On seeing those who adhere to the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) such as by shortening their garments, growing their beards, and sitting in Masjids (mosques), some people who claim to be Muslims say that Islam is based on superstitions and other statements that incur Allah's Wrath. Please advise such people. May Allah reward you! D. SH., Ha'il
A: It is the duty of every Muslim to obey the Commands of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), abstain from their Prohibitions, advise and cooperate with others in doing this and refute those who mock and ridicule Islam. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states: And obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) that you may obtain mercy. Allah (Glorified be He) says: Say: "Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allâh's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)." He also states inSurah AlNisa': These are the limits (set by) Allâh (or ordainments as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success. And whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment.
There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) to the same effect. Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "All my people will enter Paradise, except those who refuse." They (the Companions) said, "O Messenger of Allah! Who will refuse?" He said, "Anyone who obeys me will enter Paradise, and anyone who disobeys me has refused." (Related by AlBukhari in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith). Obeying Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) entails performing the Five Obligatory Daily Prayers at their due times in congregation, at the Masjids for men. In addition, whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) pays Zakah (obligatory charity), fasts Ramadan, performs Hajj if they can afford it, is dutiful to parents, maintains ties with their relatives, watches their tongue and limbs from committing prohibited acts, advises other Muslims, guides others to the Truth, cooperates with others in piety and righteousness, commands good and forbids evil. Furthermore, obeying Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) requires a man to trim his mustache, grow his beard and beware of trailing his garment, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, "Trim closely the mustache, and grow the beard, and be different from the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)." (Agreed upon by AlBukhari and Muslim)The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "What is below the ankles of a (man's) lower garment is in the Fire." (Related by AlBukhari in his Sahih)Other types of clothes such as the trousers, shirts, cloaks and the like take the same ruling as the lower garment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "There are three (types of) people whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He look at them, nor will He purify them (from their sins), and they will have a painful chastisement. They are those who trail their lower garment, the benevolent who give nothing without an obligation, and the sellers of goods by false oaths." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)Allah is the Grantor of success.