“Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly”(Quran;2:42)
Introduction
God created the universe and humanity is here to live in obedience to God with freewill. He has granted freedom of choice to the human through intellect, reason and guidance, resulting in individual responsibility and accountability.[1] God sent the messengers to each community for guidance about which some information is available through the Bible and Quran. The revelations to the messengers got corrupted and was lost with the passage of time. The Torah, book of Moses and Injeel (Gospel) to Jesus Christ besides corruption and loss of contents, have been further undermined through additional books written by the rabbis, disciples and priests[2]. Fourteen hundred years ago when humanity had reached certain level of maturity, God sent the Last Book, Quran through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for guidance of humanity till eternity. Quran is well preserved, authentic word of God, without any doubt[3], no other book can rival this claim. Quran has forbidden[4] any additional scripture, discourse or Hadith which has also been confirmed[5] through the practice (Sunnah) of the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his closest companions, the four Rightly Guided Caliphs[6].
The wisdom, foresightedness and understanding of the Quran and Sunnah[7], was enough for Umer bin Khattab, the second Caliph to draw lessons from history of previous communities, after thorough deliberation he banned[8] writings of Hadiths (statements attributed to the Prophet, pbuh) to preserve the unique status of Quran, as the only single book of guidance. The previous communities went astray by neglecting the books of God and according priority to other books. This policy was strictly adhered to for a century, thereafter it was repudiated by those who had no authority to do so[9]. They prevailed and the Islam of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Rightly Guided Caliphs, Companions and Muslims of first century having Quran as the only book of guidance was buried under the heap of additional books and sects. Now after thirteen centuries there are seventy five such books and as many sects. Except Quran, authenticity of any other literature remains doubtful, Allah says:
“In which Hadith other than the Quran will they believe?” (Quran;77:50,also 7:185, 45:6)[10]
The Holy Quran has become only a source of blessings and recitation, while the real purpose of guidance has been almost forgotten like previous communities as envisaged by second Caliph Umer bin Khattab.[11] Hence on the Day of Judgement the Messenger (Pbuh) will say, “Lord, my people did indeed discard the Quran,” (25:30).
The Hadith literature produced during the second and third centuries has many classifications because it is very difficult to segregate inauthentic and fabricated Hadiths from real ones. This problem is self created through defiance of established approved practice of the legitimate authorities of the first century Hijrah. Gradually the dissidents become so powerful that it is considered as a grave sin to challenge the deviant views and practices. The truth must prevail, concealing the truth and revelations is a grave sin[12] Allah says:
“Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly” (Quran;2:42)
Even though it’s taboo to even talk about following the Islam of first century Hijrah [Islam of Rightly Guided Caliphs, Companions and Muslims, based upon Quran and Sunnah of Prophet (pbuh)], the truth must be brought out for the knowledge of all.
This epilogue encapsulates the salient aspects of study/ research.
Islam is based on the Quran[13] and Sunnah of the last Messenger of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him).[14] The Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in twenty three years, which was preserved through memorization and writing. Through the efforts of the first two of four Rightly Guided Caliphs[15],[16], the copy of Quran in the form of Book was prepared and later after rechecking, distributed by 3rd Caliph Usman[17] (Allah may be pleased with him)[18].
The Qur’an is the last one, preserved book (written instructions) of guidance for mankind till eternity. The Sunnah of the last Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is a practical model of implementation of Qur’an, which was physically, practically demonstrated (like offering prayer and other such matters). Sunnah[19] is transmitted from generation to generation. Hadith[20] is a writing, composed of words, deeds and historical events attributed to the Prophet (pbuh] and companions. Hadiths[21] writing was disallowed by the Prophet (pbuh), but not the oral transmission. Hadith was not compiled by the Rightly guided Caliph Rashidin in the form of a book, like Quran, instead its continuous oral transmission (Tawatar) was considered sufficient. Not that they had some personal reasons, but very logical strong reasons from experience of past generations (Jews and Christians).
The study has been undertaken to examine the permissibility of other books (Hadith) beside the Quran in the light of the Quran, Sunnah and history. The discussion started on social media. Seeing the keen interest shown by members, an exclusive Group was formed which included only seven members, comprising highly learned very senior police officer, senior army officers, PhD university professor, medical doctoral/ professor, head of a Darul Uloom and an Islamic religious scholar undergoing PhD at the International Islamic University Islamabad[22]. The discussion continued for a few days, and found to be very interesting and useful. After further study and research, it has been compiled in three parts; (1) Important Information (2) Research/ Analysis (3) Q & A. The salient aspects of the study have been published in DJ form March to September 2020, covering following aspects:
1. Is the Qur’an just the last book of Allah, complete, detailed, protected or there other books of guidance as well?
2. Did the Quran mention or give any indication of other supplementary books?
3. The Prophet (pbuh) commanded to follow the Sunnah (practices) of Rightly Guided Caliphs after him. What was their policy with regard to any other books or books besides the Quran?
4. Should Muslim follow the religious scholars blindly like Jews and Chrsitians as mentioned inQuran (9:31)[23] ?
5. The facts should be brought out for the knowledge of everyone, so that scholars can play their positive, constructive role in restoring Islam to the original, simple, perfect religion of the first century Hijra, rather than defending the errors of past history.
Parameters
It may be kept in view that:
1. The principles of religion (usool-e-deen) and the promotion of religion (froogh-deen) are not being touched (although this is the work of the scholars).
2. The the six basic fundamentals of faith[24] and five pillars[25] of Islam are not being discussed, they are part of faith.
3. No reticulation of any sect or unnecessary promotion.
4. There is no ground for a new sect, sectarianism[26] is forbidden in the Qur’an – only Islam and Muslim[27].
5. This is just an intellectual exercise, to ponder over the Qur’an and find the ways to restore the original status of the Qur’an.
6. Follow the way Islam is being practiced in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah.
7. Be tolerant and patient with others and use religious material positively instead of creating hatred or promoting sectarianism.
8. Continuous (matwater)[28],[29] Hadiths are the most authentic, there is scholarly consensus that their denier is a disbeliever.
9. The Hadiths attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), even if they are inauthentic, weak, they must be respected and analysed in the light of Quran and Sunnah. It’s a great treasure of knowledge about the Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh), companions and history.
