Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
Denial of Hadith is Essentially Denial of the Quran
The deniers of Hadith are essentially deniers of the Quran. Regarding their lack of understanding and knowledge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"They will read the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will exit the religion as an arrow exits through the game."
[Sahih Bukhari: 6931]
This Hadith is clear evidence of the lack of understanding and knowledge among the Khawarij (deniers of Hadith and others), as they disrespect the Quran and Hadith and accuse Muslims of disbelief.
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes:
"Many non-scholars have rejected authentic Ahadith and attacked the reliable Imams of Hadith, indicating their lack of understanding. Therefore, Karmani (commentator of Bukhari) said there is no need to accuse reliable narrators of mistakes."
[Fath al-Bari: 13/401]
The deniers of Hadith have abandoned following the Quran and Hadith and started worshipping their flawed reasoning and desires. According to their false assumption, Hadith is not a Shariah evidence, and they consider Hadith to be against the Quran. While the Quran is revelation, Hadith is also revelation. Truth cannot contradict truth. Why would one truth need to be presented to another? A Muslim should accept whatever is given by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the form of the Quran and Hadith wholeheartedly and believe in it.
◈ Imam Zuhri said:
"It is upon Allah to explain, upon the Messenger to convey, and upon us to submit."
[Al-Zuhri by Ibn Abi Asim: 71, Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 3/369, Aqidat al-Salaf by Abu Ismail al-Sabuni, and the wording is his, Taghliq al-Ta'liq by Ibn Hajar: 5/365, and its chain is authentic]
This is the way of the believers, while the misguided and unjust try to create a conflict between the Quran and Hadith, resulting in losing their faith. There is no conflict between the Quran and Hadith; any apparent conflict is superficial. True believers remove this apparent conflict with the light of faith and knowledge, while the opponents, due to their lack of understanding, drown in the darkness of misguidance.
◈ Hafiz Khattabi writes:
"One should beware of opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which is not mentioned in the Quran. The Khawarij and the Rafidah adhered to the apparent meaning of the Quran and abandoned the Sunnah that explained the Quran, resulting in their misguidance."
[Ma'alim al-Sunan: 4/298]
◈ Baqiyya bin Walid (reliable according to the majority) said that Imam Awza'i told him:
"Whenever you narrate a Hadith to a heretic contrary to his innovation, he will despise the Hadith."
[Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith by al-Khatib: 150, Al-Hujjah by Abu al-Qasim al-Asbahani: 1/207, and its chain is authentic]
◈ Imam Ajurri said:
"The people of knowledge and wisdom should, when they hear someone saying 'the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said' in something well established among scholars, and an ignorant person opposes saying, 'I only accept what is in the Book of Allah,' tell him: 'You are an evil person and one whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the scholars warned us against.'"
[Al-Shari'ah: 49]
◈ Imam Shafi'i said:
"The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) does not contradict the Book of Allah in any way."
[Al-Risalah by Shafi'i: 546]
◈ Researcher Shatibi writes:
"There are two types of conflict: one in reality and the other in the opinion of the jurist. True conflict in reality is absolutely impossible."
[Al-Muwafaqat: 4/294]
Those who say that Hadith should be presented to the Quran and accepted if it conforms and rejected if it contradicts it, we ask them: what if one verse of the Quran contradicts another? Which verse will you accept and which will you reject? Whatever their answer, it will be our answer regarding the conflict between the Quran and Hadith.
❀ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"I do not want to find any of you reclining on his couch, receiving an order from me, either forbidding or enjoining, and saying: 'We do not know; we will follow what we find in the Book of Allah.'"
[Abu Dawood: 4605, Tirmidhi: 2663, Ibn Majah: 13, Musnad al-Humaydi: 551, Dala'il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi: 6/549, and its chain is authentic]
Imam Tirmidhi said this Hadith is "Hasan Sahih," and Imam Ibn Hibban and Imam Hakim also graded it as "Sahih." Hafiz Dhahabi agreed with them, and Hafiz Baghawi also considered it "Hasan."
[Sharh al-Sunnah: 1/201]
◈ Hafiz Baghawi wrote under this Hadith:
"This Hadith indicates that there is no need to present Hadith to the Quran. Once it is established as authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), it is a proof in itself."
[Sharh al-Sunnah: 1/201-202]
Examples of Apparent Conflict between the Quran and Hadith
❀ It is an established Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Indeed, you will soon see your Lord as you see this moon, and you will have no difficulty in seeing Him."
