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The Ayah..I am very familiar with, and it is used by people promoting texts that they think are authentic and contain 'valid' stories concerning our Prophet.
This particular Ayah refers to Allah telling the Ummah to listen to the Messenger(pbuh) as he brings the word of Allah..not any other word...Strictly the Quran...
I am baffled by the use of this Ayah...Astaghfarrullah..... :( it doesnt refer to the maswaq or the beard..or the shalwar..or anything else...it talks about Allah ordering people to listen to the Prophet(pbuh) as the Quran was being Nazil.
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Chanda, I didnt mean to suggest that this ayah in itself is explicitly saying that you must grow a beard and use miswak! I only meant it to show the importance of following the Sunnah, and the connection to faith in doing so
Anyways, I am typing the follow from Tafsir Ibn Kathir, volume 2, the tafsir of ayah 31 from Surah al Imran, as explains the matter clearly for us:
(3:31) Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad) , Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful
(3:32) Say: "Obey Allah and the Messenger." but if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers
Allah's Love is Attained by Following the Messenger pbuh
This honorable ayah judges against those who claim to love Allah, yet do not follow the way of Muhammad pbuh. Such people are not true in their clain until they follow the Shariah (law) of Muhammad pbuh and his religion in all his statements, actions and conditions. It is recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah pbuh said, "Whoever commits an act that does not confirm with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected of him."
This is why Allah says here,*** "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad) , Allah will love you..."*** meaning, what you will earn is much more than what you sought in loving Him, for Allah will love you. Al Hasan Al Basri and everal scholars among the Salaf commented, "Some people claimed that they love Allah. So Allah tested them with this ayah: "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad) , Allah will love you..."
Allah then said, "Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful", meaning by your following the Messenger obuh, you will earn all this with the blessing of his mission. Allah next commands everyone, "Say: "Obey Allah and the Messenger." but if they turn away" by defying the Prophet pbuh "then Allah does not like the disbelievers", thus testifying that defiance of the Messenger's way constitutes kufr. Indeed, Allah does not like whoever does this, even if he claims that he loves Allah and seeks a means of approach to Him, unless and until, he follows the unlettered Prophet, the Final Messenger pbuh from Allah to the two creations: mankind and the jinn. This is the Prophet pbuh who, if the previous Prophets and mighty Messengers were to have been alive during his time, they would have no choice but to follow, obey him and abide by his Law.