Transcript Discipline of Hadith

Discipline of Hadith
(Sayings of Prophet
Muhammad)
DISCLAIMER
•
The contents of this presentation are basically what Sadi & Achmad had
gathered and learned when attending AIT Module 1 class, in Fall 2010 at
Islamic Center Southern California, by Dr. Maher specifically in regards to a
session about Hadiths and his book ISLAM 2.0. Additionally, we’ve also
included other material from different resources such as a ‘Usool alHadeeth’ book by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips and other.
•
Nevertheless, we have tried to do our best in making this presentation to the
best of our knowledge at the time of writing.
•
Thus we apologize if we accidentally share erroneous personal opinions or
understanding of the subject as it would certainly be because of our own
shortcomings.
•
Should there be some coincidental benefit from this presentation from any
of us, it would most definitely be because of God (Allah, the True Sustainer)
instead of the host/presenter.
Issues Identified
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Lack of knowledge about the discipline of hadith.
Reckless quoting of hadith without authentication,
verification or awareness of context .
Intellectual chaos, the manipulation of the masses,
and the intimidation of open-minded thinkers.
Unfounded use of hadith with personal ambitions,
political goals or ideological agendas to pick and
choose hadith that will serve their purposes, and
recruit and indoctrinate youth followers.
Non Muslims encounter of outrageous and bizarre
narratives of hadith leads to bad impression of
Islam.
(Often the revealed verses of the Qur'an and the reported versions of
hadiths are quoted on the internet concurrently or simultaneously.
Internet surfers are not necessarily educated to know that these two
separate "texts" are independent of one another.)
Goal of the Discussion
1) To demystify the subject of hadith.
2) To protect us from being misled or exploited.
3) To provide background knowledge of the historical
facts behind the compilation of the Hadith.
4) In-depth critical study to defend True Islam from
being damaged and distorted.
5) Provide the opportunity and encouragement to
those who would like to pursue further studies on
the subject.
What is the definition of Hadith?
1) Arabic meaning is Modern or
Contemporary. Opposite of Ancient.
2) It also means News or Talking.
3) In Islamic literature it means the saying
of prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Nevertheless, in Hadith also used in
Qur’an
What is the definition of Hadith?
Continue….
Nevertheless, the term Hadith has been used in Qur’an as well. There
are 3 categories are the most notable usages in Holy Qur’an. It
has been used to mean:
1.
The Qur’an itself, and hadith. i.e. Q.S. Al-Qalam 44:
[..ۖ
‫ث‬
ِ ‫ب ِب َه ٰـذَا ا ْل َح ِدي‬
ُ ِّ‫ ]فَذَ ْرنِي َو َمن يُ َك ِذ‬-- “Then leave Me alone
[O’Muhammad] with those who reject this communication:”
2.
A historical story. i.e. Q.S. Thaaha 9:
[ ‫سى‬
َ ‫ُمو‬
3.
ُ ‫اك َح ِد‬
‫يث‬
َ َ ‫] َو َه ْل أَت‬
-- “ Has the story of Moses reached you”
A general Conversation. i.e. Q.S. At-Tahriim 3:
[…‫اج ِه َح ِديث‬
ِ ‫ي ِإلَ ٰى بَ ْع‬
ِ ‫ض أ َ ْز َو‬
َ َ ‫ ] َو ِإ ْذ أ‬-- “ When the Prophet
ُّ ‫س َّر النَّ ِب‬
confided in one of his wives….”
Difference between Quran and
Hadith Qudsi
1) Quran is verbatim word of Allah to prophet through Angel Jibraeel. Quran
starts with Surah Fatihah and ends with Surah Naas.Quran was written at
the time of prophet Muhammad. As it was revealed it was dictated. It was
verified in house of Hafsa and compiled in the form of book at the time of
Omar Ibn Khateeb. Quran is protected from any distortion by Almighty God
himself.
