In the first five ayaats of Surah Al-Hujuraat we have been taught the manners that we should observe with regard to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). If we are true in our iman then we can never prefer our own opinion to the decision of Allah and His Messenger. We should not adopt an independent opinion and pass our own judgments without caring to find out what Allah and His Messenger have given any guidance in a given situation. This is why it has been said: “O believers do not go ‘in advance’ of Allah and His Messenger ….” That is, “Do not go ahead of them, but follow behind: Do not precede them, but be subordinate to them.” Ayat 36 of Surah AI-Ahzab says: “When Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, it is not for any man or woman of the muminin to have a choice about it. Anyone who disobeys Allah and His Messenger is clearly misguided.” Here it has been advised that we should not decide our matters ourselves on our own, but should look for hidayah (guidance) in the Qur’ān and the Prophet’s Sunnah concerning those matters. This hukm (command) is not confined only to our individual matters but also applies to our collective affairs. A Hadith reported in Musnad Ahmad, Abu Da’ud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah further clarifies this hukm. When the Holy Prophet was sending Muadh bin Jabal to Yemen as a judge, he asked him: “By what will you decide the matters?” He submitted: “By the Book of Allah.” The Holy Prophet said: “If you do not find the ahkam concerning a matter in the Book of Allah, what will you turn to?” He replied: “To the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger.” The Holy Prophet asked: “If this also fails you?” He replied: “Then I shall exert and find out a solution by myself.” Thereupon the Holy Prophet placed his hand on Hazrat Muadh’s chest and said: “Thank Allah Who has helped His Messenger’s deputy to adopt the way that is approved by His Messenger.” Giving precedence to the Qur’ān and the Sunnah of Prophet over one’s own exercise to find out a solution and to turn to them first to obtain hidayah is what makes distinction between a Muslim judge and a non-Muslim judge. Therefore, the ayah ends with a warning: “If ever you adopted an attitude of independence as against Allah and His Messenger, or gave priority to your own opinion and view over their command, you should know that you have to deal with that Allah Who is hearing whatever you utter and is even aware of your secret intentions.”
The next hukm relates to the etiquette and manners for the listeners of the Prophet when they came to visit him. Its intention was that the believers treat the Prophet with highest respect and reverence when visiting him and talking to him. Nobody should raise his voice louder than his and the people must be aware that they are addressing the Prophet and not a common man.
Although this etiquette was for people sitting in the Prophet’s assembly and its addressees were the people who were living in his time, one must observe the same respect and reverence on the occasion when the Prophet’s name is mentioned, or some sunnah or hadith of his is stated. Besides, this verse also points out what attitude the people should adopt when talking to their elders or persons of a higher rank and status than themselves. The end of this ayah “lest all your deeds are reduced to nothing without your even realising it”, goes on to show what high position the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) occupies in Islam. If we do not follow this hukm, in respect of ordinary people it may be rudeness, an uncivilized conduct, but in respect of the Prophet a little lack of reverence is such a grave sin as can destroy all the services of one’s lifetime.
On the other hand, the same thing has been said in the next ayah but in a positive way: “Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of the Messenger of Allah are those whose hearts Allah has tested for taqwa (God-fearing). Theirs shall be forgiveness and a great reward.” May Allah include us all in “those”, ameen.
All the wives of the Prophet had one hujrah (small room) around the mosque of the Prophet. These were known as hujrats. The Prophet had a set routine and used to come by himself to meet the visitors. But among those visitors there were many who were uncultured and uncivilized. They simply used to come and start calling for the Prophet in front of those hujrats. This was again disrespect to the Prophet. Moreover, it was against the norms of the society. Against this background the following two ayaat have the reference. Everybody has his own privacy and his own time table. Specially, the more important a person the more important is his time and schedule. So if we are to meet such people we are therefore, supposed to wait for them instead of being aggressive.
The above mentioned ayaat were primarily meant for the people present during the Prophet’s lifetime but there are practical aspects in these ahkaam for us and coming generations as well. We must inculcate within ourselves the habit to refrain from preferring our own opinion and view to the decision of Allah and His Prophet without proper knowledge on the subject in view of the Qur’ān and the Hadith. If, otherwise, for example, we say – well the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) might have said so but I think differently – this will be raising your voices above the voice of the Prophet.