Quran Introduces Quran:
1. God revealed Quran[30] and will protect it (Quran;15:9)
2. Free from any ambiguity (Quran;18:1-2)
3. “This book to provide explanations for everything, and guidance, and mercy, and good news for the Muslims”(Quran;16:89)
4. Neglected nothing in the Book” (Quran; 6:38)
5. Verses of established meaning, further explained in detail (Quran;11:1)
6. Falsehood cannot approach it (Quran;41:42)
7. Book in truth and [also] the balance.(Quran;42:17)
8. Nobody, not even Prophet can change Quran (Quran;10:15)
9. Messenger conveyed all what was revealed of this Book from Lord. There is nothing that could alter His words (Quran;18;27, 6:19)
10. Allah’s Words never change. (10:64)
11. Delivered the messages of the Lord (72:28, 5:67)
12. Book with the truth, verifying old Scriptures and a guardian over it (Quran;5:48)
13. The most beautiful Message in a consistent Book wherein is reiteration.(Quran;39:23)
14. Healing and mercy to the believers, and it adds only to the perdition of the unjust. (Quran;17:82)
15. Book of God, without any doubt, guidance for those who fear God (Quran;2:2)
16. Bring mankind out of darknesses into the light (Quran;14:1)
17. The Criterion to judge right and wrong (Quran;25:1)
18. Book with truth, to judge between people in that in which they differed (Quran;2:213)
19. In clear Arabic, easy to understand (Quran;12:2)
20. Study the Quran, as it should be studied (Quran;2:121)
21. Ponder over its verses, and that those endowed with understanding may be mindful.(Quran;38:29)
22. Do they not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their hearts locked up?(Quran;47:24)
23. Those concealing revelations of Quran are cursed by Allah (Quran;2:159)
24. Who conceal in the scripture, for a cheap material gain, incur painful retribution.(Quran;2:174)
25. In which Hadith other than the Quran will they believe? (Quran;77:50)
26. In what Hadith (discourse) after this (Quran) will they then believe?(Quran;7:185)
27. These are the revelations of God which We recite to you for a genuine purpose. In what Hadith (statements) other than God’s and His revelations will they then believe? (Quran;45;6)
28. Let them produce a Hadith (discourse) like it if they are true in their claim.(Quran;52:34)
Deniers and Rejecters of Quran:
1. Woe unto every fabricating impostor, the one who hears GOD’s revelations but ignores arrogantly, Grievous punishment awaits (Quran;45:7-8)
2. Those who dispute Ayas have turned away from the right path (Quran;40:69)
3. Those who deny the revelations, will suffer a dreadful doom.(Quran;45:11)
4. Who disbelieved in Quran, are doomed (Quran;90:19)
5. And none but the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers) deny Ayat (Quran;29:49)
6. And be not like those who said, We hear, and they did not obey (Quran;8:21)
Quran – Important Verses:
1. And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.(3:103)[31]
2. This is the Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guide for those who are mindful of God, (2:2)[32]
3. Will they not, then, ponder over this Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts? (47:24)[33]
4. The Messenger will say, “Lord, my people did indeed discard the Quran,” (25:30)
5. so that he who was to perish might perish after clear evidence of the truth, and he who was to live might live in clear evidence of the truth. Surely, God is all hearing and all-knowing. (8:42)[34]
6. We have bestowed the Book on those of Our servants whom We have chosen. Some wrong their own souls, some keep half-way [between right and wrong]; some, by God’s leave, excel others in good deeds. This is a great bounty of God: (35:32)
7. Do not mix truth with falsehood, or hide the truth when you know it. (2:42) [More here..][35]
8. Who, then, is more unjust than he who lies about God and rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is not Hell an abode for those who deny the truth? (39:32)
9. “Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.” (2:111)[36]
10. O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. (5:67)[37]
11. Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers. (7:6)[38]
12. And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be successful. (3:104)
13. You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (3:110)[39]
14. [This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists. (9:1)[40]
15. They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.(9:31)
16. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty. (5:2)[41]
17. 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. (33:21)[42]
18. He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian. (4:80)[43]
19. O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn from him while you hear [his order]. (20) And do not be like those who say, “We have heard,” while they do not hear. (21) Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.(8:22)[44]
20. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (4:14)[45]
21. What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? (36) Or do you have a scripture in which you learn (37) That indeed for you is whatever you choose? (68:38)[46]
22. “God curses those who hide whatever We send down explanations and guidance, once We have explained it to mankind in the Book, and cursers will curse them,”(Quran 2:159)
Quran on Hadith:
Quran calls itself Hadith, and repeatedly rejects belief in any other Hadith except Quran. Most of the Quran translators have translated the word “Hadith” as; statement, discourse , message etc. Surprisingly the word “Hadith” was in use as “statement of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)” during his lifetime while Quran was being revealed and continues to be used as such since last 1400 years.[47] A Hadith mentions that: Any Hadith not in conformity with Sunnah and Quran is not from Prophet (pbuh)[48]
It is notorious how frequently Muslims themselves, let alone Westerners, have mutilated the Qur’ān by projecting their own points of view or that of their “schools” of thought; except that with so many Westerners both unconscious prejudice and deliberate distortion have played roles, as well as the study of verses of the Qur’ān in abstract isolation. The Qur’ān, as the Word of God, is as concrete as the Command or the Law of God indeed, as God Himself and represents the depth and breadth of life itself; it will refuse to be straight-jacketed by intellectual and cultural bias.
It must be remembered that Allah commands: “Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly” (Quran;2:42)[49]
Everyone understands the meanings of Hadith, it has been added as a word in some European languages[50]. It not need to be translated in Urdu or English. The the literal translation of Hadith is; “statement/ story / hadith”[51] A non Arabic reader would never know that the Quran is talking against Hadith, once he reads the translation as; “statement, discourse, message etc.” Even the commentaries avoid discussing this important aspect! Is it deliberate distortion or concealment?