[15:9] Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will
preserve it.
2) Hadith Qudsi is the word of God revealed to prophet through the language of
Prophet. Qudsi does not necessarily mean it is confirmed or authentic. It
can also be forgery, or it’s Isnad are questionable.
It is not stated that Hadith is also protected from distortion by Almighty.
History of Hadith in Prophets Time
1) Interestingly we have a documented Hadith that states
that Prophet said not to write Hadith which is in the most
reliable sources of Hadith.
• The Prophet said, "Do not write down anything from
me except the Quran." [Ahmed, Vol. 1, Page 171, and
Sahih Muslim]
• Ibn Saeed Al-Khudry reported that the messenger of
God had said:
The Prophet said, "Do not write anything from me
EXCEPT QURAN. Anyone who wrote anything other
than the Quran shall erase it."
History of Hadith in the time of
Prophet(pbuh)
The speculated reasons are:
1. High rate of illiteracy. People were illiterate at the time and
writing loses its value.
2. To prevent any diversion from the Qur’an or any mix up with
the gradually trickling revelation and not have 2 texts to follow.
There was no standard at the time to write Context of the
Hadith.
3. Except in the case for Abdullah amr Ibn As & Ali inn Abi Thalib.
These 2 people are allowed to write hadith by the Prophet
because the Prophet knows that these 2 people will not get
the sayings of the Prophet SAW (personal statements) mixed
up with the Qur’anic Revelations (God’s statements sent
down from on high to the Prophet by His Almighty’s courier
the angele Gabriel).
History of Hadith in the time of
Companions
• All of the 4 caliphs (30 years after prophet)
refused to record the Hadith.
• Strict even in verbal narration of Hadith and
required 2 witnesses to verify the Hadith.
• It was not until the Caliph Omar Ibn Abdelaziz
year 99-101 Hijri year that he decided collecting
and writing of hadith for the integrity of the
teachings, and in the face of inaccuracies and
outright forgery.
History of Hadith in the time of
Successors
• After the companions of prophet there was a gush of
recording of Hadith by Successors which lacked
Organization and Verification.
• Some 250 years after the fact, some efforts were made
to separate the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) from other
sayings by the following scholars:
 - Al Boukhary died year 256H/870AD. – “Sahih Bukhari”
 - Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj died year 261H/875AD. – “Sahih Muslim”
 - Al-Tirmidhi died 279H/892AD. – “Jami al-Tirmidhi”
 - Abu Dawood died year 275 H/888AD. – “Sunan Abu Dawood”
 - Ibn Majah died year 273 H/887AD. – “Sunan Ibn Majah”
 - Al Nisaie died year 303 H/915AD. – “Sunan al-Sughra”
• The above Compilers of Hadiths and their works are
known in the Sunni Muslims Circle as the 6 Canonical
Collections (as-Sihah as-Sittah; The Sound Six)
Number of Hadith
• The number of hadiths collected and attributed to the prophet
Muhammed is in the hundreds of thousands, as much as 700,000.
• As much as 99% of all these hundreds of thousands hadiths were
rejected by the early Muslim scholars who thought they can not
figure out which hadith is authentic and which is not.
• The ranking of Hadith below is based on the number quoted by each
person:
1. Abu Hurayra 5374
4. 'Aysha Umm al-Mu'minin 2210
10. Umar Ibn al-Khattab 537
11. Ali Ibn Abi Talib 536
31. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq 142
Compare the numbers of Hadiths given by Abu Baker by that of Abu
Hurayra while keeping in mind that Abu Baker accompanied the
Prophet for about 23 years, while Abu Hurayra accompanied the
Prophet for less than 2 years.
Background on Abu Hurayra
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The most Hadith are quoted by Abu Hurayra.
Abu Hurayra, came from Yemen in the seventh year of Hijra and converted to
Islam from Judaism.
