Muslims believe that the message the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received, is the final divine revelation to humanity, and its permanent guidance address all humans anywhere in the world. In order to accept this fact people ought to understand the reasons and importance of the revelation. The Qu'ran explains that Muhammad (pbuh) is primarily "a beautiful pattern of conduct," (Surah 33:21) for Muslims to follow.

The Qu'ran explains in the commentary of Surah 4:79-80, that the Prophet (pbuh) was sent to preach, guide, instruct and show the way - not to drive people to good or detect all that was evil. The Prophet's (pbuh) duty was to convey the message of God, in all ways of persuasion that are open to him. If man perversely disobey that message they are not disobeying him, but they are disobeying God. In the same way those who obey the message are obeying God. Therefore Muslims are not obliging the Messenger; they are merely doing their duty.

The very fact that the declaration of faith (Qalima) consists of two parts that is each reliable to each other is evident enough to show the high and respected position the Prophet (pbuh) has for the Muslim community.

1) There is no God but Allah 2) and Muhammad is the messenger of God

This combination of the two separate verses gives the declaration that God had given Muhammad (pbuh) the hard, yet highly important task of passing His Divine Word (known as the Qu'ran) on to humankind. This was done in order for humans to realize, learn, and come to know what God is, and what God's qualities and plans are. The Prophet (pbuh) was merely a messenger. Yet he was the great creation of God that he has chosen to rightly convey this message on to everyone without the change of single word. Therefore for Muslims he is sometimes referred to as God's greatest creation.

Now as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was given this extreme high rank then obviously all his actions and doing are indeed good and without sin. So it would not be wrong at all to say that because of this high status of Prophet (pbuh), his actions and sayings are regarded in a very high and exceptional manner. Thus every Muslim would strive in his own way to follow the Qu'ran, and also look at how the Prophet (pbuh) himself interpreted the Qu'ranic teachings and practiced them. This is the main structure and foundation of Muslim's faith.

As God singled out Muhammad (pbuh), his way of life became a uniquely important role of conduct for the Muslims. As the Prophet (pbuh) says, 

"who follows me belongs to me, and who does not love my Sunnah, does not belong to me." 

Muhammad's (pbuh) sunnah consists of his actions (fi'l), his words (qaul), and his silent approval of certain facts (taqrir).

It would not be wrong to say that the Prophet (pbuh) could have easily lived as a king. But he believed that there was no point to that as God is the real king. To keep more for himself than he needed was not of his characteristic, as that would show a sigh of greed. It would deprive some one else, and he believed that it showed lack of faith in God the Provider. He also taught that if a Muslim gave up all material things for the sack of God then this was true submission.

Among the many things he taught, he taught that self discipline was a very unique and lovely attribute/characteristic that a human has, and to use this self discipline in order to do good works and deeds is a high quality one attains and for the sack and love of God. One of the main sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) was to lead a very simple life, without much comfort.

All of the Prophet's teachings were always parallel to God's teachings; they never contradicted God's word. He preached many things to the followers of this religion of God, which are basically just a guide to lead a good life. In every action a Muslim does he tries to make it match to the same way as the Prophet (pbuh) did. The Prophet's (pbuh) actions are followed in every sense, examples are, reciting the "Bismillah" (In the name of God) before preceding to do something. The way he dressed, walked, talked. Way he slept. On asking for forgiveness. The way he ate and drank, with the right hand whilst sitting down. Washing hands before eating. Not to criticize or blame others. To breath three times whilst drinking. The ritual- contract and rules of marriage. On the way to behave when in the lavatory, on bathing (ghusl) and many more. 

The Prophet (pbuh) also taught how to live a morally good life by saying not to cheat one another. To control anger. To forgive; not to envy, hate or provoke one another. To refrain from backbiting. Abstinence from alcohol, gambling and eating that which is unlawful (haram). Not to commit adultery. To respect and honor parents, women and children. And obviously many more which Muslims try their utmost best to practice.

Muslims are obliged to read, understand and know the Qu'ran and Sunnah as this is what enables them to be on the straight path. Imam Al-Haddad (1989) p36 says that, 

" Those who adhere to the sunnah and the Qu'ran, find safety, profit, guidance and protection while those who deviate from them go astray, grieve lose and are broken."

As discussed earlier, a Muslim strives to copy the model of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is also a command of God that if one lacks understanding then he should refer to the Qu'ran and the Sunnah.

"Obey God and obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you! If you have dispute concerning any matter refer it to God and the Messenger......" (Surah 4:59) 

Al-Junayd sighted in Al-Haddad (1989) p38 says, 

"All roads are blocked expect to him who follows in the foot steps of the Messenger."

To adhere to the Sunnah is to as good manners are evident both inwardly and outwardly. For a Muslim to follow the sunnah and make to make the practices of the sunnah a habit improves and eventually perfects the whole life of a Muslim. It is essential that in order for a Muslim to be on the right path he should study the sunnah what the rightly guided Caliphs did. They were the first people who imitated the sunnah and strife to imitate it in the most perfects of manners.

Muslims strive in every sense to copy Muhammad (pbuh)'s actions whilst eating, drinking, sleeping, walking, dressing, praying, devotional acts etc.