● In which Hadith other than the Quran will they believe? (Quran;77:50)[52]
● In what Hadith after this (Quran) will they then believe? (Quran;7:185)
● These are the revelations of God which We recite to you for a genuine purpose. In what Hadith other than God’s and His revelations will they then believe? (Quran;45;6)
● Let them produce a Hadith like it if they are true in their claim.(Quran;52:34)
Quran and Sunnah of Prophet:
● 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. (33:21)[53]
● He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away We have not sent you over them as a guardian. (4:80)[54]
● O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn from him while you hear [his order]. (20) And do not be like those who say, “We have heard,” while they do not hear. (21) Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason. (8:22)[55]
● And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (4:14)[56]
● Since Hadith writing was prohibited, only One written Book, Quran, hence Sunnah remains most authentic source to follow beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Banned Hadith Writing, but Sunnah Exist in Practice
The Prophet (pbuh) was a role model for the Muslims, living Quran, his statements and practices are followed by Muslims, hence they have to be in conformity with the Quran, not in conflict. Following are some Hadiths, which mention Hadith writing banned[57] [58]by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) conforming to the verses from the Quran quoted above, the other conflicting narrations to justify Hadith writing are against Quran, Sunnah of Propeht (pbuh) and Sunnah (practice) of Rightly Guided Caliphs.[59]
1. Abu Said al-Khudri said, Ishaq ibn Isa told me that Abdul Rahman ibn Zaid told us that his father said about Ata ibn Yasar who said that Abu Hurayrah said: We were sitting down writing what we heard from the prophet. He entered the room and asked us: What are you writing? We said: We are writing what we hear from you. He said: Another book next to the book of Allah? We said: It is what we hear from you. He said: Then write the book of Allah, uphold the book of Allah, no other books but the book of Allah, uphold the book of Allah. Abu Hurayrah said: So we collected all that we wrote and burnt it. Then we asked the prophet: Can we talk about you? He said: Yes you can and feel no shame about it, and whoever lies about me deliberately his seat in hell will be secured. Abu Hurayrah said: Can we talk about Bani Israel? He said: Yes you can and feel no shame about it… [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10611] (Abu Hurarah is also reported to be illiterate and depended his memory only[60])
2. Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do not take down anything from me, and he who took down anything from me except the Qur’an, he should efface that and narrate from me, for there is no harm in it and he who attributed any falsehood to me-and Hammam said: I think he also said: “deliberately” – he should in fact find his abode in the Hell-Fire.[Sahih Muslim Book 042, Hadith Number 7147][61]
3. Narrated Zayd ibn Thabit: Al-Muttalib ibn Abdullah ibn Hantab said: Zayd ibn Thabit entered upon Mu’awiyah and asked him about a tradition. He ordered a man to write it. Zayd said: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) ordered us not to write any of his traditions. So he erased it. [Sunan Abu-Dawud Book 25, Hadith Number 3640]
4. Ismail told us that Hammam ibn Yahya narrated from Zaid ibn Aslam who narrated from Yasar who stated that Abi Saeed said: The messenger of Allah said, “Do not write anything I say but the Quran and whoever writes anything but the Quran should delete it.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10713]
5. Shu’aib told us that Hammam said that Zaid ibn Aslam narrated from Ibn Yassar who stated that Abi Saeed said: The messenger of Allah said, “Do not write anything I say except the Quran and whoever writes anything but the Quran should delete it.”[Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10715]
6. Yazid told us that Hammam ibn Yahya narrated from Zaid ibn Aslam who narrated from Yassar who said that Abi Saeed stated: The messenger of Allah said, “Do not write anything I say except the Quran and whoever writes anything but the Quran should delete it.”[Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10781]
7. Abu Ubayda told us that Hammam ibn Yahya narrated from Zaid ibn Aslam who narrated from Yassar who stated that Abi Saeed said: The messenger of Allah said, “Do not write anything I say except the Quran and whoever writes anything [besides it] should delete it.” [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 10966]
8. Affan told us that Hammam told us that Zaid ibn Aslam narrated from Ibn Yassar who stated that Abi Saeed said: The messenger of Allah said do not write anything I say but the Quran and whoever writes anything but the Quran should delete it. [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith Number 11160]
However some Hadiths can also be found which provide some justification for Hadith writing to a person or persons.[62] Quran is the Furqan, final criteria to judge right from wrong (Quran;25:1). So when we refer to the Quranic verses against Hadith, the permissibility of Hadith writing to an individual does not get support from the Quran. The Prophet (pbuh) is also reported to have said that Hadith which contradict the Quran and Sunnah are not from him[63], he is also reported to have said that, if you hear a Hadith which your heart does not accept, it is far away from me (Masnad Ahmad 3/497, Saheeh Albani)[64],[65] Hence the Hadiths about ban on writing get support from the Quran, while others not supported by the Quran are to be ignored.
It is not very uncommon in Hadith books to find some Hadiths with conflicting[66] contents and contradictions.[67] The experts use various techniques to reconcile but one group may insist on Hadiths supporting their point of view while rejecting the Hadith referred by the opponent. This is the cause of conflict, division, disunity and sectarianism. If the reference source has contradictions, how can it be trusted as a whole, even if there are genuine narrations. There is only one Book which claims:
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” (Quran 2:2)
Predicament of Previous Scriptures:
Allah sent His Last Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) and the Last Book, Quran for the guidance of humanity till eternity because the previous scriptures were corrupted and undermined by human written books.
Torah revealed to Moses (pbuh), has 5853 verses[68], whereas Talmud (written by Jewish religious scholars), stretches to well over 10 million words across 38 volumes[69] but practically it takes precedence over Divine scripture.
The New Testament (NT), the Christian holy scripture, has 27 books, only 4 Gospels with some verses attributed to Jesus Christ, while 23 other books have been written by others attributed to St. Paul and his disciples. NT comprises a total 7,959 verses, of which but 1,599 are sayings of Christ. The words count, New Testament is 181,253. Only 36,450 of these 181,253 words are the words of Christ barely over 20 per cent.[70] Jesus Christ criticized the clergy and tried to guide them to follow the true teachings of God in the scripture[71] but they turned against him.
Quran
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made special arrangements and took extra care for writing Quran by scribes, memorization and preservation. He prohibited writing of anything else except the Quran.[72] [73] The Prophet (pbuh) had expressly forbidden the writing down of any hadith! According to Muslim and ibn Hanbal: Abi Said al Khudri reported that the Prophet said;
“Do not write down anything from me except the Quran. Whoever writes down anything other than the Quran must erase it.”
There are some reports of permission to some individuals but the fact remains that he did not leave anything written except Quran. Even till the 2nd century this status was maintained.
Quran was very carefully preserved during the first three caliphs reign and standard copies circulated. The Caliphs adhered to the policy and for the next century there was only One Book of Allah, The Holy Quran, which has 6,236 verses. After the first century when all Companions also passed away, Hadith books started to emerge in the 2nd and 3rd century Hijrah. Presently there are over 25000 Hadiths, over 70 books[74] There are millions of Hadith not included in these books by the writers. Imam Shafi said that no one in entire history can claim to know all Ahadith, it’s humanly impossible. Their grades of authenticity also keep changing. However, according to Imam Sayuti (Egyptian scholar, historian and jurist), the most authentic (Tawatar/ Continuous) Hadiths concerning certain rituals, such as, Prayers, fasts, etc. are only 113.[75]
Role of Rightly Guided Caliphs in Preserving The Book of Allah, The Quran:
It has been established that Quran denies existence or belief in any other scripture or book except Quran. The prophetic traditions and narrations found in Hadith books also conform to this Quranic Command, because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has also been reported to have banned Hadith writing and whatever was written it was burnt. [some narrations to justify Hadith writing do not conform to policy by Quran and other Hadiths]. Next to the Prophet (pbuh) are the pious companions and on the top of list are; “The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs’, their opinion and actions further clear the doubt if any! While they made every possible effort to collect, preserve and publish the Quran, they did not make any such effort for the Hadiths. Hazrat Umar is reported to have said during last minutes of Prophet (pbuh): “The Book of Allah is sufficient for us” (Bukhaari,6932 and Muslim,1637)[76], in fact he was referring to the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says: “We have neglected nothing in the Book”[77] [Quran 6:38].