He stayed in the company of the Prophet Muhammed less than two years. He
narrated more than 5000 hadiths, actually 5374 hadiths, from this in less than
two years company, (Compare this with the relatively few hadiths narrated by
Aysha, Abu Baker, or Omar, for example, after very long company of the
prophet) .
Most of his narrated hadiths are called the "Aahad" hadiths, i.e. hadiths only
witnessed by one person, this one person was Abu Hurayra himself.
Some of the Prophets companions (Sahaba) and Aysha, the Prophet's wife,
accused him of being a liar, telling lies about the prophets just to make up
hadiths and gain some status. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the second guided Khalifa
threatened Abu Hurayra to send him to exile if he does not stop telling hadiths
about Muhammed, he did stop until Omar's assassination then started again.
Many of the hadiths that were narrated by Abu Hurayra contradict the other
hadiths, including his own narrated hadiths, contradict the Quran and
contradict common sense.
Abu Hurayra is well known for his prejudice against the women and the dogs.
He produced some of the most insulting hadiths to Muslim women, and hadiths
that call for the killing of the dogs.
A saying erroneously attributed
to the Prophet
The following ‘Question and Answer’ published in the October 1999 issue of a monthly
Islamic Journal ‘Renaissance’ tells us that the “Symbols of Bad Luck” attributed
erroneously to the Prophet are not his views.
Question: I read a Hadith which mentions that a house, horse and a woman are three
things that could either prove good or bring bad luck for a man. Can you explain the
meaning of this please? How can we label anything as a symbol of bad luck?
Answer: …The Hadith you have mentioned has come in most of the major books of
Hadith in the words near to the ones you have quoted. However, the following text of it
contained in the sixth volume of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal’s Musnad presents the true
picture in this regard:
Abu-Hassan reports that two people came to A’ishah and said to her that
Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet used to say that bad luck is to be
found only in women, horses and houses. At this A’ishah replied: By the
God who revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet! The Prophet never said this;
what he did say was that the People of the Jahilliyyah hold this opinion…
It is evident from this text of the Hadith that this saying has been
erroneously attributed to the Prophet (sws). He had actually quoted the
views held by the people of Jahilliyyah (age of ignorance).
Background on Bukhary
•
•
•
•
Al Boukhary is the compiler of Sahih Al Bukhari (al-Jami’ as-Saheeh).– This
is the most famous and only Authentic source of Hadiths that he compiled.
He also had many other compilations that are not thoroughly authentic.
Bukhari has tested his collection of narrations genuineness based on his
own canons of criticism. Some says that he only managed to find 9,082
hadiths out of some 600,000 narrations. However, if repetitions are
excluded the actual number of hadiths goes down to about 2,062 hadiths.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake in Sahih Bukhari’s compilation to
suppose that the each hadith in Sahih are free from defects. Rather,
according to as-Suyooti, there are criticism showed that the hadiths in Sahih
Bukhari were not mistaken or false but they did not just measure up to the
high standard which Bukhari had set.
Some muslims consider it more sacred after the Quran and some take it
more important than Quran. For Example: In Egypt they swear by Bukhari
and recite Bukhari in ships.
Two Schools of Thought Emerged
• Hadith or Sunnah is not needed.
• Hadith or Sunnah is needed.
Arguments of those who
disapprove Hadith
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hadith was not written or allowed to be written at the time of the Messenger
or his companions.
Qur’an stated its completeness and self-sufficiency.
Say: "Allah's guidance is the (only) guidance and we have been
directed to submit ourselves to the Lord of the worlds.“ Q. 6:71
The word hadith, with the meaning it is used is not categorically mentioned
in the Qur’an.
There was a lapse of nearly two centuries from the year of the death of the
Prophet to the time when most of the hadiths were compiled. This time
factor alone is enough to make one question the accuracy of the written
hadiths.
How can one verify an unwritten text years later?
How can we claim that the memories of human beings did not slip away in
the course of time ?
