The True Islam
The only form of true Islam that I know of is the Islam in which a Muslim strictly follows Prophet Mohammad and he seeks all sorts of guidance from Prophet Mohammad.
In true Islam, dependency of a Muslim’s spiritual growth and nourishment lies on his relationship with Prophet Mohammad. He understands that the source of true knowledge is Prophet Mohammad, not the Quran.
‘Reach the essence of Prophet Mohammad. O’ fool, you do not know that Prophet Mohammad himself the religion.’ – Rumi
In our eyes, true Islam is that in which a Muslim’s Kaaba, source of guidance, knowledge and benevolence is Prophet Mohammad. One who leaves Prophet Mohammad and seeks guidance only from the Quran is misguided. Whoever has left Prophet Mohammad and follows the Quran only, will become a Wahhabi, Shia or Barelvi. Whoever makes Prophet Mohammad the source of their guidance, knowledge and benevolence will become a Sufi. Such a person will become a lover of Prophet Mohammad.
We admire the Islam in which Prophet Mohammad is the alpha and omega.
One who depended solely on the Quran, the Quran misguided them. However, for one who follows Prophet Mohammad, Prophet Mohammad said that to kill one man is to kill the entire humanity. Prophet Mohammad’s teachings do not allow a follower to let their neighbour go to sleep hungry. Prophet Mohammad forgave those even who were caught committing adultery. He sheltered them. Why wouldn’t a sinner refrain from sinning when Prophet Mohammad shows so much kindness?
Besides Prophet Mohammad, there is nothing good in Islam. If Prophet Mohammad is not in your Islam, then your Islam is nonsense.
True Islam is not meant to seek guidance from the Quran.
Similitude of the Quran can be given as a brick and cement. The difference between the Quran and Islam is the same as it is between cement, brick, sand and a building.
In simple words, the Quran was raw material and with that raw material, Prophet Mohammad built the building of Islam. It is like a teacher’s manual; it is not for the students.
If the Quran was meant to be given to the Muslim Nation, it would have been compiled and given the shape of a book by the Prophet Mohammad himself, but he didn’t do it.
Umar bin Khattab explained the nature of Biddah (Innovation). There are two types of Biddah: Biddah Sahiya (bad innovation) and Biddah Hasanah (good innovation). He caused the religion of Islam to fall into the ditch of bad innovation. So the Quran is raw material with which Prophet Mohammad built the building of Islam. The source of knowledge is not the Quran.
If it is Quran, for the sake of argument, then why did Prophet Mohammad say, ‘I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gateway to it’?
So the lesson for today is that the Quran is not the source of guidance and knowledge.