The Importance and Merits of Four Rightly Guided Caliphs:
The first four Caliphs who ruled after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are known as the “Khulfa Rashidun” (Righly Guided Successors)[78], they ruled as per following sequence:
1. Abu Bakr (632–634 CE).
2. Umar ibn al-Khattab, (634–644 CE).
3. Uthman ibn Affan (644–656 CE).
4. Ali ibn Abi Talib (656–661 CE)
The “Four Rightly Guided Caliphs” enjoy a pivotal position after the Prophet (pbuh). Apart from their very close and intimate relationship with the Prophet (pbuh), they were entrusted with sacred duty to resolve any matters and disputes after the Prophet (pbuh).
Hazrat Aisha (r.a) the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and daughter of Hazrat Umar, (Hafsa bint Umar) were married to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and two of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) daughters were married to Uthman and Fatimah (r.a) to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh), specified ten of his companions who were promised paradise, the companions named in this hadith are referred to as “The Ten With Glad Tidings of Paradise” (al-`Asharaa al-Mubasharûn bi-l-Janna) it includes the names of Four Righlty Guided Caliphs (at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawood)[79]
There are Chapters and books on the merits of these pious companions, which is beyond the scope of this study, however some of it can be found at Sahih Muslim Book-44.[80] Many verses of Quran were revealed to endorse these pious closest companions of the Prophet (pbuh).
It requires volumes of books to explain the important role played by Umar bin Al Khattab and other Rightly Guided Caliphs, in preserving the Holy Scripture [81]Quran and establishing Islam as dominating faith and civilization for all times. Each and every policy and guidelines provided by them has been accepted as part of Islam, because they were personally educated, trained by the Prophet (pbuh) for the sacred tasks as evident form following:
On the authority of Abu Najeeh al-’Irbaad ibn Saariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
“ Verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafa ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth] [Abu Dawud] It was related by at Tirmidhi, who said that it was a good and sound Hadith. [40 Hadith Nawawi 28, English translation: Hadith 28][82]
Umar was the best in righteousness after the Prophets and Abu Bakr. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Follow the example of the two who come after me, Abu Bakr and Umar”.(Tirmidhi:)[83]
The Sunnah is filled with examples of the virtues of Umar ibn Al-Khattab including this profound and significant statement from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). “Among the nations who came before you some were inspired; if anyone from among my Ummah were to be inspired it would be Umar.” [84](Al-Bukhari, Muslim:)[85]
According to a narration, the Holy Prophet is re[orted to have said: “If there was a prophet after me, I would have been Umer.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Hakim)[86]
“Allah does not like in heaven that Abu Bakr should be mistaken.” (Tabrani 1/42)[87]
Shah Wali Allah writes: “Hazrat Umar (RA) used to consult and debate with the Companions (RA) until the veil was lifted and he became convinced. That is why the fatwas of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) have been followed all over the East and West.” (Hujjatullah al-Balghah)[88]
In 630 CE Prophet Muhammad decided to lead an expedition to Tabuk on the Syrian border. A great deal of livestock and equipment were needed for the expedition so Prophet Muhammad invited contributions and donations from his followers. It is said in the sunnah that Abu Bakr gave all his wealth to finance this battle. When Prophet Mohammad asked him how much he had donated Abu Bakr said, “I have brought all that I had. I have left Allah and His Prophet for myself and my family”. (Abu Dawood)[89]
The two friends Abu Bakr and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw each other every day and every day their friendship grew. Abu Bakr felt it was his duty to protect Prophet Muhammad. One day whilst praying in the Kabah, Prophet Muhammad was attacked. An altercation that started as taunting quickly escalated into a physical abuse. When Abu Bakr was informed he ran to the Kabah and pushed himself into the middle of the fight shouting, “Would you kill a man for saying that Allah is his Lord”.( Saheeh Al-Bukhari)[90] The Meccans were momentarily stunned but then fell upon Abu Bakr beating him so badly that the blood flowed freely and matted his hair. Although beaten until he lost consciousness the sunnah informs us that Abu Bakr’s first words when waking were to inquire urgently about the condition of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Quran Preservation:
Caliph Abu-Bakr (Allah may be pleased with him),the first Caliph, on persuasion of Omar, agreed to collect and arrange the Quran and kept safe. He is reported to have compiled a work, in which there were 500 traditions of the Prophet, and handed it over to his daughter ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The next morning, he took it back from her and destroyed it, saying: “I wrote what I understood; it is possible however that there should be certain things in it which did not correspond textually with what the Prophet had said.”[91].
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) as heard by Abdullah bin Yassar that, he heard delivering him a sermon, Ali said that whoever had any writing other than the Qur’an, must return home and delete it, because the previous nations went astray when they abandoned the book of Lord and indulged in the debates of their scholars.[92]
Caliph Omar (may Allah be pleased with them) who enjoyed very special status[93], being a close associate of the Prophet (pbuh), as 2nd Caliph, after thorough deliberations, decided not to have any other book besides book of Allah, the Holy Quran[94], because the previous communities (Jews and Christians) went astray by ignoring the book[95] of Allah and by indulging in unnecessary issues and debates.[96],[97] Moreover they were commanded not to add anything or delete from the Scripture (Torah) which they violated.[98]
As to Umar (Allah may be pleased with him), we learn on the authority of Ma’mar ibn Rashid, that during his caliphate, Umar once consulted the companions of the Prophet on the subject of codifying the Hadith[99]. Everybody seconded the idea. Yet Umar continued to hesitate and pray to God for a whole month for guidance and enlightenment. Ultimately, he decided not to undertake the task, and said: “Former peoples neglected the Divine Books and concentrated only on the conduct of the prophets; I do not want to set up the possibility of confusion between the Divine Qur’an and the Prophet’s Hadith [Dr. Mohammad Hamidullah][100]
Another narration: “Umar ibn al-Khattab once tried to deal with the problem of committing the Hadith to writing. The companions of the Prophet whom he consulted, encouraged him, but he was not quite sure whether he should proceed. One day, moved by God’s inspiration, he made up his mind and announced: “I wanted to have the traditions of the Prophet (Hadith) written down, but I fear that the Book of God might be encroached upon. Hence I shall not permit this to happen.” He, therefore, changed his mind and instructed the Muslims throughout the provinces: “Whoever has a document bearing a prophetic tradition, shall destroy it.” The Hadith, therefore, continued to be transmitted orally and was not collected and written down until the period of al-Mamun.” (169-217 Hijrah) [Muhammad Husayn Haykal][101]
Umar ibn al-Khattab, (634–644 CE)
The second Caliph, Omar was particularly strict in this regard. His constant dictum to the people was ‘hasbuna kitabullah’ (‘The Quran is sufficient for us’).