"We have permitted the enemies of every prophet - human and jinn
devils - to inspire in each other FANCY WORDS, in order to deceive.
Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard
them and their FABRICATIONS. This is to let the minds of those who
do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such FABRICATIONS, and
accept them, and thus expose their real convictions. " [6:112-113]
Variations of the Same Hadith
•
The farewell Pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammed is a corner stone in
the Muslim history. The Final Sermon given by the Prophet during this
pilgrimage was witnessed by thousands of Muslims. There are
however THREE versions of this sermon in the Hadiths books. This by
itself reflects the degree of corruption of the Hadiths books as this is
the most witnessed speech of the prophet Muhammed.
• First version that is used by Shiite Muslims:
" I left for you what if you hold up to, you will never be misguided, the
book of God and my Family. Muslim 44/4, Nu2408; Ibn Hanbal 4/366;
darimi 23/1, nu 3319.
• Second version that is used by Sunni Muslims:
"I left for you what if you hold up to, you will never be misguided, the
book of God and my Sunnah" . Muwatta, 46/3
• Third version that is used by those who do not approve of Hadith:
"I left for you what if you hold up to, you will never be misguided, the
BOOK OF GOD." Muslim 15/19, nu 1218; Ibn Majah 25/84, Abu dawud
11/56.
Arguments of those who
approve Hadith
• The Prophet (pbuh) is the primary expounder and
interpreter of the Qur’an:
a) “Verily, in the Apostle of God you have a good example
for everyone who looks forward (with hope and awe) to
God and the Last Day, and remembers God
unceasingly.” (33:21)
b) “O you who have attained to faith! Pay heed unto God,
and pay heed unto the Apostle and unto those from
among you who have been entrusted with authority; and
if you are at variance over any matter, refer it unto God
and the Apostle, if you truly believe in God and the Last
Day. This is the best for you and best in the end.” (4:59)
Task of authentication and
verification:
• Problematic it may be to decipher the
whole package of what is true or false but
we do not throw away the whole package.
• Refer to the disciplines and guidelines of
authenticating and verification which are
called Ilm Al Isnad i.e. the reference
system of each hadith
HADITH
SANAD
(Chain of
Narrations)
MATN
(Body of
the Text)
MARFOO’
OR
MUSNAD
(Elevated up
to the Prophet)
MAWQOOF
(Stopped at the
Companions)
MAQTOO’
OR
MURSAL
(Stopped at the
Successors)
Chains of narrators (Sanad) going back to the Prophet Muhammad
(This is the most debated source of Islamic Law)
Category of Hadiths compilations in general
1.
The first category belong the works chich are considered the most reliable.
– Muwatta of Malik
– Saheeh al-Bukhari
– Saheeh Muslim
– Saheeh Bukhari & Sahih Muslim include almost all traditions contained in the Muwatta of
Malik. Thus, most major traditionist does not include it in the 6 Canonical Collections. Imam
ash-Shafi’ee (Shafi’ee Madhab) declared the Muwatta Malik as the most authentic book after
the Qur’an
2.
The second category belong the works of the 4 Sunan works.
– The tendency to associate some of the 4Sunan works with the 2 Saheehs appears to have
begun sometime in the middle of the the Fourth Century of Islamic Calendar.
3.
The third category belong such Musnads, Musannafs, and other collections as had been compiled
before or after the Saheehs of Bukhari and Muslim.
– Musnad of ‘Abd ibn Humayd and Musnad at-Tayalisi
– Musannaf of ‘Abdur-Razzaq, Musannaf of Shaybah, and others.
– However, these works contained reliable as well as unrealiable materials and had not been
thoroughly examined by the traditionists or used as source texts in books of law and doctrine.
4.
The fourth category contains collections of hadiths made by compilers who in later period
collected traditions which were not found in the collections of the early anthologists. Much of such
material was spurious.
– The Musnad of al-Khwarizmi may be included in this category.
5.
