Faith is a sensitive topic for everyone. Homosapien are born instinctively believing and following what their ancestors taught them to follow. These days only a minority deviates from the beliefs of their ancestors, regardless of how credible the contrary evidence presented to them. There are of course those who are not prepared to listen to a rational argument contrary to their beliefs. However, of course, there are those who accept open heartedly when the ‘truth’ is presented to them.
In this paper I am addressing mainly, to those who profess that they are following the Islamic faith. Let me first begin by stating what the word ‘Islam’ means: It is ‘total submission to the will of Almighty God (Allah in Arabic) Creator of the Universe’. God was addressing the entire humankind when His Command, “your Deen is Islam” was concluded in the Qur’an. Similar divine messages were communicated to all other prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and finally, to Mohammad (PBUH) and to those in other nations who are not mentioned in the Semitic Scriptures. So all those who believe in ONE unseen God, after life and lead a life of righteousness are all Muslims – regardless of caste, colour, creed or ethnicity. This is exactly what all above-mentioned noble apostles of God preached. The differences in interpretation, beliefs and rituals witnessed today are ALL MAN MADE. Quite contrary to the edict of God Almighty.
The final Messenger of God was blessed with the revelation of the Holy Qur’an for the whole wide world to follow until eternity. Sura Al Baqra. A2 States:
“This Divine message, there be no doubt about it, is a guidance for all mankind who are God conscious”.
Its authenticity has been established beyond doubt since 632 AD. It is available in intact form and it contains nothing that 21st century scientists can disprove. S10.37: states
“And this Qur’an is not such as could ever be invented by other than the sustainer of the Universe; it is a confirmation of which was before it (other Scriptures) and an exposition of that which is decreed for Mankind”.
The miracle of the Qur’an is obvious to witness. It was revealed through a Messenger who was not literate in language highly mystical symbols expressed in elliptical language, stating historical facts unknown to Arabs of the time; stating scientific information, which is verified only in the last four hundred years and there are many aspects that has to be discovered by scientists. It advocates social conduct that was unheard of at the time. Many nations are following it today and those who do not are not considered civilized. S3.7: States,
“God has sent this Divine Revelation to thee (Mohammad PBUH). In it are verses that are clear by themselves – and these are the essence of the Qur’an – others are allegorical. Now those whose hearts are perverse, follow the part that is allegorical, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings. No one knows its hidden meanings, except God Almighty”.
God Almighty has stated in definitive terms that not even His Messenger could add or subtract anything from Divine Revelation; it is for humankind to follow until eternity. S69. 43 to 46, states:
“This is a Revelation from the Sustainer of the Universe, and if the Apostle were to invent any sayings in Our Name, We would certainly seize him by his right hand, and we would indeed cut off his life-vein.”
These are very strong words from the Creator and Mohammad (PBUH) never deviated from these instructions as long as he lived. He never uttered a single word contradictory to the Qur’an.
The essence of Qur’an is simple, clear and complete for those who surrender to Almighty God and observe His Commands. There is no ambiguity whatsoever. Furthermore, by his example over 22 years of his life, (after receiving the Revelation at the age of 40) the Prophet showed the Momineens (true Believers) how to live their lives according to Qur’anic edict. The practices of the Holy Prophet witnessed by the Momineens of that time were passed onto the next generations. Only the eyewitness account of the Prophet’s actions passed on to next generations are termed ‘Sunnah’ in Arabic. Sunnah provides a basis not only for major laws but also for the ways to pray, fasting during the month of Ramadan, Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah) and domestic life. Practicing Muslims of that age followed the religious rituals faithfully. Muslims still do it as the actions are logical and for the love and Sunnah of Rasool Allah.
Recording the actions and passing it on to the next generation was an old established Arabian tradition, which was followed when the Pagans converted to the Islamic way of life. The word ‘Sunnah’ is mentioned in the Qur’an but no specific mention about any particular Sunnah of the Prophet. All the actions of the Prophet are passed down to us today without any adulteration. Actions vary due to interpretation but the spirit of the action is always in the heart of true Believer.
It is generally accepted that early Islamic jurisprudence (Sharia) developed out of the combination of administrative and popular practices of pre-Islamic customs in Arabia and of the lands that came under Muslim control. The laws and practices were derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah as interpreted by the learned Imams: Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq, Imam Malik Ibn-Anas, Imam Al-Shafi and Imam Abdullah Ibn Humble using “Ijtihad” (Independent Reasoning) for their decisions and writings. All these Imams were pious and highly learned men of their time who could not tolerate that the later generations would create divisions in religious practices in their names. They would have condemned it outright. All their judgements and writings were in accordance with customs of the time with reference to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Today we have to apply ‘Independent Reasoning’ to their precedence to impart justice in the 21st century.
As the Islamic influence spread across the world in the 7th and 8th century AD, particularly into Persia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Spain; where Arabic was not their native language, a desire to learn more about the life of the Prophet was compelling. Therefore, scholars from these lands took it upon themselves to study Arabic and research the life of the Prophet. They carried out extensive research to find out what were the other sayings and instructions of the Prophet, besides the Qur’an and Sunnah, which were available to everyone who wanted to know it. Therefore, a record of speeches, reports, accounts and narrative attributed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was compiled over centuries and is termed ‘Hadith’.
