Introduction
Text in red indicates Dr. Rashad Khalifa speaking in the audio. This applies only to the audios, not the videos.
19 times, God tells us in the Quran to obey Him and His messenger:
[3:32] Proclaim: "You shall obey GOD and the messenger." If they turn away, GOD does not love the disbelievers.
[4:59] O you who believe, you shall obey GOD, and you shall obey the messenger, and those in charge among you. If you dispute in any matter, you shall refer it to GOD and the messenger, if you do believe in GOD and the Last Day. This is better for you, and provides you with the best solution.
[8:20] O you who believe, obey GOD and His messenger, and do not disregard him while you hear.
[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).
[47:33] O you who believe, you shall obey GOD, and obey the messenger. Otherwise, all your works will be in vain.
[3:132] You shall obey GOD and the messenger, that you may attain mercy.
[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.
[8:1] They consult you about the spoils of war. Say, "The spoils of war belong to GOD and the messenger." You shall observe GOD, exhort one another to be righteous, and obey GOD and His messenger, if you are believers.
[8:46] You shall obey GOD and His messenger, and do not dispute among yourselves, lest you fail and scatter your strength. You shall steadfastly persevere. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.
[20:90] And Aaron had told them, "O my people, this is a test for you. Your only Lord is the Most Gracious, so follow me, and obey my commands."
[24:56] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey the messenger, that you may attain mercy.
[58:13] If you failed to give to charity before conferring, then repented thereafter, GOD accepts your repentance. You shall observe the contact prayers (Salat), give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey GOD and His messenger. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
[64:12] You shall obey GOD and you shall obey the messenger. If you turn away, then the sole mission of our messenger is to deliver the message.
[64:16] Therefore, you shall reverence GOD as much as you can, and listen, and obey, and give (to charity) for your own good. Anyone who is protected from his own stinginess, these are the successful ones.
The Quran teaches that divine guidance evolves over time, adapting to the changing circumstances and maturity of the community. This principle is essential for understanding the Quran and the teachings of modern messengers like Rashad Khalifa. The Quran provides numerous examples, both from the stories of past messengers and the life of Prophet Muhammad, that illustrate this evolution of divine commands. One key example is the status of the sedentary Submitters.
In the early days, God allowed believers to remain sedentary, focusing on prayer and charity without needing to mobilize for battle. This is reflected in the Quranic verse:
[Quran 4:77] “Have you noted those who were told, ‘You do not have to fight; all you need to do is observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat),’ then, when fighting was decreed for them, they feared the people as much as they feared God, or even more? They said, ‘Our Lord, why did You force this fighting on us? If only You respite us for awhile!’”
This verse shows that initially, believers were not required to fight. However, as the circumstances changed and the community matured, the guidance evolved. In later revelations, those who chose to remain sedentary were condemned for failing to respond to God's call to fight. This evolution in divine command is clearly illustrated in:
[Quran 9:81] “The sedentary rejoiced in their staying behind the messenger of God, and hated to strive with their money and their lives in the cause of God. They said, ‘Let us not mobilize in this heat!’ Say, ‘The fire of Hell is much hotter,’ if they could only comprehend.”
[Quran 9:86] “When a sura is revealed, stating: ‘Believe in God, and strive with His messenger,’ even the strong among them say, ‘Let us stay behind!’ They chose to be with the sedentary. Consequently, their hearts were sealed, and thus, they cannot comprehend.”
This shift in divine guidance demonstrates the evolving expectations placed on believers as the community matured. Initially, believers were allowed to stay sedentary, but as the circumstances changed, they were required to mobilize in the cause of God. Those who resisted this command were labeled as "hypocrites."
Rashad Khalifa’s teachings reflect a similar evolution. Early on, Rashad emphasized the concept of following the Quran alone and rejected the Hadith as a source of law. He stated:
“If you follow Dr. Khalifa, you are not right. Anybody here, and we all know this, we do not follow any person and we emphasize here that we are worshippers of God alone. We follow the word of God alone, and if I say anything that is not in the Quran, contradicting the Quran, I am the first to appreciate alerting me to this because then I am wrong. Nobody follows me.” – Rashad Khalifa, Great Debate, July 6, 1988
However, as Rashad’s understanding of his role evolved, so did the guidance he imparted. He later clarified that believers must not only follow the Quran alone, but they must follow the Quran as explained by the messenger, Rashad Khalifa. This is not a contradiction but a clarification of God’s evolving guidance. Just as believers in Muhammad’s time were initially allowed to stay sedentary but later required to mobilize, the community in Rashad's time was initially given the general guidance of "follow the Quran alone," but later required to follow Rashad’s specific teachings to correctly understand and apply the Quran.
This process mirrors the Quranic example of the evolving commands given to Muhammad’s followers. In the early stages, the community was given lenient instructions, but as the community matured, the guidance became more specific, and new commands were issued to reflect the evolving circumstances. This is a vital aspect of understanding how to apply the teachings of the Quran, as divine guidance is not static but adapts to the needs of the community at each stage of its development.
[Quran 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).”
This verse emphasizes the importance of obeying the messenger of God, a principle that is central to understanding Rashad Khalifa’s role. As God revealed further clarifications to Rashad, believers were required to adapt to this new command, just as earlier followers of the Quran were required to mobilize when commanded.
The principle of evolving divine guidance ensures that God’s wisdom remains relevant, providing clarity and direction that aligns with the maturity of the community. The Quran’s command to "follow the Quran alone" must therefore be understood not as a blanket rejection of all human guidance, but as a call to follow the correct interpretation of the Quran as revealed through God’s messenger, Rashad Khalifa. This demonstrates the Quranic paradigm of evolving divine guidance: what was once permissible is later clarified, and the community must adapt to these changes to remain true to God's will.
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