[32]. Surah As-Sajdah [The Prostration]: Ayat 22

২২. যে ব্যক্তিকে তার পালনকর্তার আয়াতসমূহ দ্বারা উপদেশ দান করা হয়, অতঃপর সে তা থেকে মুখ ফিরিয়ে নেয়, তার চেয়ে যালেম আর কে? আমি অপরাধীদেরকে শাস্তি দেব।

Ayat 22. And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of his Lord, then he turns aside therefrom? Verily, Allah shall exact retribution from the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.).

Tafseer of Surah Al Sajdah (The Prostration) Ayat 22. And who does more wrong than one to whom are recited the Signs of his Lord, and who then turns away therefrom? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) Retribution. The worst and most hardened sinner is the man to whom Allah's Signs are actually brought home and who yet prefers Evil and turns away from the Light of Allah. The Signs may be in the words and guidance of a great Teacher or in some minor sorrow or warning, which he disregards with contumely. Or it may be a catastrophic blow to his conscience, which should open his eyes, but from which he deliberately refuses to profit. The penalty—the Nemesis—must necessarily come eventually.

Hazrat Irbad bin Sariyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) delivered us a very eloquent Khutbah on account of which eyes shed tears and hearts were full of tears. A man said: "O Prophet of Allah, this is as if it were a parting advice. So advise us". He  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "I admonish you to fear Allah, to listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader. Because whosoever among you shall live after me, will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold to it fast. Beware of new things (in Deen) because every Bid’ah is a misguidance".  [Abu Dawud Hadith # 4607 and At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 2676].

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah As-Sajda Ayat 22. “And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat” This Hadith stresses piety, obedience to the leader, following in the footsteps of the Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) and the first four noble caliphs. It strictly forbids innovation in Deen. This Hadith also reveals the prediction of the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) that the Muslim Ummah will become a victim of dissension. He also prescribed the right means to counteract it. The remedy that he has proposed for this problem is that Muslims should never deviate from the path laid for them by him and his righteous successors. This is the touchstone for discovering the truth from the mess of different views. All the troubles of Muslims would come to an end if they accept this as the one singular criterion of right and wrong.