According to a hadith:
“When Muhammad was sick on his death bed, he asked his companions to bring him pen and paper so that he could write them something for their salvation. When one of his companions rushed out to bring pen and paper, he was stopped by Omar ibn Khattab. Reportedly, Omar told him: “The Prophet has a high fever; he does not know what he is saying. God’s book is sufficient for us!” Everyone in the room accepted what Omar said.” (Bukhari: Jihad 176, Jizya 6, Ilm 49, Marza 17, Magazi 83, Itisam 2; Muslim: Vasiyya 20-22; Ibn Hanbal 1/222, 324, 336, 355)
Omar was quoted as stating that initially he had desired to write down a collection of the Prophet’s sayings, but refrained for fear of the Muslims choosing to abandon the teachings of the Quran in favor of the Hadith:
“I wanted to write the Sun’an, and I remembered the people who were before you, they wrote other books to follow and abandoned the book of God. And I will never, I swear, replace God’s book with anything.” (Jama ul Biyaan)
During Omar’s rule there was a considerable increase in the number of hadiths. He ordered all the pages on which were written the hadiths that were in the hands of the public to be brought to him and then the entire collection to be burnt. He also sent letters to the Prophet’s companions living in other cities, asking them to destroy all the copies of hadiths in their hands.
He said to a team of Qarza bin Ka’ab who were ready for a journey to Iraq:
“You are going to a country where people recite the Quran so much that the voice of the Quran echoes there like busy bees; so do not divert them from the Quran and from their true path by narrating hadiths. Qarza says, after that day, they did not remember narrating any hadith again.” (Jama ul Biyaan)
Omar was infuriated by hadith narrators like Qa’ab and Abu Hurayra, and drew a parallel between the hadiths and the Mishnah that had corrupted Judaism, saying:
“These are like the Mishnah of the Jewish people.”
Omar was so categorical against transmission of hadith that when he saw Abi bin Qa’ab narrating hadiths, he went after him with his big cane (Tazkiratul-Huffaz).
Then Abu Huraira the most prominent hadith narrator was recorded as having admitted himself his trouble with Omar:
“Abu Hurayra said: We could not utter ‘God’s Messenger spoke thus’, before Omar died.” (Muslim)
“Abu Hurayra said: If I transmitted these hadiths during the lifetime of Omar, he would surely strike me.” (Zahabi, Tazkiratul-Huffaz)
Here are a few other references:
“Omar said: Remember those that went before you, they had books written and abandoned God’s Book. I shall not allow anyone to compare any book with the Quran.”
“Omar said: By God, I shall not let any book cast a shadow on the Quran.”
In matters of hadith Omar had no reservations at all, even for the companions of the Prophet. He reprimanded Abdullah bin Masood, Abu Durda and Abu Zahry for narrating hadiths and kept all three of them under house arrest in Medina as long as he lived.
“Shay’bee said: I remained in the company of Omar for full one year, but never heard any hadith from him.”
Uumar Ibn Al-khattab ( 5 8 6 – 644) By Michael Hart
Historian Michael H Hart in his famous book include Umar[102] as 52nd most influential men in history; above Ashoka (53), St Augustine (54), Thomas Jefferson (64), Julius Caesar (67), Voltaire (74), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (78), Mani (83), Cyrus the Great (87), Mao Zedong (89), Francis Bacon (90), Zoroaster (93), Charlemagne (97) & Mahavira (100).[103]
Umar’s achievements are impressive indeed.
1. After Muhammad himself, he was the principal figure in the spread of Islam.
2. Without his rapid conquests, it is doubtful that Islam would be nearly as widespread today as it actually is.
3. Furthermore, most of the territory conquered during his reign has remained Arab ever since. Obviously, of course, Muhammad, who was the prime mover, should receive the bulk of the credit for those developments. But it would be a grave mistake to ignore ‘Umar’s contribution.
4. The conquests Umar made were not an automatic consequence of the inspiration provided by Muhammad. Some expansion was probably bound to occur, but not to the enormous extent that it did under Umar’s brilliant leadership.
5. It may occasion some surprise that Umar, a figure virtually unknown in the West has been ranked higher than such famous men as Charlemagne and Julius Caesar. However, the conquests made by the Arabs under Umar, taking into account both their size and their duration, are substantial.
The views of historian Michael Hart conforms to the great responsibilities entrusted to him by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Four Rightly Guided Caliphs & Hadith Writing:
It is sufficiently established from above that the policies and guidelines provided by “Four Rightly Guided Caliphs”, the closest companions of Prohpet Muhammad (pbuh) are of great importance after Quran and Sunnah (practices) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who is reported to have said:
“Acting upon my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my Khulaafa-i-Rashideen is obligatory for you.” (Ibni Maajah, Ch 6)
No one has any authority or justification to overlook or bypass them, especially their consensus; “No” to Hadith writing, which is a historic reality. Ibn Hajr Al Asqelani in his book “Hadith Writing History: Nakhbat-ul-fikr” has dilated upon it.[104] However some narrations further augment the point:[105]
1. Caliph Abu-Bakr (Allah may be pleased with him),the first Caliph, on persuasion of Omar, agreed to collect and arrange the Quran and kept safe. He is reported to have compiled a work, in which there were 500 traditions of the Prophet, and handed it over to his daughter ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The next morning, he took it back from her and destroyed it, saying: “I wrote what I understood; it is possible however that there should be certain things in it which did not correspond textually with what the Prophet had said.”
2. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) as heard by Abdullah bin Yassar that, he heard delivering him a sermon, Ali said that whoever had any writing other than the Qur’an, must return home and delete it, because the previous nations went astray when they abandoned the book of Lord and indulged in the debates of their scholars.
3. Caliph Omar (may Allah be pleased with them) who enjoyed very special status, being a close associate of the Prophet (pbuh), as 2nd Caliph, after thorough deliberations, decided not to have any other book besides book of Allah, the Holy Quran, because the previous communities (Jews and Christians) went astray by ignoring the book of Allah and by indulging in unnecessary issues and debates. Moreover they were commanded not to add anything or delete from the Scripture (Torah) which they violated.[106]
4. As to Umar (Allah may be pleased with him), we learn on the authority of Ma’mar ibn Rashid, that during his caliphate, Umar once consulted the companions of the Prophet on the subject of codifying the Hadith. Everybody seconded the idea. Yet Umar continued to hesitate and pray to God for a whole month for guidance and enlightenment. Ultimately, he decided not to undertake the task, and said: “Former peoples neglected the Divine Books and concentrated only on the conduct of the prophets; I do not want to set up the possibility of confusion between the Divine Qur’an and the Prophet’s Hadith [Dr. Mohammad Hamidullah]
5. Another narration: “Umar ibn al-Khattab once tried to deal with the problem of committing the Hadith to writing. The companions of the Prophet whom he consulted, encouraged him, but he was not quite sure whether he should proceed. One day, moved by God’s inspiration, he made up his mind and announced: “I wanted to have the traditions of the Prophet (Hadith) written down, but I fear that the Book of God might be encroached upon. Hence I shall not permit this to happen.” He, therefore, changed his mind and instructed the Muslims throughout the provinces: “Whoever has a document bearing a prophetic tradition, shall destroy it.” The Hadith, therefore, continued to be transmitted orally and was not collected and written down until the period of al-Mamun.” (169-217 Hijrah) [Muhammad Husayn Haykal]
Central Argument: Hadiths as Distraction to Quran
The idea that the Hadith will distract people from the Qur’an is central to the arguments against the Hadith that we will see later in Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi’s Taqyid al-Ilm, and in the modern arguments.
