Why should muslims follow the example of the Prophet (SAWS)

[AbuHamza]

As you may know, there are some Muslims who believe that, since the Qur'an is the word of Allah, there is no requirement for Muslims to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). They say, whose words can be better than Allah's words? They say that Allah's word is above all else and that Prophet Muhammad was sent only to his own people to guide them back to the straight path.

Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the word of Allah. But if we only follow our own understanding of this Noble Book, without considering how Prophet Muhammad applied it in his daily life, we would be losing out on a huge opportunity to understand the Qur'an's true meaning and Allah's message to mankind. Who better to interpret the meaning of Allah's words than His beloved Messenger?

As Muslims, we understand that unlike us, Prophet Muhammad was infallible, inerrant, meaning that he was not subject to committing sins. This was the case for all prophets and messengers of Allah, from Adam to Muhammad (RA).

Whose example is better to follow than one who is not subject to sinning? In the Qur'an we read the verses that say:

*What kept men back from belief when Guidance came to them, was nothing but this: they said, "Has Allah sent a man (like us) to be (His) Messenger?" Say, "If there were settled, on earth, angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should certainly have sent down from the heavens an angel for a messenger.} (Al-Israa' 17:94-95)