The fifth category are not generally established. However, some authorities chich contains
traditions as are declared by the Muslim doctors to be unreliable and definitely forged with out
doubt.
SANAD
(Chain)
•
Each hadith consists of two parts, i.e., sanad (chain of transmission) and matan
(text), e.g. E.g. Said Who, To Who and who knows that he said it to the other person
(Witness) and who said that these were witness (2nd Witness).
Qutaybah Ibn Sa‘eed informed us that: Sufyan reported to us on the authority of
Zuhri, on the authority of Humayd... on the authority of Nu‘man Ibn Bashir, that his
father bestowed him a slave; thereupon he came to the Prophet (SAW) so as to
make him a witness upon it. He (the Prophet ) asked: Have you bestowed (a slave
each) to all of your children; he (Bashir) replied no. So he (the Prophet) asked
(Bashir): take him (the slave) back.
The first part of this hadith i.e., from ‘‘Qutaybah Ibn Sa‘eed informed us’’ to ‘‘Nu‘man Ibn
Bashir’’ is sanad (pl. Isnad) and the second part, i.e., from ‘‘that his father’’ to ‘‘take
him (the slave) back.’’ is matan.
• Isnad were used for the documentation and authentication of ahadith. Due to the
fitnah (mischief) of the fabrication of ahadith, the hadith scholars were extremely
careful about isnad. They had criticized and evaluated the transmitters without fear or
favor.
•
The Hadith of Companion or successors is not the source of legislation. The source
of legislation is Quran and Hadith of Prophet only which is MUSNAD OR MARFOO.
Grading of SANAD
• The first categorization is if the Hadith can
be Traced back to Prophet.
• The second categorization is the
Continuity of the link of transmission.
• The third categorization is the Number of
links
Continuity
of the Link
Manquatie
MU’DEL
(Any one link is missing)
PROBLEMATIC
(Several Links are Missing)
MOALLAQ
(SUSPENDED) NO CHAIN
NUMBER OF LINKS IN THE TRANSMISSION
MUTAWAATIR
AHAD --- Sound-Fair-Weak-Forged
(Groups After Groups – continously recurrent)
(Singular – the narration of an individual) is a hadith in which the number of narrators at any level of Isnad do not reach
anywhere near the minimum number for Mutawaatir hadeeths --about 10 people.
MUTAWAATIR BILLAFDH
(Recurrent in
Wording)
It’s extremely rare.
I.e. the Hadith:
“Whoever lies about
me (Prophet SAW)
deliberately should
take his seat in the
Hell-Fire”
MUTAWAATIR BILMA’NA
(Recurrent in
meaning)
hus, a large number of
Hadith trasmitters
concur in meaning but
differ in wording or in
forn are quiet
frequent.
i.e. Hadiths about
rituals of formal
prayer, Hajj, Fasting,
Quantities of Zakah,
etc. were witnessed by
a large number of
Companions.
The most famous
compilation of
Mutawaatir Hadeeths
is the al-Azhar alMutanaathirah by asSuyooti.
1st Ahad Category.
2nd Ahad category
MASH-HOOR (Wellknown)
‘AZEEZ (Strong/rare)
Minimum of 3
transmitter on every
level of Isnad.
Originally reported by
one or more Prophet’s
Companions.
I.e. the Hadith:
“Allah will not take
away knowledge from
people by snatching it,
but by taking away the
scholars.”
Minimum of 2
transmitters on every
level of Isnad. Some
scholars did not
distinguish between
Mash-hoor and
‘Azeez, nor produce
any work dedicated to
compiling ‘Azeez
narrations primarily
because there was no
significant benefit.
3rd category GHAREEB
(Strange)
A narration which has
single transmitter on
every level in the Isnad
AFTER the Prophet’s
Companions as the
narrator.
Some scholar such as Ibn
Hajar used the term Fard
as synonym for Ghareeb,
while others considered
them to be a separate
classifications
I.e. the Hadith:
“None of you truly
believes until I become
dearer to him than his
parents, his children,
and all humankind.”