The increasing detail and elaboration that are evident in the stories reported about Umar from Abd al-Razzaq’s Musannaf and Ibn Sad’s Tabaqat in the early and mid-third century AH, to al-Baghdadi’s Taqyid al-Ilm in the mid-fifth century AH suggests that as the Hadith gained greater authority and attention, those who opposed that authority developed and refined their own arguments.
Umar also figures prominently in a story found in the canonical collections of the Hadith. That story relates an incident that took place during the Prophet Muhammad’s final illness. Several versions are recorded in the Samims of al-Bukhari and Muslim, as well as in the Musnad of Ammad. In each version the central details of the story are the same:
During Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) final illness, he requests writing materials so that he can write something for the people to ensure that they will not go astray. Seeing that fever had overcome the Prophet, Umar is quoted as saying:
“They have the Qur’an, and the Book of God is enough for us.”
These stories reinforce the idea that the Qur’an is enough to keep the people from going astray. [It is sufficient to negate the later presumption by Shafii, that; Hadith is Revelation equal to Quran].
Furthermore, they move Umar’s reported opposition to a written source other than the Qur’an even from the hand of the Prophet (pbuh) himself back to the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh).
Attributing the Prophet’s desire to write something (presumably other than the Qur’an) that would keep people from going astray to his being overcome by fever implies that if he had been in control of his faculties, he would not have wanted to do this. As with the stories reported by Ibn Sad, it can be argued that these stories represent Umar’s personal opinion, particularly since they also state that there was strong disagreement among the companions who were present at the time. However, here too, even if this is understood as Umar’s personal opinion, the primary concern attributed to him is clear. He feels so strongly that the Qur’an is sufficient as an authoritative source of guidance that he refuses the Prophet’s request for writing materials, reminding the Prophet (pbuh) that the people have the Qur’an and that it is enough.
Probing the stories of Umar’s response to the Prophet’s request, Kern says:
With Umar’s declaration that the Book of God was “sufficient,” however, not only was Muhammad’s importance for interpreting the revelation lessened, but the notion of his superiority in religious matters was also set aside henceforth, according to Umar’s interpretation, the Book of God in itself would be entirely adequate.
Umar’s declaration that the Book of God was sufficient changed the conception of what the revelation was, however, just as much as it altered the conception of the Prophet’s role. The change to which Kern is referring is a shift from “on-going, unpredictable, situation-specific revelation” to “a totality of eternally perfect revelation, or more precisely, the Revelation.” Once again, Kern’s assessment helps to make clear why Umar is the ideal figure to find at the center of the disputes over the authority of the Hadith. The nature of revelation and the role of the Prophet are at the heart of those disputes.
Imam Shafii’s Error – No Response to Umar Decision
However, stories of Umar’s objection to transmitting and writing down the Hadith, and the ideas that transmission of Hadith would distract people from the Qur’an and that written Hadith would cause people to abandon the Qur’an are noticeably absent in al-Shafii’s discussions with his archetypal opponents of Prophetic reports.
[P.S. It is enough to negate the later presumption by Imam Shafii, that; Hadith is Revelation equal to Quran].
Khatib al-Baghdadi, writing more than two-and-a-half centuries after al-Shafii cites the fear that Hadith would come to be a book other than the Book of God, as the primary basis for the opposition to recording the Hadith in writing. As discussed earlier, most often the protagonist who is credited with leading such opposition is Umar ibn al-Khattab.
The absence of any mention by (Imam) al-Shafii of the Umar stories is significant.
The Musannaf of Abd al-Razzaq shows that similar stories were in circulation during al-Shafii’s lifetime, and Ibn Sad’s Tabaqat shows that the stories were reasonably well-developed not long after al-Shafii’s death.
1. Did al-Shafii not address them because they would have weakened his case for the authority of the Hadith as a source of divinely inspired guidance?
2. Or did the opponents of the Hadith incorporate them into their arguments only after the successful articulation of the concept of duality of revelation?
3. A definitive answer to this question cannot be given based on available evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence does suggest that the opposition to the Hadith evolved in response to the increasing authority and status that they were being granted by many Muslims. [against policy of Umar and Rightly Guided Caliphs]
However, they took on a new direction after the appearance of the major Hadith collections in the middle of the third century after the Hijra. This direction is seen in the works of Ibn Qutayba and later authors who accepted and built upon the arguments of al-Shafi.
From the time of Ibn Qutayba onward through the time of al-Baghdadi, we see the opponents of the Hadith using the Hadith themselves as weapons either through criticism of problematic content, or as objections to Hadith attributed to Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions.
Ibn Qutayba
Ibn Qutayba and the Hadith After al-Shafii the next champion of the Hadith whose work has reached us is Abu Muhammad Abd Allah ibn Muslim Ibn Qutayba (d. 276 AH).[107]
This idea led Ibn Qutayba to accept and defend whatever might be attributed to the Prophet, even if the content seemed contradictory or irrational.
Whereas al-Shafii argued issues of doctrine, Ibn Qutayba argued issues of content.
Instead, they challenged those Hadith
1. Whose content contradicted other Hadith, or
2. Contradicted the Qur’an, or
3. Whose content was irrational and made the religion an object of ridicule.
A thorough examination of texts ranging from works of Imam al-Shafii, Ibn Sad, Ibn Qutayba, and the Hadith collections in the third/ninth century to Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi’s Taqyid al-Ilm in the fifth/eleventh century clearly demonstrates that the primary reason for objections to the transmission and recording of the Hadith was concern about the writing down of materials that might be vested with sacred authority and rival the Qur’an as an authoritative source of religious law and guidance; at the same time, the stories of approval and permission, together with the common existence of books since at least the second and third century AH, indicate that the reported disapproval was an objection to the practice of writing itself oral transmission was permitted, the practice followed till beginning/middle of 2nd century.
[108]This was due to the decision of Umar, also consented by other Rightly Guided Caliphs, also honoured and implemented by majority Companions till they passed away after the first century Hijra, when Hadith writing started.[109]
Although reports that contain a prohibition of writing together with permission to transmit Hadith orally do suggest a distinction between oral and written narrations that could be considered similar to the Rabbanite concept of the Written and Oral Laws, the arguments of al-Shafii that were introduced in support of the duality of divine revelation contain no suggestion that the distinction between the two types is a matter of one being written and the other oral, nor do the concerns he and Ibn Qutayba attribute to the opponents of the Hadith suggest this.
The specific terminology used in the reports of disapproval and prohibition, together with references to previous communities that followed a book or books along with the Book of God leave no doubt that this is the overriding concern fueling the opposition to the disapproval or prohibition of writing the Hadith, which is attributed to the Prophet and some of his most prominent companions.