[Sahih Bukhari: 7434, Muslim: 633]
The Quran states that when Musa (peace be upon him) requested to see Allah, Allah said:
"(O Musa!) You cannot see Me."
[Al-A'raf: 143]
The Hadith confirms the vision of Allah, while the Quran negates it. The deniers of Hadith respond to this apparent conflict by claiming that this Hadith is not "Sahih," and even if it is accepted as authentic, it means "knowledge" rather than the vision of Allah. They cite the following verse as evidence:
"Do you not see that Allah is praised by all those in the heavens and the earth?"
[An-Nur: 41]
The response to this conflict is that the Hadith is Mutawatir, and there is no doubt about its authenticity. The Quran negates the vision of Allah in this world, while the Hadith confirms it in the Hereafter. No eye can see Allah in this world, but in the Hereafter, the believers will see Him. Hence, the conflict is resolved. Here, interpreting "vision" as "knowledge" is against the agreed understanding and statements of the Quran, Hadith, Companions, and the righteous predecessors.
Allah says:
"Faces that Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord."
[Al-Qiyamah: 22-23]
The vision is attributed to faces, which are the site of the eyes. The preposition "to" indicates that this vision will be visual, not intellectual. This will be a great favor from Allah to the people of Paradise, while the deniers will be deprived of it.
Their false interpretation is refuted by the same Hadith. When the Companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection, he said:
"Do you find any difficulty in seeing the sun at noon when there are no clouds? And do you find any difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night when there are no clouds?" They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah!" He said, "Likewise, you will have no difficulty in seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection."
[Sahih Muslim: 183]
◈ Imam Ibn Qutaybah writes:
"If seeing Allah in any state were impossible, it would imply that Musa (peace be upon him) was unaware of an attribute of Allah that others knew."
[Ta'wil Mukhtalif al-Hadith: 207]
The deniers' self-made principle of presenting Hadith to the Quran is false. Remember, no authentic Hadith contradicts the Quran. There can be apparent conflict, but not real conflict. Present a Sahih, Marfu', and connected Hadith that contradicts the Quran, and with Allah's help, we will resolve the conflict. If the apparent conflict within the Quran can be resolved, why can't the apparent conflict between the Quran and Hadith be resolved? If not, it is due to a lack of understanding.
The deniers of Hadith are afflicted with this disease. Satan implants falsehood in them, corrupting their minds. Their hearts are filled with doubts and whispers, and their arguments, which are actually suspicions, have been proven false. They are the subjects of Allah's words:
"And whoever is humiliated by Allah, there is none who can honor him. Indeed, Allah does what He wills."
[Al-Hajj: 18]
He also says:
"These are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He made them deaf and blinded their vision."
[Muhammad: 23]
They cannot hear, see, or understand the truth of Hadith.
◈ Qawam al-Sunnah Imam Abu al-Qasim Isma'il bin Muhammad al-Asbahani wrote beautifully:
"The statement that the Sunnah should be presented to the Quran, and if it conforms, we accept it; otherwise, we take the apparent meaning of the Quran and leave the Hadith, is pure ignorance. This is because the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) along with the Book of Allah stands as the explanation from Allah. None of the Sunnah contradicts the Book of Allah, for Allah has informed His creation that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) guides to the straight path, saying:
'And indeed, you guide to a straight path.' [Ash-Shura: 53]. We have no option but to follow and submit to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). It should not be presented to analogy or anything else. All human statements are subject to the Sunnah. No one has an excuse to deliberately leave the Sunnah and turn to something else, for there is no argument against a statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when it is authentic."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/325-326]
◈ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said:
"Whoever rejects the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is on the brink of destruction."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 1/207, Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi: 182, and its chain is good]
◈ Qawam al-Sunnah Abu Isma'il al-Asbahani wrote:
"A person must have hatred for the people of innovation, wherever they are, to be among those who love for Allah and hate for Allah. Loving the people of the Sunnah and hating the people of innovation has some signs. When you see a person praising Imam Malik bin Anas, Imam Sufyan bin Sa'id al-Thawri, Imam 'Abd al-Rahman bin Mahdi, Imam 'Abdullah bin Mubarak, Imam Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi'i, and other correct belief scholars, know that he is among the people of the Sunnah. When you see someone disputing in Allah's religion and His Book, and it is said to him that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said so, and he replies that the Book of Allah is sufficient for us, know that he is an innovator. When you see someone saying, 'Why don't you write Hadith?' and he replies that reason is better, know that he is an innovator. When you see someone praising the philosophers and engineers, know that he is misguided. When you see someone calling the people of Hadith 'Hashawiyyah, Mushabbihah, and Nasibah,' know that he is an innovator. When someone denies or compares Allah's attributes to His creation, know that he is misguided."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/539-540]
✿ Allah says:
"Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah."
