission to Islam is required of every believer. But total submission does not mean that all the commands have to be followed at the same time. Nor does it mean that we should launch a campaign to bring about the implementation of the total Islamic system. This verse simply means that we must wholeheartedly obey the command of Islam which we find is addressed to us in our particular situation. We have to show no hesitancy or lacking on our part in following that command. For instance, if we find ourselves in such circumstances as make it possible to perform our prayers freely; it will be incumbent upon us to say our prayers properly when the time of prayer comes. Similarly, when believers find themselves in circumstances where they have freedom to engage in dawah work, it will be incumbent upon them to fully devote themselves to discharging the relevant responsibilities. Employing all the necessary means, they must perform dawah in the best possible way. Similarly, if circumstances permit them to enjoin good and forbid evil, individually or collectively they must strive to stop people from following evil ways. In such circumstances, all Muslims would be required to discharge this responsibility according to their capacity, and so on. To sum up, total ‘submission’ relates not to the complete list of divine commands but to those particular and specific commands, which from the point of view of the shariah are applicable to believers according to the situation in which they find themselves. There are so many commands in Islam, but all these commands are not required to be followed in their totality, rather the application of these commands depends upon circumstances. This means to follow fully and wholeheartedly whatever command is applicable to a particular situation rather than trying to obey at the same time each and every command enshrined in the Quran.