The success of the doctrine of duality of revelation in overcoming the objections to Hadith as an authoritative source of religious law and guidance in mainstream Islam further confirms the view that the objection to Hadith was about using something other than divine revelation as an authoritative source of religious law and guidance. [Another book/ books with Divine book like Jews and Christians].
So strange that the four closest companions of the Prophet (pbuh) were unaware of “Duality of Revelations” instead of preserving it, they opposed its writing. Who would know it after 150 years?
Imam Shafii extracted his desired meanings through distortion and deductions, of 2:62[110], Hikmah (Wisdom, as Sunnah, thus Divine Revelation, 33:34, 59:7 checkout 8:41) in clear violation of Quran 3:7[111], to use clear commands, the essence (mother) of Book:
It is He who sent down upon thee the Book, wherein are verses clear that are the Essence of the Book, and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is swerving, they follow the ambiguous part, desiring dissension, and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God. And those firmly rooted in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it; all is from our Lord’; yet none remembers, but men possessed of minds.” (Quran 3:7, Arberry translation)
Singularity of Revelations is clear, the Concocted Doctrine of Duality of Revelations is a fundamental issue, which cannot be established through distorted interpretation of ambitious words with multiple meanings.[112]
Imam Shafi’i ignored Umer’s ban on Hadith writing, as if Umer was unaware of the duality of Revelations like Abu Bakr Suddique, Usman and Ali (Allah may be pleased with them), who did not make arrangements for preservation of Hadiths rather opposed it following Quran (6:19, 38, & 114-116, 39:23, 45:6, 77:50 , 7:185) and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who is reported to have said: Do not take down anything from me, and he who took down anything from me except the Qur’an, he should efface that and narrate from me, for there is no harm in it and he who attributed any falsehood to me and Hammam said: I think he also said: “deliberately” he should in fact find his abode in the Hell-Fire. [Sahih Muslim Book 042, Hadith Number 7147][113]; “Do not write anything I say but the Quran and whoever writes anything but the Quran should delete it.” [Musnad Ahmad: 10713, 10715, 10781,10966, 11160]
Hence according to Quran, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Four Rightly Guided Caliphs and companions; there is no place for any other Book or Scripture except Quran. The books written in the 2nd and 3rd century Hijrah disregard the Quran, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Four Rightly Guided Caliphs and companions. There is a need to rectify this error through consensus, debate and discussions.
Important Points:
It must be kept in view that:
1. The Quran does not permit to believe in any book /Hadith except the Quran.
2. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), prohibited writing of his speech (Hadith). If someone wrote, it was for memorization and then deleted.
3. The Prophet (pbuh) left written Quran (unbounded) also memorized by companions.
4. The Holy Quran was thoroughly rechecked by a special committee and eye witnesses, bound in the form of Book under special arrangements by the first two Caliphs and distributed by 3rd Caliph.
5. The issue of Hadith collection did not arise with the first caliph, it was considered by 2nd Caliph and rejected to avoid any book besides Quran, which is complete, detailed and comprehensive (moreover the policy enunciated by Quran and Messenger must also have been kept in view). The previous communities went astray by neglecting and mixing up the Book of God with other books.
6. The decision of the 2nd Caliph Umer (R).A) was also endorsed by other Rightly Guided Caliphs (who were commanded by the Prophet (pbuh) to be followed by the Muslims). This policy/ practice remained in force till the second century Hijra when all Companions had passed away.
7. The Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet (pbuh) being of practical nature (offering prayer etc), continues to be practiced/ followed by Muslims and passed on from generation to generation. It is not dependent upon Hadith books or writings and is fully secure.
8. The famous Hadith books compiled/ written in the 3rd century Hijrah apart from benefits have been used to reinvent religion, sects (with distortion due to difference in transmission, understanding and interpretations) as if nothing existed during the first two centuries. Quran and Sunnah through historic continuity always existed without any break). Islam, was declared as the “Perfected Deen”, on 10 th of Dul-Hajj, 10 Hijrah.(Quran;5:3).
9. Muslims deviated from the right path, once they practically abandoned the Quran. While following their selfish desires adopted the path and practice of Jewish and Christian to create more books to undermine the Book of God despite clear warning by Allah, that: “They have taken their rabbis and their monks as lords apart from God”(9:31)
Importance of Quran :
1. Those who deny the revelations, will suffer a dreadful doom. (Quran;45:11)
2. Woe unto every fabricating impostor, the one who hears GOD’s revelations but ignores arrogantly, Grievous punishment awaits (Quran;45:7-8)
3. Those who dispute Ayas have turned away from the right path (Quran;40:69)
4. Who disbelieved in Quran, are doomed (Quran;90:19)
5. And none but the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers) deny Ayat (Quran;29:49)
6. And be not like those who said, We hear, and they did not obey (Quran;8:21)
7. The Messenger will say, “Lord, my people did indeed discard the Quran,” (25:30)
8. Do not mix truth with falsehood, or hide the truth when you know it. (2:42)
9. Who, then, is more unjust than he who lies about God and rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is not Hell an abode for those who deny the truth? (39:32)
10. They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.(9:31)
11. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (4:14)[114]
12. And do not be like those who say, “We have heard,” while they do not hear. (8:21)
13. Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.(8:22)[115]
Delusion of Ahlul Quran and Ahle Hadith
Ahle Quran (Quranism (al-Qur’āniyya, also “Quranic scripturalism”) comprises views that Islamic law and guidance should only be based on the Qur’an, thus opposing the religious authority, reliability, and /or authenticity of Hadith literature. Quranists believe that God’s message in the Quran is clear and complete as it is, and that it can therefore be fully understood without referencing the Hadith.
In matters of faith, jurisprudence, and legislation, Quranists differ from ahl al-Hadith, which today part of the Sunnis, and to some limited extent, the Ibadis and Shias, and which first emerged during the 2nd/3rd Islamic centuries of the Islamic era (late 8th and 9th century CE) as a movement of Hadith scholars who considered the Quran and Hadith to be the only legislative authority in matters of law and creed. It is a minority viewpoint in Islam. Quranism is similar to movements in Abrahamic religions such as the Karaite movement in Judaism and the Sola scriptura view of Protestant Christianity.
Karaism, Karaitism or Qaraism, (from Hebrew qara, “to read”), a Jewish religious movement that repudiated oral tradition as a source of divine law and defended the Hebrew Bible as the sole authentic font of religious doctrine and practice. In dismissing the Talmud as man-made law substituted for the God-given Torah, Karaism set itself in direct opposition to Rabbinic Judaism.
Ahle Hadith[116] is another sect/ group who place special emphasis on Hadith. According to them, Khabar Ahaad is an argument in beliefs, rules and issues, while following (i.e. obeying) the Hadith is equal to following the verses of the Qur’an.
Generally the Ahle Quran and Hadith fail to distinguish between Sunnah and Hadith, they treat them as synonymous hence get into delusion.
