515. Can we follow the footsteps of faithful Muslims?

 In verse (4:115) of the Quran Allah says to follow the way of the faithful Muslims. 

Some are trying to create a third authority in Islam to be emulated, from faithful Muslims in addition to other than Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.

 There is no place for this argument from this verse, which can be interpreted to have two meanings.

The phrase ‘the path of the faithful Muslims’ gives space for two meanings to be alluded to.

One is ‘to understand the ways of the faithful Muslims’ and follow them.

 And the other is to follow the path in which Allah has commanded the faithful Muslims to tread. 

Though there are two ways of explaining the verse as (1) the way in which the faithful Muslims went and (2) The path the faithful Muslims should follow.

We cannot take it to mean as quoted in (1) because the basic tenets of Islam is challenged.

If it is meant as permission to follow the footsteps of the faithful, we should possess the ability to identify the faithful. because faith is something connected with the heart of a person.

We have not been granted the power to identify such people. Because faith or belief is something connected with the heart of a person, and one cannot fathom into another’s heart to find out the extent of faith in it. One can never know the faith of another, Allah alone has the knowledge about such things. Hence when it is not possible to identify a faithful person, how to follow one? One can be identified as a faithful person by his external appearance and manifestations, and not in the sense that he is considered faithful by the Almighty.

Then who are the faithful. 

Based on worldly requirements we can consider a person faithful and pious; we may lend money taking him to be faithful, or get our girl married to him in the same sense. But in reality, he may or may not be so, and the power to know the entire truth is not vested with us. 

The criteria of being known as a faithful in this world are different from that of being the same with the Almighty. 

Allah did not say in this verse, to go in search of the faithful to follow them, and neither is it possible for men to do it. 

The path of the faithful means, the path that is chosen by them to fulfill the fundamentals of what is laid down by God. This path can be identified by us.

Go through the below quoted two verses.

 When Allah and His Prophet decide on a certain act, the faithful men and women do not have their own choice over it. The one who contradicts Allah and His messenger is certainly led astray. 

The Quran 33:36 

 Once when Allah and His messenger have decided on a certain act the faithful do not have their own preference, but follow it, this is the path of the faithful.

 Below given is another verse:

When called by Allah and His messenger for a verdict to be delivered among them, the submission by the faithful should be we ‘perceive and obey’. They are those who are victorious.

The Quran 24:51. 

When Allah’s verses are being indoctrinated, their stance is ‘we perceive and we obey.   

It is absurd to understand this as to mean the faithful will arrive at a consensus (ijma) and we are needed to follow them.