None of the ‘Hadith’ were recorded during the life of the Prophet nor by his followers soon after his death. His four close companions who succeeded as Caliphs and stayed in power for nearly fifty years after his passing away did not consider it necessary to compile ‘Hadith’; although an immense amount of work was carried out in collating and homogenizing of the Qur’an in its present form. The work was completed within fifteen years of the Prophet’s death. The Momineens derived all their knowledge from the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet for them to follow. The Prophets youngest wife Hazrat Ayesha survived for over 44 year after him but did not attempt to record his words, although hundreds of Hadiths are attributed to her name! The other two companions of the Prophet in whose names thousands of Hadiths are associated, as ‘authentic’ are: Abd Allah ibn-Abbas and Abu Hurairah, actual name Abd al Rehman ibn Sakhr Al-Zahrani (there is some controversy about his name).
Abd Allah ibn-Abbas, was a dear cousin of the Prophet. He was only 12 years old when the Prophet passed away. He became a great scholar and a teacher of the Qur’an. What he learned about the Prophet’s sayings was all from third parties and it is doubtful that he passed it on as authentic! There are hundreds of Hadiths attributed to him as ‘authentic’!
Abu Hurairah, He became a companion of the Prophet in the last two years of the Prophet’s life. The Hadith writers have attributed 5,374 Hadiths to him as ‘authentic’! He embraced Islam in about 8AH or 629AD. Before converting to Islam, he was a close disciple of Kab al-Akbar: a Yemeni Jew who converted to Islam during the reign of Hazrat Umar’s Khilifat. It is notable that many narrations came to him from third party sources rather than the Prophet himself. Some Muslim scholars totally reject Abu Hurairah references. God knows best.
It is inconceivable for a Believer not to accept the verbal narration of the Prophet if there is irrefutable evidence that these are his words and not heresy. From the age 40, the Prophet devoted his entire life to preaching and collating the Qur’an. Besides the Qur’an, there are three other documents, as evidence that tell us what the Prophet said:
- The constitution of Medina (rather Yathrib as it was called)
- The peace treaty at Hudaibiya.
- Last Sermon, at Mount Arafat.
There is no credible documentary evidence of thousands of Hadiths that the Believers are preached all over the world to be accepted as authentic. Hadith had a profound and controversial influence on Tafsirs (explanation of Quranic Suras) over the years. The Qur’an hints at pious actions but is silent on details because it is considered not very important. Where it was necessary to expand, the Prophet practiced those directions during his lifetime and has been passed on to us. For example, prayers five times a day is not mentioned in the Qur’an but Muslims perform it because of the Sunnah of the Prophet.
The first Hadith in writing appeared around 150AH, by Imam Malik ibn Anas, at the insistence of Abbasi Khalifa Al Mamoon. He selected 1,720 out of over 100,000 that were presented to him. He is the author of Al Muwatta, which deals with the first legal work incorporating the Qur’an and ways it was practiced during the Prophet’s time. Al Muwatta is the most authentic Hadith book in existence.
Other Hadith writers/compilers:
- Imam Bukhari with 7563 Hadiths.
- Imam Muslim with 7563 Hadiths
- Abu Dawood with 5274 Hadiths
- Al-Nasai with 5270 Hadiths
- Al-Tirmidhi with 4400 Hadiths
- Ibn Majah with 4341 Hadiths
This plethora of Hadiths have altered the face of ‘Deen’ as directed by God Almighty, Considering that there are only 6,236 Ayats in the Qur’an.
The Hadith compilers were dedicated and learned men and their contribution is valuable but to believe that they are quoting the exact words of the Prophet is inconceivable. It defies nature. No one can repeat the exact words after a lapse of even a few hours, let alone centuries! The case in point is the New Testament, which consists of the life of Jesus Christ and what he said during his lifetime, written or narrated by four of his companions who had spent years listening to him but have profound differences in their interpretation. There were at least four other companions who narrated his sayings but were very different from the recognised four: Gospel according to Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. The Christian Church does not even recognise the other ones. Paul, Peter and Barnabas had also listened to Jesus for years but in their writings, they not only differed among themselves but also with the other four, on fundamental issues.
The Dead Sea Scroll revealed something very different about the life and sayings of Hazrat Eisa ibn Maryam (Jesus Christ). All these writings are by people who spent years with him and were written within 50 to 70 years after his passing away. All Hadiths have the same anomaly. Hadiths are not divine revelation and they did not originate with the Prophet. All oral Hadiths are manmade based on heresy. Some Hadiths even contradict the Holy Quran. How can any Believer of the Qur’an follow it?
It is claimed that only 9 (nine) Hadiths are known to have conformed into the ‘Mutawatir’ category!! Only God knows best.
In this paper, I do not intend to discuss the lengthy historical controversy about Hadiths and what impact it has had on the practices of Islamic faith, so I conclude it here.
Ahle Qur'an 