[An-Nisa: 80]
This verse is clear evidence that the statements and actions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are revelation from Allah. When the statements and actions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are under the guidance of divine revelation, why is there a need to present them to the Quran?
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hazm said:
"It is clear that all the statements of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) regarding religion are divine revelation from Allah. There is no doubt about this, and there is no disagreement among the scholars of language and Shariah that every revelation from Allah is a revealed remembrance."
[Al-Ahkam by Ibn Hazm: 1/135]
◈ Hassan bin Atiyyah said:
"Gabriel used to descend upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with the Sunnah just as he descended with the Quran and taught it to him as he taught him the Quran."
[Al-Sunnah by Muhammad bin Nasr al-Marwazi: 28, 116, and its chain is authentic]
◈ Abu al-Baqa al-Husseini al-Hanafi said:
"The conclusion is that the Quran and Hadith are united in being divine revelation from Allah, as evidenced by the verse:
'It is not but a revelation revealed.'
[An-Najm: 5]"
[Kulliyat Abi al-Baqa: 288]
◈ Allamah Shawkani wrote:
"The respected scholars of Islam are in consensus that the pure Sunnah is an independent source of legislation and that it is like the Quran in making the lawful lawful and the unlawful unlawful."
[Irshad al-Fuhul by Shawkani: 33]
He also said:
"The proof of the authority of the pure Sunnah and its independence in legislating rulings is a religious necessity. Only those who have no part in the religion of Islam differ on this."
[Irshad al-Fuhul: 33]
✿ Allah says:
"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you."
[An-Nisa: 59]
When Allah commanded obedience to Himself and His Messenger, He mentioned the imperative form separately for both. However, when commanding obedience to those in authority, He did not repeat the imperative form but sufficed with conjunction, proving that the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is an independent source of evidence. Therefore, there is no need to present the noble Hadith to the Book of Allah.
◈ Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim said:
"Allah commanded obedience to Himself and His Messenger, and the command to act independently signifies that obedience to the Messenger is obligatory without presenting what he commanded to the Book. Rather, when he commands, his obedience is obligatory regardless of whether it is in the Book or not. He was given the Book and something similar with it."
[I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in: 1/48]
In the interpretation of the above verse, Imam 'Ata' bin Abi Rabah said:
"Those in authority are the scholars and jurists, and obedience to the Messenger is following the Book and Sunnah."
[Al-Sunan al-Darimi: 225, Tafsir Ibn Jarir: 5/147, and its chain is authentic]
It is established from the Quran, Hadith, and the consensus of the Ummah that Hadith is revelation. Presenting it to the Quran is misguidance, and its denial is disbelief.
◈ Hafiz Suyuti said:
"Whoever denies that the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), whether it is a statement or an action, is evidence according to its well-known conditions in the principles of jurisprudence, has disbelieved and exited the fold of Islam. He will be resurrected with the Jews and Christians or with whichever group of disbelievers Allah wills."
[Miftah al-Jannah fi al-Ihtijaj bi al-Sunnah: 3]
Denial of Hadith is Essentially Denial of the Quran
The deniers of Hadith are essentially deniers of the Quran. Regarding their lack of understanding and knowledge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
يقرؤون القرآن، لايجاوز حلوقهم و حناجرهم، يمرقون من الدين مروق السهم من الرمية .
"They will read the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will exit the religion as an arrow exits through the game."
[Sahih Bukhari: 6931]
This Hadith is clear evidence of the lack of understanding and knowledge among the Khawarij (deniers of Hadith and others), as they disrespect the Quran and Hadith and accuse Muslims of disbelief.
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes:
ورد الروايات الصحيحة و الطعن فى أئمة الحديث الضابطين مع امكان توجيه مارووا من الأمور التى أقدم عليها كثير من غير أهل الحديث، وهو يقتضي قصور فهم من فعل ذلك منهم، ومن ثم قال الكرماني : لا حاجة لتخطئة الرواة الثقاة .