Ghareeb Sub-Category 2:
GHAREEB NISBI
Ghareeb Sub Category 1:
(Relatively Single)
GHAREEB MUTLAQ / FARD
MUTLAQ.
A hadith in which the single
narrator in the levels AFTER
the Companions level.
A Hadidth inchich the single
narrator is at the beginning of
the Sanad, that is, it is narrated
by a single Compainion from the
Propthet SAW.
i.e. the Hadith:
“Indeed deeds are judged
according to their intentions.
Thus, more than one
Companions narrated it, but
in at least 1 level of narrators,
it was related by a single
narrator.
Plausible reasons: The Single
narrator who is graded
reliable (Thiqah) A specific
single narrator from another
specific single narrator.
Single narrations from people
of a specific town/region.
Narrations by a peopleof a
specific area from other
people of a specific area
MATAN
(Text)
• People have critiqued SANAD but ignored critique of
MATAN of Hadith. Out of their piety they did not want to
take a risk of critiquing MATAN because they thought it
might be true.
• We should be able to critique MATAN as well because
we should know that the text is leading to something
good or not.
• 106 Imam Al Ghazali (who died at year 1111 AD) stated
that a hadith could be rejected if the matn contradicts
Qur’an or more authentic hadith.
• Imam Al Soyouti 1445-1505: “If you encounter a hadith
contrary to reason or to an established correctly
accepted principle, you should know that it is forged”.
Ranking of Hadith
• Saheeh i.e. Sound, which means that
according to the criteria set by the specific
compiler
• Hasan i.e. the chain is fair, good enough, but
not perfect.
• Dhaeif i.e. weak, i.e. members of the chain are
unreliable.
• Maudu i.e. forgery.
Litmus Test of SANAD of Hadith
• Part of the criteria is to look for Hadith that are
ranked Saheeh (sound) AND that are
MARFOO’OR MUSNAD (Elevated up to the
prophet) AND with NO LINK MISSING AND that
are Mutawatir (Narrated by groups after
groups).
• We should also know that the number of
Mutwatir Hadith are also disputed from zero to
close to dozen.
• The Hadith should always pass the filter of
Quran AND the filter of the Mutawatir on the
same subject.
Criteria to doubt certain Hadiths
• If it is against common experience.
• If it contradicts the Qur’an, the mutawatir hadith
or the consensus of the scholars.
• If it is relayed by a single individual while the
event is claimed to be witnessed by many, yet
they did not relay the same hadith.
• If the hadith mentions severe punishment for a
simple mistake, or it promises a big reward for
an insignificant good deed.
Other criteria for hesitating to
accept a Hadith:
• Rendering superior values to certain portions of the
Qur’an.
• Superior virtues and values of persons or places.
• Prophecies of the future especially if there are specific
times or dates.
• Things that are not befitting the personality of the
Prophet or his character.
• Less than perfect Arabic language
The mentality of taking Hadith with the possibility that it might be
true has led us in trouble. The scientist of Hadith say that Hadith
should be narrated as prophet said.
Examples of Contradicting Hadith
•
Contradiction with Quran:
- Quran on Future
Say: "The Unseen is only for Allah (to know)..."Qur’an 10:20
Say: "As to the knowledge of the time, it is with Allah alone:I am but a plain warner.“ Q.
67:26
Say: “I am no new thing among the messengers (of Allah), nor know I what will be done
with me or with you.” Q.46:9
- Hadith on Future
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The time between the great war and the
conquest of the city (Constantinople) will be six years, and the Dajjal (Antichrist) will
come forth in the seventh. Hadith Number 4283
Narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The greatest war, the conquest of
Constantinople and the coming forth of the Dajjal (Antichrist) will take
place within a period of seven months.Hadith Number 4282
- Quran about God:
"... There is nothing like Him, ..." 42:11 And when Moses asked to see Him, God told him
that he cannot see Him. 7:143
- Hadith by Bukhari about God:
(1) God appears to His believers and that they see Him as they see the FULL MOON.
