A LETTER FROM SAIMA

I am writing this letter due to a matter that has been confusing me or the past week or so. I did not know anyone who was learned enough to ask for their opinion, and so, was left with the option of writing letters to magazines and other Islamic organizations. In order to get a reasonably accurate answer which will inshallah be backed up by evidence from Quran, (if possible), I decide to write to you. I will try to represent my views and question in a factual format, so that you may understand my queries.
 

Inshallah I will begin….

Question : What are Hadith?

 Everyone puts a lot of confidence and trust into the Hadith. There are those of us who look to Hadith as well as the Quran to guide our lives. And there are also some of us who look to the Hadith alone, even though the Quran is the divine law.
 The meaning of hadith is 'utterances'. Some hadith were collected and appeared in the first century after the prophet Muhammad’s death. However these hadith were restrained in their range of facts which were recorded.
 Then just before 200 years (after Muhammad’s death) the most important collection appeared – 'Al-Bukari' and  'Muslim', which gave a much wider and trustworthy insight into the prophet’s life.
 
"Hadiths may legitimately be compared to the Gospels – they have a point in common – neither of them were compiled by an author who was an eyewitness of the events which are described. Nor did they appear until some time after the events recorded. Collections of Hadith, like the Gospels have not all been accepted as authentic.
 Only a small number of them receive the quasi – unanimous approval of specialist in Muslim Tradition, so that in the same book, one finds Hadiths presumed to be authentic side by side with those which either dubious or should be rejected outright"
(Extract taken from ‘Quran and Bible in the light of Modern Science’ – By Dr. Maurice Bucaille).
 The Hadith were written a long time after the Prophet Muhammad’s death. So then how can we believe which hadith is correct and which isn’t? What was the need for the hadith, when Allah had given us the Quran to read and follow?

 One example of where many Muslims follow the Hadith is the dress of women.
 Example – on women’s dress:
  We can take the Hadith that states – women should cover themselves completely except for their hands and face.

 However the Quran states in Surah 24 Ayat 31:
  "….Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty, that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear. Thereof they should draw their veils over their bosom and not display their beauty..."

 Here we can see quite plainly that it is not stated in the Quran that one should cover one’s hair completely. One is told to dress 'modestly' and have a 'veil', over one’s bosom; and not to display ones 'beauty'. Hence we should refrain from wearing tight clothes, as this would be displaying one’s beauty. One should have their bosoms covered with a veil or something of this nature, if the clothing is not loose. Also one should not make oneself beautiful by wearing decorative clothes, setting the hair to attract attention and wearing jewelry and make-up, in public.

 It is not said that one should cover one’s hair. All those who follow the Hadith cover their hair completely. If Allah would have wanted us to cover our hair would he have not told us directly in the Quran, so that there was no confusion in the matter?

 We are told in the Quran in, Surah 4 Ayat 17, 22, 32, 40 the following –
  "…And we have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember…" Then in Surah 16 Ayat 64, it is said –
  "…And we sent down the book to you (O Prophet) for the express purpose that you should make clear to them those thing in which they differ (about their faith) and that it should be a guide and mercy to those who believe…"

 Hence it clearly tells us of the importance of the Quran and of how clear its message is conveyed to the reader. The Quran mentions nothing of Hadith or of the schools of thought, which were formed so long afterwards.
 Allah has also said that, He will protect the Quran from corruption. Again there is no mention of Hadith. If Hadith had been so important would not have Allah have protected them from corruption also? And wouldn’t He have assured it was compiled at the same time as the Quran?

 The world survived without Hadith for almost two hundred years after Muhammad’s death, so therefore what was the need of forming the collection of Hadith? We have to remember that the compilation of the Hadith were sayings of the Prophet which had passed through generations for two hundred years, does this indicate a severe case of 'Chinese Whisper' – where each time the story is told it is changed and adulterer with? How can we take these words so seriously?

 One might say there was confusion in how the Quran was followed and interpreted, but hadn’t Allah made the Quran easy to understand in 'easy Arabic', as stated in the Quran? So then, how can we believe in Hadith and put so much faith in them?

 The argument, which is often put across, is the fact that Allah tells us in the Quran to follow his Prophet – However does this mean we should refer to a different book. There are example of the Prophet’s life, actually in the Quran, so wouldn’t Allah have meant for us to look at these and follow them?

 Some people argue that the Quran and Hadith go, 'hand in hand', surely if Allah had wanted this, He would have ensured a 'Book of Hadith' was compiled at the same time as the Quran. The Quran teaches and tells us many things such as how to do wudu’ about haram/halal food, gambling, reproduction, inheritance etc., all of which are very clear. Those that argue that we need the Hadith, say that the Quran does not tells us how to say Salat – although the Quran does mention the five daily prayers, it does not tells us the method in which we should pray – but surely if Allah intended us all to pray in one way, would He not have written it in the Quran? Surely Salat is a way of praising Allah and asking for forgiveness etc., so does it really matter about the method of prayer?

 IN CONCLUSION – even if the most authentic Hadith were supposedly correct the questions still remain – Are we as Muslims supposed to refer to a Book other than the Quran alone enough to follow? What evidence is there in the Quran, that Allah would wanted this? – And if He did, how can we believe which Hadith is correct and which isn’t? Should the Hadith therefore be looked upon as a collection of religious books or a collection of historical evidence?

 Here are my queries and arguments, as well as evidence to back up what I am saying, Inshallah I sincerely hope you will reply…(When answering my questions please state evidence to back up your answers).
 

SAIMA HABIB
YORKSHIRE
ENGLAND.
 

     It appears that you have answered many of your own questions. The subjects you have raised are adequately discussed from a Quranic perspective in previous issues of Signs magazine. Articles from Signs magazine provide stimulating discussion and are very informative.