There is no question that if we were living among the prophet that we must obey all his commands pertaining to the religion. For example, when the prophet assigned positions in battle (3:121) or commanded the change in the direction of the Qibla (2:142), the believers had to abide by these commands. But notice that these specific commands were limited to the time and place when the prophet was alive. So how does one uphold this command today now that Muahmmad has passed? As we see from the verses below, this question will cause the followers of Muhammad to feud with one another on the Day of Resurrection.
39:30 You (Muhammad) will surely die, just like they will die.
(٣٠) إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
39:31 On the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, you people will feud with one another.
Nowhere in the Quran do we have a commandment to obey Muhammad. This is because even Muhammad was obligated to obey the messenger. An example of this can be seen in the following verses, where Muhammad was commanded to marry the divorced wife of his adopted son. Still, he was apprehensive about doing so and was reprimanded for this. This shows that Muhammad, the man, disobeyed Muhammad, the messenger.
33:36 No believing man or believing woman, if GOD and His messenger issue any command, has any choice regarding that command. Anyone who disobeys GOD and His messenger has gone far astray.
33:37 Recall that you said to the one who was blessed by GOD, and blessed by you, “Keep your wife and reverence GOD,” and you hid inside yourself what GOD wished to proclaim. Thus, you feared the people, when you were supposed to fear only GOD. When Zeid was completely through with his wife, we had you marry her, in order to establish the precedent that a man can marry the divorced wife of his adopted son. GOD’s commands shall be done.
In this next verse, we see another mistake committed by Muhammad, the man. These examples show that Muhammad the man was fallible, and he was just as responsible, if not more, to obey the messenger just like any other believer.
9:43 GOD has pardoned you: why did you give them permission (to stay behind), before you could distinguish those who are truthful from the liars?
It is worth noting that this sole function of the messenger is articulated after the commandment to “obey God, and obey the messenger.” This shows the connection between obeying the messenger and the corresponding message given to him by God.
5:92 You shall obey GOD, and you shall obey the messenger, and beware. If you turn away, then know that the sole duty of our messenger is to deliver the message efficiently.
24:54 Say, “Obey GOD, and obey the messenger.” If they refuse, then he is responsible for his obligations, and you are responsible for your obligations. If you obey him, you will be guided. The sole duty of the messenger is to deliver (the message).
The Quran was the only reminder from the messenger that was preserved. All Hadith besides the Quran was not sent down, nor was it adequately preserved.
15:9 Absolutely, we have sent down the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it.
Conclusion: Obeying the messenger is obeying his message, which was the Quran alone
Therefore, if we want to obey the messenger, we must obey their message, which in the case of Muhammad was the Quran alone. This conclusion is best articulated in the following testimony given by a follower of the prophet and the messenger himself on the Day of Resurrection.
25:27 The day will come when the transgressor will bite his hands (in anguish) and say, “ Alas, I wish I had followed the path with the messenger.
25:28 “Alas, woe to me, I wish I did not take that person as a friend.
25:29 “ He has led me away from the reminder after it came to me. Indeed, the devil lets down his human victims.”
25:30 The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.”
Notice the person mentioned above who is destined for Hell regrets not following the path of the messenger and abandoning the reminder when it was given to them. Then we see the messenger’s testimony against his people on the Day of Ressurection regarding individuals with such regrets is that his people have deserted this Quran. Notice there is no mention of the Sunnah or Hadith in the messenger’s statement. This shows that the preserved reminder the messenger was to deliver and that we are to uphold is the Quran alone.