"Many non-scholars have rejected authentic Ahadith and attacked the reliable Imams of Hadith, indicating their lack of understanding. Therefore, Karmani (commentator of Bukhari) said there is no need to accuse reliable narrators of mistakes."
[Fath al-Bari: 13/401]
The deniers of Hadith have abandoned following the Quran and Hadith and started worshipping their flawed reasoning and desires. According to their false assumption, Hadith is not a Shariah evidence, and they consider Hadith to be against the Quran. While the Quran is revelation, Hadith is also revelation. Truth cannot contradict truth. Why would one truth need to be presented to another? A Muslim should accept whatever is given by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the form of the Quran and Hadith wholeheartedly and believe in it.
◈ Imam Zuhri said:
علي اللّٰه البيان و على الرسول البلاغ و علينا التسليم .
"It is upon Allah to explain, upon the Messenger to convey, and upon us to submit."
[Al-Zuhri by Ibn Abi Asim: 71, Hilyat al-Awliya by Abu Nu'aym: 3/369, Aqidat al-Salaf by Abu Ismail al-Sabuni, and the wording is his, Taghliq al-Ta'liq by Ibn Hajar: 5/365, and its chain is authentic]
This is the way of the believers, while the misguided and unjust try to create a conflict between the Quran and Hadith, resulting in losing their faith. There is no conflict between the Quran and Hadith; any apparent conflict is superficial. True believers remove this apparent conflict with the light of faith and knowledge, while the opponents, due to their lack of understanding, drown in the darkness of misguidance.
◈ Hafiz Khattabi writes:
فانه يحذر بذلك مخالفة السنن التى سنها رسول اللّٰه [صلي اللّٰه عليه وسلم ] مما ليس له فى القرآن ذكر على ما ذهبت اليه الخوارج و الروافض، فانهم تعلقوا بظاهر القرآن و تركوا السنن التى قدضمنت بيان الكتاب فتحيروا و ضلوا .
"One should beware of opposing the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which is not mentioned in the Quran. The Khawarij and the Rafidah adhered to the apparent meaning of the Quran and abandoned the Sunnah that explained the Quran, resulting in their misguidance."
[Ma'alim al-Sunan: 4/298]
◈ Baqiyya bin Walid (reliable according to the majority) said that Imam Awza'i told him:
ليس من صاحب بدعة تحدثه عن رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم بخلاف بدعته الاأبغض الحديث .
"Whenever you narrate a Hadith to a heretic contrary to his innovation, he will despise the Hadith."
[Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith by al-Khatib: 150, Al-Hujjah by Abu al-Qasim al-Asbahani: 1/207, and its chain is authentic]
◈ Imam Ajurri said:
ينبغي لأهل العلم و العقل اذا سمعوا قائلا يقول : قال رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم فى شيء قد ثبت عندالعلماء، فعارض انسان جاهل، فقال : لا أقبل الا ماكان فى كتاب اللّٰه [عزوجل] قيل له؛ أنت رجل سوء و أنت ممن حذرناك رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم و حذر منك العلماء .
"The people of knowledge and wisdom should, when they hear someone saying 'the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said' in something well established among scholars, and an ignorant person opposes saying, 'I only accept what is in the Book of Allah,' tell him: 'You are an evil person and one whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the scholars warned us against.'"
[Al-Shari'ah: 49]
◈ Imam Shafi'i said:
لا تخالف سنة رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم كتاب اللّٰه بحال .
"The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) does not contradict the Book of Allah in any way."
[Al-Risalah by Shafi'i: 546]
◈ Researcher Shatibi writes:
التعارض اما ان يعتبر من جهة ما فى نفس الامر، وامامن جهة نظر المجتهد، اما من جهة ما فى نفس الامر فيغير ممكن بالاطلاق… .
"There are two types of conflict: one in reality and the other in the opinion of the jurist. True conflict in reality is absolutely impossible."
[Al-Muwafaqat: 4/294]
Those who say that Hadith should be presented to the Quran and accepted if it conforms and rejected if it contradicts it, we ask them: what if one verse of the Quran contradicts another? Which verse will you accept and which will you reject? Whatever their answer, it will be our answer regarding the conflict between the Quran and Hadith.
❀ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لا ألفين أحدكم متكئا على أريكته، ياتيه الأمر من أمري مما أمرت به أو نهيت عنه، فيقول؛ لا ندري، ما وجدنافي كتاب اللّٰه اتبعناه .