A person who adheres to Iman (faith in God) to Ibadat/ Islam (ritual actions) and Ihsan (doing good deeds) is committed to carrying out good deeds which is the ethical moral values, is a Muslim. For a Muslim one should seek religious knowledge from the Qu'ran, Sunnah, and the Hadith. The Qu'ran is the revelation that the Prophet (pbuh) received in segments, via the angel Gabriel from God. As for the sunnah, it is tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and also his actions and saying.

The Qu'ran for Muslims is the word of God therefore it is the Divine word. And the Prophet (pbuh) received those revelations, and thus became the first interpreter of the Qu'ran. Interpreter in the sense that he was able to explain what was meant by these revelations, which then gave scholars a basis for compiling a commentary of the Qu'ran. Also what he said and did accordingly became to be known as the sunnah. The sunnah is the way Muslims ought to try to live their lives. And the Hadith is the authentic collection of the Prophet's (pbuh) sunnah.

It is essential for a Muslim to have ultimate faith in God (Iman). The Prophet (pbuh) also defined that Iman consists of 

"that you affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, in His books, in His messengers, in the day of Judgment, and affirm you faith in Divine Decree to good and evil."

This known as "Iman-i-Mufassal" is the six fold article of Muslim faith or rather more a formal declaration of belief. The Iman-i-Mufassal sums up entirely what sort of religion or follower ship God intended. And this slightly longer declaration, which is in the Hadith, therefore is the saying of the Prophet. This adds up to what Muhammad (pbuh) defined as the basis belief that Allah expects off all Muslims.

Islam is complete submission to the will of God.The "five pillars"of Islam in every form and sense contains the sunnah way. Islam's basis belief is the declaration of faith, which is the foundation of Muslim's belief, declares that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of God. The second "pillar" that the Muslims should establish their five daily prayers. The prayers are a very significant part of the Sunnah as although the prayers timings are given in the Qu'ran, it does not however explain how these prayers are to be performed, what is to be prayed, and what preparations are to be carried out before prayer. The sunnah explains all this in great detail and that has become the way of a Muslim's prayer. Also additional prayers are performed alongside the obligatory prayers know as the sunnah prayers, as these are the additional prayers that the Prophet (pbuh) performed. This is a very important sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) as one Hadith explains that,

"Worship (Ibadh) is the pillar of the religion."

The third "pillar," Zakat, is the giving of almsgiving once a year to the Muslims who are less fortunate than the rich. The Prophet (pbuh) always taught of looking after the poor and needy. Fasting (Sawm) during the month of Ramadan is the fourth "pillar". During this month Muslims are very steadfast in observing the sunnah. The fast is broken each day by a date as the Prophet (pbuh) used to. This is one of the example. Extra night worship takes place during this month. To wake before sunrise to take a meal (sehr) is also sunnah. The fifth "pillar" the Hajj also has many rituals and practices that the Prophet (pbuh) carried out. It could be said that the sunnah is practiced fully during the days of Hajj.

Abd-Allah al-Tustari sighted in Al-Haddad (1989) p38 describes that

"There is no helper but God, no guide but the messenger of God, no provision but Taqwa, and work but to have fortitude in these things."

The last sermon that the Prophet (pbuh) gave was a very important and thought provoking set of guidelines given to all Muslims until the Day of Judgment. In short it sums up the entire sunnah following. It is almost like a will left behind by the Prophet (pbuh) for his followers at the time to pass it on as a present given to the Muslim Brotherhood (ummah) until the world exists.

In theory the life of the individual Muslim is governed by what the Prophet (pbuh) did and said. The sunnah gives humans a path of rational understanding and reasoning on the basis of observation, research and experiment. All Muslim's ultimate goal is to be on the straight path (Al sirat ul mustaqim). This path going from the believer to God, is the road of reality that the Prophet (pbuh) has made 'clearer' or more visible for a Muslim.The most significant thing about the Prophet (pbuh) is his humanity, which he reflected. His teachings and practices are the inspiration for Muslims. He prompted everyone to take an interest in both obeying God's laws (deen) and all social, political, economic and cultural spheres of worldly activities (dunya). His teaching laid down a pattern of life, which involved one to educate and train oneself in both spiritual and ritual attainment. His great emphasis on education was primarily because the first revelation he received, Iqra meaning Recite (Surah 96:1), demanded him to learn, read and educate. This is why it is essential part of a Muslim's thought to educate himself in order to understand God, His creation and the universe. This is confirmed by scholars when they come to conclusion that the Prophet (pbhu)'s foremost article of faith was preaching the unity of God.

The Prophet (pbuh) was a man of profound insight, knowledge, and wisdom. Muslims believe that this was a 'God given' gift to him as he was His greatest creation. Therefore because of his highly praised position, he is highly respected and to imitate his way of living is the perfect way, thus a Muslim is then on his way of being the perfect servant of God. Mawdudi (1980) p54 sums this up nicely by saying "His is the only example where all the excellencies have been blended into one personality, he is a philosopher and a seer as well as a living embodiment of his own teachings."

The sunnah is a successful means in holding the ummah together as a whole. One cannot be a Muslim "part time" as it is a complete way of life.

Muslims are to believe that,

"............The key to happiness is to follow the sunnah and to imitate the messenger of God in all his comings and goings, his movements etc.........." Ghazali sighted in Schimmel (1985) p31.