Those who reject the Sunnah and claim to believe only in the Quran it is hard to understand their logic, since, as the Quran is proved by the verbal adherence of the Ummah, likewise the Sunnah is proved by the practical adherence of the Ummah. If these people reject the Sunnah, there is no justification to accept the Quran which commands the believers to obey the messenger and take him as a role model. There is hardly any difference in the credentials of either.
On the other hand, the “Ahlul-Hadeeth” ignore the fact that the Qur’an, the Messenger of God, the Rightly Guided Caliphs forbade the writing of hadiths.[117] while Quran commanded obedience to the Prophet and his practices (uswa-e-hasnah/ sunnah) as role model, Quran;33:21)
Quran does not want anyone to believe in any other book or Hadith, except Quran, which is called the best Hadith (discourse, scripture), here are some verses:
1. Quran is a perfect, complete and fully detailed divine revelation (6:19,38, &114-116).
2. “Allah has sent down the best Hadith (ahsana alhadeethi kitaban) a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray – for him there is no guide.”[ Quran 39:23]
3. “These are the verses of Allah (Quran) which We recite to you in truth. Then in what Hadith after Allah and His verses will they believe?” [Quran; 45:6)
4. “Then in what Hadith after the Qur’an will they believe? [Quran; 77:50 , 7:185]
5. “Then in what Hadith after the Qur’an will they believe? [Quran; 7:185]
Here is the Trial[118] of believers (Quran:29:2-7) “Should I seek a judge other than God, when it is He who has revealed the Book, clearly explained. Those to whom We gave the Book earlier know that it is the truth revealed by your Lord. Therefore, have no doubts. The Word of your Lord is perfected in truth and justice. None can change His words. He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. If you obey the majority of those on earth, they will lead you astray from God’s way. They follow nothing but conjecture. They are only guessing. (Quran 6:114-116) [119]
Quran also does not approve of any name except “Muslim” for the believers endorsed 44 times[120] and rejects sectarianism:[121]
“.. Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [Quran] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. (Quran;22:78)
“Surely those who divide the religion into sects and identify themselves as a sect, O Muhammad, you have nothing to do with them. Their case will be called to account by Allah Himself, He will inform them as to what they did.”(Quran;6:159)
During his farewell sermon, the Messenger of Allah said: “I left for you what if you hold up to, you will never be misguided, the BOOK OF ALLAH.” [Muslim 15/19, 1218; Ibn Majah 25/84, Abu dawud 11/56.][122]
The command and Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs was in-line with Quran, and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which was strictly respected and followed until the end of the first century Hijrah. The famous books of Hadiths were compiled in the third century, in violation of Quran, command and Sunnah of Rightly Guided Caliphs, hence their legitimacy remains questionable.
The basis of religion is not on the selfish desires of people, but on Quran and Sunnah. What is good or less good is well known to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and special people nominated by him to make important decisions [Rightly Guided Caliphs in this case]. Obedience to Allah, His Messenger (pbuh) and people of authority (Rightly Guided Caliphs) forms the basis of Islam, respectively.
The Quran highlights this aspect:
He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away We have not sent you over them as a guardian.(Quran :4:80)
“mend their ways, hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion for Allah. (Quran 4:146)
And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (Quran 4:14)
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.(Quran 4:59)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said;
“Certainly, the one who will live among you will see lots of differences. So stick to my sunnah and the sunnah of the right-principled and rightly-guided successors. Bite onto that with your molar teeth.“[123] [124]
“Acting upon my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my Khulaafa-i-Rashideen is obligatory for you.” (Ibni Maajah, Ch 6)
There is a dire need to restore the central position of the Quran in Islam and in the lives of Muslims, in line with Quran and the Sunnah [obedience to Prophet (pbuh)], Rightly Guided Caliphs and companions, so that sectarianism, moral decay, intellectual stagnation and other issues can be tackled.
Conclusion
The Study/ Research[125] reveal following:
1. The Quran does not permit to believe in any book /Hadith except the Quran.
2. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), prohibited writing of his speech (Hadith). If someone wrote, it was for memorization and then deleted.
3. The Prophet (pbuh) left written Quran (unbounded) also memorized by companions.
4. The Holy Quran was thoroughly rechecked by a special committee and eye witnesses, bound in the form of Book under special arrangements by the first two Caliphs and distributed by 3rd Caliph.
5. The issue of Hadith collection did not arise with the first caliph, it was considered by 2nd Caliph and rejected to avoid any book besides Quran, which is complete, detailed and comprehensive (moreover the policy enunciated by Quran and Messenger must also have been kept in view). The previous communities went astray by neglecting and mixing up the Book of God with other books.
6. The decision of the 2nd Caliph Umar (RA) was also endorsed by other Rightly Guided Caliphs (who were commanded by the Prophet (pbuh) to be followed by the Muslims). This policy/ practice remained in force till the second century Hijra when all Companions had passed away.
7. The Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet (pbuh) being of practical nature (offering prayer etc), continues to be practiced/ followed by Muslims and passed on from generation to generation. It is not dependent upon Hadith books or writings and is fully secure.
8. The famous Hadith books compiled/ written in the 3rd century Hijrah apart from benefits have been misused to reinvent religion, sects (with distortion due to difference in transmission, understanding and interpretations) as if nothing existed during the first two centuries. Quran and Sunnah through historic continuity always existed without any break). Islam, was declared as the “Perfected Deen”, on 10 th of Dul-Hajj, 10 Hijrah.(Quran;5:3).
9. Muslims deviated from the right path, once they practically abandoned the Quran. While following their selfish desires adopted the path and practice of Jewish and Christian to create more books to undermine the Book of God despite clear warning by Allah, that: “They have taken their rabbis and their monks as lords apart from God[126]”(9:31)
10. Allah has named the believers as Muslims[127], at least 44 times in the Quran. All believers must abandon their sectarian titles, names, prefixes and suffixes and remain satisfied and happy with the name given by Allah.
11. Every effort should be made to restore Islam to its perfected[128], pure, pristine state, of first century Hijraj, by following Quran, Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), four Rightly Guided Caliphs and companions, anything contradicting Quran be extirpated after through scrutiny by scholars. While this process is evolutionary based upon scholarship, the status quo may not be abruptly disturbed.
12. Extensive studies and research may be conducted at official and unofficial level through composite study/research groups and teams comprising religious scholars and scholars from different fields with wide expertise. It’s too serious a matter to be left to religious people alone.
“Allah wishes to explain things to you and guide you to the ways of those who have gone before you and to turn to you in mercy. Allah is all knowing and all wise. He wishes to turn towards you in mercy, but those who follow their own passions want you to drift far away from the right path. God wishes to lighten your burdens, for, man has been created weak. (Quran 4: 26,27,28)
“Perfect are the words of thy Lord in truthfulness and justice; no man can change His words; He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.” (Quran 6:115)
Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon [their] hearts (Quran 47:24)
The Messenger will say, “Lord, my people did indeed discard the Quran,” (Quran;25:30)