"I do not want to find any of you reclining on his couch, receiving an order from me, either forbidding or enjoining, and saying: 'We do not know; we will follow what we find in the Book of Allah.'"
[Abu Dawood: 4605, Tirmidhi: 2663, Ibn Majah: 13, Musnad al-Humaydi: 551, Dala'il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi: 6/549, and its chain is authentic]
Imam Tirmidhi said this Hadith is "Hasan Sahih," and Imam Ibn Hibban and Imam Hakim also graded it as "Sahih." Hafiz Dhahabi agreed with them, and Hafiz Baghawi also considered it "Hasan."
[Sharh al-Sunnah: 1/201]
◈ Hafiz Baghawi wrote under this Hadith:
وفي الحديث دليل على أنه لا حاجة بالحديث الي أن يعرض على الكتاب، وأنه مهما ثبت عن رسول اللّٰه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان حجة بنفسه .
"This Hadith indicates that there is no need to present Hadith to the Quran. Once it is established as authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), it is a proof in itself."
[Sharh al-Sunnah: 1/201-202]
Examples of Apparent Conflict between the Quran and Hadith
❀ It is an established Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أنكم سترون ربكم كماترون هذا القمر، لاتضامون فى رؤيته… .
"Indeed, you will soon see your Lord as you see this moon, and you will have no difficulty in seeing Him."
[Sahih Bukhari: 7434, Muslim: 633]
The Quran states that when Musa (peace be upon him) requested to see Allah, Allah said:
لَنْ تَرَانِيْ
"(O Musa!) You cannot see Me."
[Al-A'raf: 143]
The Hadith confirms the vision of Allah, while the Quran negates it. The deniers of Hadith respond to this apparent conflict by claiming that this Hadith is not "Sahih," and even if it is accepted as authentic, it means "knowledge" rather than the vision of Allah. They cite the following verse as evidence:
اَلَمْ تَرَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ
"Do you not see that Allah is praised by all those in the heavens and the earth?"
[An-Nur: 41]
The response to this conflict is that the Hadith is Mutawatir, and there is no doubt about its authenticity. The Quran negates the vision of Allah in this world, while the Hadith confirms it in the Hereafter. No eye can see Allah in this world, but in the Hereafter, the believers will see Him. Hence, the conflict is resolved. Here, interpreting "vision" as "knowledge" is against the agreed understanding and statements of the Quran, Hadith, Companions, and the righteous predecessors.
Allah says:
وُجُوْهٌ يَّوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ ٭اِليٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
"Faces that Day will be radiant, looking at their Lord."
[Al-Qiyamah: 22-23]
The vision is attributed to faces, which are the site of the eyes. The preposition "to" indicates that this vision will be visual, not intellectual. This will be a great favor from Allah to the people of Paradise, while the deniers will be deprived of it.
Their false interpretation is refuted by the same Hadith. When the Companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection, he said:
هل تضارون فى رؤية الشمس بالظهيرة صحوا، ليس معها سحاب ؟ وهل تضارون فى رؤية القمر ليلة البدر صحوا، ليس فيها سحاب ؟ قالوا؛ لا، يا رسو ل اللّٰه ! قال ؛ ما تضارون فى رؤية اللّٰه تبارك و تعالىٰ يوم القيامة الا كام تضارون فى رؤية أحدهما .
"Do you find any difficulty in seeing the sun at noon when there are no clouds? And do you find any difficulty in seeing the moon on a full moon night when there are no clouds?" They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah!" He said, "Likewise, you will have no difficulty in seeing Allah on the Day of Resurrection."
[Sahih Muslim: 183]
◈ Imam Ibn Qutaybah writes:
ولو كان اللّٰه تعالىٰ لا يرى فى حال من الأحوال و لا يجوز عليه النظر، لكان موسيٰ عليه السلام قد خفي عليه من وصف اللّٰه ما علموه .
"If seeing Allah in any state were impossible, it would imply that Musa (peace be upon him) was unaware of an attribute of Allah that others knew."
[Ta'wil Mukhtalif al-Hadith: 207]
The deniers' self-made principle of presenting Hadith to the Quran is false. Remember, no authentic Hadith contradicts the Quran. There can be apparent conflict, but not real conflict. Present a Sahih, Marfu', and connected Hadith that contradicts the Quran, and with Allah's help, we will resolve the conflict. If the apparent conflict within the Quran can be resolved, why can't the apparent conflict between the Quran and Hadith be resolved? If not, it is due to a lack of understanding.