Bukhary.
Examples of Contradicting Hadith
•
Punishment for adultery:
–
–
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Extremely adverse comments supposedly made by the Prophet against women:
–
–
–
–
•
Al-Bukhari: 8.816; 3.885
Al-Qur'an: 24:2; 24:5-9
Al-Bukhari: 1.301; 7.30; 1.490;
Muslim 1032, 1034;
Abu Da’ud 703
Al-Qur'an 2.223; 4.19; 16.97; 33.35; 48:5-6
To approach women during their menses, for sexual purposes:
–
–
Al-Bukhari: 1.298; 1.299
Al-Qur'an: 2.222
•
Aspects of character ascribed to the Prophet:
•
The circumstances under which and when the parts of Qur'an were supposedly to have been revealed:
–
–
–
•
Al-Bukhari: 4.421
Al-Qur'an: 36:38
The companions of the Prophet:
–
–
•
Al-Bukhari: 6.209; 6.203
Al-Qur'an: 11:114; 11:5
Celestial Science:
–
–
•
Al-Bukhari: 7.590; 7:252/253/254; 9.130
Al-Bukhari: 5.546
Al-Qur'an: 48:29; 8:63
Can anyone intercede on our behalf:
–
–
–
Al-Bukhari: 8.567 & 571; 1.98; 1.331; 5.224; 6.242
Muslim 389, 747, 2071, 2516
Al-Qur'an: 39.44; 2.254/255; 25.30; 2.48 &123; 6.51/70/94; 9.114; 7.188; 7.53; 21.100; 30.13; 34.23; 11.46; 46.9; 36.23; 40:18;
43.86; 74.48; 111.1/3; 35.14; 10.3; 19.87; 20.109; 21.28
Examples of Outrageous Hadith
• Hadith Insulting Prophet:
– In Bukhary's Sahih, section of "Ghussull"
(Washing after intercourse), the Hadith tells that
the prophet Muhammed was to have intercourse
with his wives, 11 of them, within one hour, day or
night. And that he was given the sexual power of
30 men.
What does this have to do with "WORSHIP GOD
ALONE" Did the prophet Muhammed has
anything else to do other than spending the time
taking care of his wives ?
Example of Hadith Supporting
Quran
Hadith 9:477 quoted below tells us that the Prophet did not have the
knowledge of the unseen. Narrated by Masruq:
Aisha said, `If anyone tells you that Muhammad has seen his Lord,
he is a liar, for Allah says: “No vision can grasp Him.” [Q.6:103]
And if anyone tells you that Muhammad has seen the Unseen, he is
a liar, for Allah says: "None has the knowledge of the Unseen but
Allah."
Sunnah
• Sunnah is the Established Practice of
prophet Muhammad. It is how prophet did
things. Prophet Muhammad lived in the
capacity of prophet for 23 years.
• According to Arabic Lexicographers it
means ‘a way, a course; a rule; a manner
of acting; or a conduct of life’
Sunnah or Hadith ???
•
•
•
•
The term Hadith has become synonym for the term Sunnah. This is due to
Sunnah as a technical term in Science of Hadith, refers to whatever
statements, acts approvals, physical or character descriptions that are
attributeable to Prophet along with his prophethood. It is thus synonymous
with the term Hadith.
However, according to Usool al-Fiqh science (legal methodology), Sunnah
refers to only the statements, acts, and approvals of the Prophet SAW. It is
also refers to whatever is supported by evidence from the Shari’ah; which
is the opposite of bid’ah (innovation in faith).
In the legalistic science of Fiqh, the term Sunnah refers to recommended
acts authentically attributeable to the Prophet SAW; where whoever does it
(the doer) is rewarded and whoever does not do it (the non-doer) is not
punished nor incur sin. Sunnah is also used to refer to the opposite of
bid’ah.
