Syed Akbar Ali
 

POINTS TO PONDER

Some Muslims say that if we read the Quran only, without referring to the hadith and sunnah, then we cannot become TRUE Submitters. If this statement is correct, it means that the Quran is not perfect. It also means that the Quran is not detailed. But what it really means is that God Almighty who created the sun, moon, stars, the earth and all the living creatures in perfect proportion and form somehow bungled the job when it came to the Quran. As the Christian bible says Cod became "tired and sleepy". Perhaps 'muslims' think that God was 'too tired' to write a complete book, therefore the hadith is necessary to "fill in the gaps" in the Quran caused by God not doing his job properly.   But what does the Quran say? What does God Almighty say to these accusations?  

S U RA 6:114 "Shall l seek other than God as a source of law, when God revealed to you this book (Quran) FULLY DETAILED? Even those who received previous scripture recognize that it came down from God, TRUTHFULL Y THEREFORE YOU SHALL NOT HAVE ANY DOUBT.

The Quran has come down to us in complete truth and complete detail. So is there anyone who still has doubts?

SURA 7:2 "This scripture is God's revelation to you; let not any doubt enter your heart. It is sent down to you, to preach therewith, and to serve as a message to the believers."

SURA 11:7 "AS for those who reject this (Quran) hell is their only destiny. You shall have no doubt about this (Quran). This (Quran) is the truth from God, but most people do not believe.

So is there anyone who still wants to have any doubts about the Quran?

S U RA 2 5:30 "The Messenger will say, "My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran."

Now, if the Messenger himself actually wanted us to follow the hadith, why would be accuse us of deserting the Quran instead? Has anyone thought about this? The answer to this puzzle is because the Messenger is not the source of the hadith. So who is the real source of the hadith?

S URA 31:6 "Some people uphold vain hadith in order to divert others from the path of God, without knowledge, and to create a mockery out of it. These people have deserved humiliating retribution."

This verse provides part of the answer. This verse condemns the hadith writers (who ever they were). Therefore the Messenger cannot be the source of the hadith, otherwise this verse condemns the Messenger also!

SURA 6:51 "You shall preach with the Quran to those who reverence the gathering before their Lord. They have none besides Him as Lord, nor do they have an intercessor . . . "

Now, we all know for sure that the Messenger obeyed God one hundred percent. Therefore when God commanded the messenger to "preach with the Quran" do you think that the Messenger went out and started teaching people hadith instead? Do you think that the Messenger said, "Look I have been given the Quran but it is not enough so I'll give you something extra - my hadith."

SURA 7:52 "We had given them a FULL Y DETAILED scripture with knowledge, guidance and a mercy for those who believe."

Is there anyone who still has doubts about the Quran? Is there anyone who still says that the Quran is not enough, that we must use the hadith?

If you still do then God has an answer for you:
 

SURA 6:26 "And they divert others from the Quran, as they themselves stay away from it. Thus they only destroy themselves without understanding."

Is the hadith a scripture from God? If your answer is yes then how come the hadith has never been included as part of the articles of faith? The hadith is not from God. Only the Quran is from God. The hadith is full of confusion and contradictions.

For example the hadith has given birth to the religious sects like Hanafi, Shafie, Shia, Wahhabi etc. etc.. The hadith says that all these different confusing and contradicting religions are part of Islam. In other words the hadith accuses God of being responsible for all the sects. What does God say in the Quran?

SURA 30:32 "Do not be with those who divided their religion into sects, each party satisfied with what they have. "

SURA 6:1 59 "Those who divide their religion into sects do not belong with you (O Muhammad). Their judgement rests with God, and He will inform them of everything they did."

Therefore if you insist on following your sect (based on your man made hadith) then in due time God will put His judgement on your head and inform you of exactly what you have done!

SURA 39:29 "God cites the example of a man with partners who contradict one another (hadith?) And a man who relies on one consistent source (Quran?). Are they the same? Praise is to God, the majorities do not know. "

There is so much confusion. Another simple example is the 'tarwih' prayers held after fasting. Some hadith says it is 8 units of prayer while some hadith says it is 20 units. The hadith Bukhari itself says that the Prophet prayed tarawih only three times in his whole life (Mishkat Vol. III Page 423) the same hadith also says that the tarawih prayers should be prayed at home and not in the mosque. So which hadith is right?

But what does the Quran say about the tarawih? The Quran does not say anything at all. Perhaps that is why the Prophet only prayed tarawih three times in his life and encouraged people to pray tarawih at home. So why the argument about the tarawih?

The answer is because:

SURA 2:21 3 "...Ironically it is those who received the scripture and the knowledge who disputed among themselves, out of sheer jealousy for one another... "

SURA 21:1 0 "We send down to you this book, containing your message. Do you not understand?

SURA 23:63 "But their hearts are in ignorance of this Quran, and they remain preoccupied with lesser works. "

SURA 38:29 "We have revealed to you this blessed scripture for them to study it carefully, and for those who possess intelligence to take heed. "

So, the Quran contains OUR message, but do we understand? We are preoccupied with lesser works, like the hadith other books. The Quran is a blessed scripture whereas the hadith cannot even be accepted as part of the articles of faith.

The Quran is a message for all the people. The hadith IS NOT a message for all the people. This is a very easy point to prove. The Hanafis reject some hadith. That is why they are called Hanafis. Similarly the Shafies also reject other hadith. That is why they in turn are called the Shafies. All the sects do not follow all the hadith all at the same time. Therefore the point is proven. The hadith is not a message for all the people. Therefore can such a message (hadith) be from God or even from God's very own Messenger? Definitely not.

Many people born and bred into hadith and sunnah. Therefore, some who read this will be upset. It is your right. But you are only asked to read the Quran carefully. Nothing more. It has been shown that the proofs are in the Quran, which everyone agrees with. Which other book is there which every Muslim accepts?

SURA 21: 24 "Have they found gods besides the One God? Say, "Show us your proofs. This Quran is my proof it encompasses the present and the past. " lndeed most of them fail to recognize the TRUTH (Quran) that is why they turn away."

If there are no religious sects and hadith then what do we do? Do not panic. All the answers are in the Quran. Just read it, in English, Arabic, French or any language at all. We read newspapers, magazines, books etc. Can we not read a single page of the Quran once a day? Does anyone feel that we cannot understand the Quran? What does God say:

"We have made the Quran easy to remember, is there anyone who wishes to learn?

This verse is repeated exactly, word for word FOUR times in the Quran SURA 54: 1 7, 22, 32 and 40.

Have we got the message yet?