The deniers of Hadith are afflicted with this disease. Satan implants falsehood in them, corrupting their minds. Their hearts are filled with doubts and whispers, and their arguments, which are actually suspicions, have been proven false. They are the subjects of Allah's words:
وَمَنْ يُهِنِ اللَّـهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ مُكْرِمٍ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ
"And whoever is humiliated by Allah, there is none who can honor him. Indeed, Allah does what He wills."
[Al-Hajj: 18]
He also says:
اُوْلٰٓئِكَ الَّذِيْنَ لَعَنَهُمْ اللّٰهُ فَاَصَمَّهُمْ وَاَعْمَي اَبْصَارَهُمْ
"These are the ones whom Allah has cursed, so He made them deaf and blinded their vision."
[Muhammad: 23]
They cannot hear, see, or understand the truth of Hadith.
◈ Qawam al-Sunnah Imam Abu al-Qasim Isma'il bin Muhammad al-Asbahani wrote beautifully:
وقول من قال؛ تعرض السنة على القرآن، فان وافقت ظاهره، والا استسلمنا ظاهر القرآن وتركنا الحديث، فهذا جهل، لأن سنة رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم مع كتاب اللّٰه عزوجل تقام مقام البيان عن اللّٰه عزوجل، وليس شيء من سنن رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم يخالف كتاب اللّٰه لأن اللّٰه عزوجل أعلم خلقه أن رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم يهدي الي صراط مستقيم فقال؛ ﴿ وَاِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِيْ اِليٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيْمٍ﴾ [الشوريٰ : 53] وليس لنا مع سنة رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم من الأمر شيء الا اتباع و التسليم ولا يعرض على القياس ولاغيره، وكل ما سواها من قول الآدميين تبع لها ولا عذر لاحد يتعمد ترك السنة، ويذهب الي غيرها، لأنه لا حجة لقول أحد مع رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم اذا صحّ .
"The statement that the Sunnah should be presented to the Quran, and if it conforms, we accept it; otherwise, we take the apparent meaning of the Quran and leave the Hadith, is pure ignorance. This is because the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) along with the Book of Allah stands as the explanation from Allah. None of the Sunnah contradicts the Book of Allah, for Allah has informed His creation that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) guides to the straight path, saying:
'And indeed, you guide to a straight path.' [Ash-Shura: 53]. We have no option but to follow and submit to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). It should not be presented to analogy or anything else. All human statements are subject to the Sunnah. No one has an excuse to deliberately leave the Sunnah and turn to something else, for there is no argument against a statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when it is authentic."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/325-326]
◈ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said:
من رد حديث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فهو على شفا هلكة .
"Whoever rejects the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is on the brink of destruction."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 1/207, Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi: 182, and its chain is good]
◈ Qawam al-Sunnah Abu Isma'il al-Asbahani wrote:
"A person must have hatred for the people of innovation, wherever they are, to be among those who love for Allah and hate for Allah. Loving the people of the Sunnah and hating the people of innovation has some signs. When you see a person praising Imam Malik bin Anas, Imam Sufyan bin Sa'id al-Thawri, Imam 'Abd al-Rahman bin Mahdi, Imam 'Abdullah bin Mubarak, Imam Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi'i, and other correct belief scholars, know that he is among the people of the Sunnah. When you see someone disputing in Allah's religion and His Book, and it is said to him that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said so, and he replies that the Book of Allah is sufficient for us, know that he is an innovator. When you see someone saying, 'Why don't you write Hadith?' and he replies that reason is better, know that he is an innovator. When you see someone praising the philosophers and engineers, know that he is misguided. When you see someone calling the people of Hadith 'Hashawiyyah, Mushabbihah, and Nasibah,' know that he is an innovator. When someone denies or compares Allah's attributes to His creation, know that he is misguided."
[Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/539-540]
✿ Allah says:
مَنْ يُّطِعِ الرَّسُوْلَ فَقَدْ اَطَاعَ اللّٰهَ
"Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah."
[An-Nisa: 80]
This verse is clear evidence that the statements and actions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are revelation from Allah. When the statements and actions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are under the guidance of divine revelation, why is there a need to present them to the Quran?
◈ Hafiz Ibn Hazm said:
… فصح ان كلام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كله فى الدين وحي من عندالله عزوجل، لاشك فى ذلك ولا خلاف بين أحد من أهل اللغة و الشريعة فى أن كل وحي نزل من عندالله فهو ذكر منزل .