According to its general definition, the Qur’an is the most important part of
the Sunnah conveyed by the prophet SAW. It may also be said that the
hadiths were the containers in which the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW was
conveyed during his lifetime and his death.
Sunnah and Hadith
•
Sunnah means the prophetic ways, traditions and orders that have become models to
follow by his followers. It is erroneous to interchange the word Hadith with Sunnah or
vice versa. There are several hadiths that have nothing in the least to do with the
traditions of the prophet.
•
It is not correct to contend that the Sunnah of the Prophet has been communicated to
the Ummah by the Hadith literature alone. Historically, the Hadith literature that is in
circulation, was non-existent for the first few centuries of Islam.
•
The Prophet’s example has been mostly communicated through the practical
examples of the living and practicing Muslim communities. A question asked over and
over again by the traditionalists is: How else would I have known how to recite my
ritual prayers and how many rakats to recite for each prayer, if not through the
compiled Hadith literature, since the Qur’an is silent on these issues? The obvious
response would be; In the same manner it was known to the Muslim community for
more than two centuries before the compilation of the Hadith literature.
•
If one were to stand up before a congregation in any mosque and ask: “When and
how did the worshippers learn to recite their ritual prayers?”. The majority of the
Jamaati members would probably answer: i. At an early age when he or she had not
or could not read the books of hadiths.
ii. In their own homes from the family members or in the Madressahs (religious
schools) from the teachers.
•
The reality is that the majority of the Sunnahs of the Prophet have been
communicated to the society through the examples of living Muslims.
Types of Sunnah
Natural Human Activities
of Prophet
Non-Legal Sunnah
Legal Sunnah
(Not meant to be followed)
(Meant to be followed)
Empiric knowledge
or Personal/social habit
or Custom
Actions relating to
specific circumstances
or Situations
General Legislation
Specific Legislation
Critique on Sunnah
•
Words of Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi in his epilogue to his book on the Prophetic
sunna:
“The sunna is in need of new explanatory works to bring forth its truths and clarify
what is unclear and to correct the collective understanding and to rebut the
falsehoods, written in their current language and the paradigm of this age. The
Qur’an has garnered in our age, as is its right, the attention of great scholars, who
have devoted themselves to its tafsir (interpretation) and the bringing forth of its gems
and essence, addressing the modern mind, with what has been made available to
them of new facts and knowledge, allowing them to enter the minds and the hearts
from the widest of doors. We have seen this in the tafsirs of Muhammad Rashid Rida,
Jamal al Din al Qasimi, Al Tahir ibn ‘Ashur, Abi al’Ala Maududi, Sayyid Qutb and
Mahmud Shaltut and others. The books of sunna, and particularly the two Sahihs,
have no explanatory works from the likes of these giants who combine authenticity
and modernization and hopefully God will inspire some of the great expositors to write
works of commentary and explanation of the Sahihs of the two sheikhs Bukhari and
Muslim, a contemporary scholarly explanation. In this way, Islamic scholarship will be
served a great service. And the last of our supplication is All Praise be to God, the
Lord of the Worlds.”
Conclusion
• Our problem now is that people are bankrupt at the level
of Quran and Wealthy at the level of Hadith unless we
change our focus. Most of the Hadith books have single
chain Hadith. Mutwattor Hadith are disputed. One
scholar narrated the Muttwattar Hadith to be 16 and
some expanded it to be 120 Muttawatir.
• As soon as the Muslims deserted the Quran in favor of
the Hadiths and Sunna books, their true Islam was
corrupted beyond belief and their practice of Islam today
is but a reflection of the Islam of the Scholars like
Bukhary, Moslem, Nesaay, Termethy, Abu-Daoud...etc.
and not a reflection of the Islam (Submission) presented
to us by the Prophet Muhammed.