Joseph Islam's response:https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/414334602037006?stream_ref=10"Yes indeed, the prophet was not a mere ‘postman’. He had various roles during his prophetic ministry [1]. There is also no doubt in my mind that he received inspirations to best implement the guidance of the Quran to his particular circumstances. It is noteworthy that there are many ways in which humans receive inspiration [2]. However, explicit Divine guidance that what was necessary for mankind was recorded in the Quran. That is the base scripture from which believers today must work from.
Just because the prophet arguably received inspirations during his time does not mean that the reports recorded about him centuries later, at times in graphic sordid details are correct.
It is noteworthy that the prophet's circumstances or those of his companions DO NOT exist today. If those specific circumstances do not exist, then his particular Sunnah which was BASED on the (a) The Quran and (b) his SPECIFIC circumstances of his day would arguably, not be applicable in a different situation.
Sunna (Prophetic Practice) = Quran (Timeless Guidance) + CIRCUMSTANCES (Context driven situations) [3]
For example, if the same basic message of the Quran was inspired in the prophet today, no doubt, he would apply the Quran to the circumstances today.
As far as 'best practice' is concerned, indeed, many companions would have followed the prophet's examples. However, any 'religious' action must find its support from the Quran. The prophet would have arguably slept a certain way, eaten a certain way, smiled a certain way, travelled in a certain way, had favourite colours, favourite foods to suit his palate etc. However, this does not mean that these personal preferences are religiously prescribed by God for all believers as part of ‘Sunnah’. If they are followed, they are followed out of choice. What is ‘religious’ are those prescriptions explicitly mentioned in the Quran.
Therefore, I have no qualms in following those traditions that do not conflict with the Quran's guidance and at times, I find them very apt in implementing the best of the Quran's guidance. One example is establishing congregational prayer. Another, are the various aspects of Hajj. I do not see the need to 'reinvent the wheel' in many of these traditions. [4]
However, this does not mean we accept sordid reports about the prophet which have nothing to do with 'religion' and find no basis in the Quran.
There is a difference.
I hope that clarifies, God willing
Joseph
REFERENCES:
[1] Was the Prophet of God Akin to a Postman Who Simply Delivers a Message?
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/247680292035772[2] How Did God's Agents (Prophets & Messengers) Receive Inspirations?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/inspiration%20FM3.htm[3] Time-Bound Sunna
http://quransmessage.com/arti.../timebound%20sunna%20FM3.htm[4] How I Engage with the Sunnah and Wider Islamic Secondary Sources Such as the Ahadith Corpus
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/258274607643007"