"It is clear that all the statements of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) regarding religion are divine revelation from Allah. There is no doubt about this, and there is no disagreement among the scholars of language and Shariah that every revelation from Allah is a revealed remembrance."
[Al-Ahkam by Ibn Hazm: 1/135]
◈ Hassan bin Atiyyah said:
كان جبريل ينزل على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بالسنة كما ينزل عليه القرآن و يعلمه اياها كما يعلمه القرآن .
"Gabriel used to descend upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) with the Sunnah just as he descended with the Quran and taught it to him as he taught him the Quran."
[Al-Sunnah by Muhammad bin Nasr al-Marwazi: 28, 116, and its chain is authentic]
◈ Abu al-Baqa al-Husseini al-Hanafi said:
والحاصل أن القرآن و الحديث يتحدان فى كونهما وحيا من عندالله بدليل؛ ﴿اِنْ هُوَ اِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُّوحٰي﴾ [النجم : 5]
"The conclusion is that the Quran and Hadith are united in being divine revelation from Allah, as evidenced by the verse:
'It is not but a revelation revealed.'
[An-Najm: 5]"
[Kulliyat Abi al-Baqa: 288]
◈ Allamah Shawkani wrote:
وقد اتفق من يعتد به من أهل العلم على أن السنة المطهرة بتشريع الأحكام، وأنها كالقرآن فى تحليل الحلال و تحريم الحرام .
"The respected scholars of Islam are in consensus that the pure Sunnah is an independent source of legislation and that it is like the Quran in making the lawful lawful and the unlawful unlawful."
[Irshad al-Fuhul by Shawkani: 33]
He also said:
ان ثبوت حجية السنة المطهرة و استقلالها بتشريع الأحكام، ضرورة دينية، ولا يخالف فى ذلك الا من لا حظ له فى دين الاسلام .
"The proof of the authority of the pure Sunnah and its independence in legislating rulings is a religious necessity. Only those who have no part in the religion of Islam differ on this."
[Irshad al-Fuhul: 33]
✿ Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوْا أَطِيعُوْا اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُوْا الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you."
[An-Nisa: 59]
When Allah commanded obedience to Himself and His Messenger, He mentioned the imperative form separately for both. However, when commanding obedience to those in authority, He did not repeat the imperative form but sufficed with conjunction, proving that the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is an independent source of evidence. Therefore, there is no need to present the noble Hadith to the Book of Allah.
◈ Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim said:
فأمر تعالىٰ بطاعته و طاعة رسوله، وأما الفعل اعلاما بأن طاعة الرسول تجب استقلا لا من غير عرض ما أمر به على الكتاب، بل اذا أمر و جبت طاعته مطلقا، سواء كان ما أمر به فى الكتاب أو لم يكن فيه، فانه أوتي الكتاب و مثله معه .
"Allah commanded obedience to Himself and His Messenger, and the command to act independently signifies that obedience to the Messenger is obligatory without presenting what he commanded to the Book. Rather, when he commands, his obedience is obligatory regardless of whether it is in the Book or not. He was given the Book and something similar with it."
[I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in: 1/48]
In the interpretation of the above verse, Imam 'Ata' bin Abi Rabah said:
أولو العلم والفقه، وطاعة الرسول؛ اتباع الكتاب و السنة
"Those in authority are the scholars and jurists, and obedience to the Messenger is following the Book and Sunnah."
[Al-Sunan al-Darimi: 225, Tafsir Ibn Jarir: 5/147, and its chain is authentic]
It is established from the Quran, Hadith, and the consensus of the Ummah that Hadith is revelation. Presenting it to the Quran is misguidance, and its denial is disbelief.
◈ Hafiz Suyuti said:
ان من أنكر كون حديث النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قولا كان أوفعلا، بشرطه المعروف فى الأصول حجة، كفر و خرج عن دائرة الاسلام، وحشر مع اليهود و النصاري أو مع من شاء الله من فرق الكفرة .
"Whoever denies that the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), whether it is a statement or an action, is evidence according to its well-known conditions in the principles of jurisprudence, has disbelieved and exited the fold of Islam. He will be resurrected with the Jews and Christians or with whichever group of disbelievers Allah wills."
[Miftah al-Jannah fi al-Ihtijaj bi al-Sunnah: 3]
