Thanks for the verse Smart_Guy
But in the posted analysis of criticisms of simple Islam, this particular verse was already discussed in detail. Here is a link to another post in this forum that covers this subject:
Religious Education Forum / Discuss Individual Religions (DIR) / Abrahamic Religions DIR / Islam DIR / Qur'anist DIR / Islam Without Hadith
Just in case, I copy-paste the related excerpt here as well:
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (21)
The critics of Simple Islam argue that how one can take the prophet as a pattern after he has been dead; thus, there must a way to transmit his lifestyle to the muslims who are born after centuries so that they also can take the prophet as a pattern. The critics then introduce Hadith and Hadith-mining as a solution to this problem.
To be able to employ this argument one must first show that "you" in the verse refers to all the believers of the history. However, facts are indicating otherwise. For example, if we do not separate this verse from the context and look at the verse before:
They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn. And if the companies should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the bedouins, inquiring [from afar] about your news. And if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little. (20) There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (21)
we see that "you" is referring to the muslims who were fighting with the prophet at the battle of Ahzab.
If we look at the other usages of the term "excellent pattern" in Quran, we see that Quran considers also Abraham and those with him as an excellent pattern for the muslims of the time of Muhammad.
There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone" except for the saying of Abraham to his father, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allah. Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination. (4)
Does this mean that there was a science of Hadith at the time of Muhammad and the Hadiths attributed to Abraham and those with him were being collected and mined? Does this mean that we at this time must also collect and mine Hadiths attributed to Abraham? The answer is No. In this verse, Quran clearly explains that to which behavior of Abraham and those with him it is referring and asks the believers of Medina to take that particular behavior as a pattern. Now, if we take another look at the usage of the term "excellent pattern" for Muhammad, we see that the chapter is about the people who are looking for excuses to escape from the battle of Ahzab and Quran commands them to take the prophet as an excellent pattern and like him stand still.
Peace be on you,
If you go back a few verses we read "O ye who believe! remember the favour of Allah on you when there came down upon you hosts, and We sent against them a wind and hosts that you saw not. And Allah sees what you do". The verses continue describing the details of the battle of Ditch and the example set by the prophet. Here I quote a summary:
"The battle of the ditch perhaps constituted the hardest ordeal in the Holy Prophet's career and from the supreme test he emerged with enhanced moral stature and prestige. In fact, it is on time of danger, when all around dark, or in the hour of success and victory when a person's enemy lies prostrate at his feet, that is his real mettel is tested and history bears an eloquent testimony to the fact that the Holy Prophet was as great and noble in times of distress, as he was in the hour of success"
Then we read in the Holy Quran "Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much."
-Notice that the "you" is the same as the "you" here. Since the you in the earlier verse is towards all those who believe, the verse must be addressing all those who believe here too.
-You may point out that the earlier verse says ""O ye who believe! remember the favour of Allah on you when there came down upon you hosts...", therefore it must be referring to the participants of the battle, but this is not logical since if the verse was referring to a fraction of the believers then beginning the verse with "O ye who believe" does not sound right since it refers to believers and addresses only a fraction of them. Muslims are like one body. Example serves the purpose: "Spain won the world cup last time." Technically no. It was the Spanish team that won it but this is how expression works. Similarly, Allah sent upon us, the believers, the Muslims, a favour when there came down upon us hosts.
-Even if we take "you" in the second verse "Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much" to be those who fought in the battle of Ditch , then we cannot apply this to us. Since the the Holy Quran is a guidance for the righteous, it makes sense for the verse to refer it to verse.
-Conclusion: Therefore, we should study the life and practice of the Holy Prophet (sa) as he understood the Qur'an the best. Indeed, the Quran says "He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book; in it there are verses that are decisive in meaning they are the basis of the Book and
there are others that are susceptible of different interpretations. But those in whose hearts is perversity pursue such thereof as are susceptible of different interpretations, seeking discord and seeking wrong interpretation of it.
And none knows its right interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; they say, We believe in it; the whole is from our Lord. And none heed except those gifted with understanding"[3:7].
It is none but the Holy Prophet, who is most firmly grounded in knowledge so it makes sense to study the life and interpretations of the Holy Prophet.
-With reference to your second argument, yes I do think that we will benefit as Muslims if we study the life and teachings of Prophet Abraham (as). Indeed there are a number of hadith (of Holy Prophet(sa)) which discuss the life and teachings about Prophet Abraham (as). But also notice the time span between Abraham(as) and Holy Prophet (sa) is approximately 2500years, making our task quite difficult. But, hey, we have the life and teachings of the Seal of the Prophets Hadhrat Muhammad (sa).