This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
Question: Can the Holy Quran be understood without the Sunnah?
Answer: It is not possible to understand the Holy Quran without the Sunnah. After believing, Allah Almighty emphasized the establishment of prayer the most, but it is also not possible to act upon this command without the Sunnah. Consider a few verses: [حٰفِظُوۡا عَلَی الصَّلَوٰتِ وَ الصَّلٰوۃِ الۡوُسۡطٰی] Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:238)
What is meant by the middle prayer? How can the middle prayer be known until the total number of prayers is known. The number of prayers is not mentioned in the Holy Quran. It is understood that the Muslims were informed through hidden revelation. Similarly, it is said: When you travel, there is no sin upon you if you shorten the prayer. This verse does not specify how much the prayer should be shortened during travel. Then the concept of shortening the prayer is only possible when it is known how many units the full prayer consists of. It is also said: [فَاِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالًا اَوۡ رُکۡبَانًا ۚ فَاِذَاۤ اَمِنۡتُمۡ فَاذۡکُرُوا اللّٰہَ کَمَا عَلَّمَکُمۡ مَّا لَمۡ تَکُوۡنُوۡا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ] If you fear, then pray while walking or riding, but when there is safety, remember Allah in the way He has taught you, which you did not know before.
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:239)
It is clear from this verse that there is a specific prescribed way to perform Salah, which is excused in times of war. Allah Almighty has attributed this method of teaching to Himself. The method of Salah and its timings, etc., are not mentioned anywhere in the Holy Quran. Then how did Allah teach it? It is understood that besides the Holy Quran, revelation also came. This verse is also noteworthy: [یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا نُوۡدِیَ لِلصَّلٰوۃِ مِنۡ یَّوۡمِ الۡجُمُعَۃِ فَاسۡعَوۡا اِلٰی ذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ وَ ذَرُوا الۡبَیۡعَ] O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade.
Reference: (Al-Jumu'ah:9)
It is understood that the arrangement of the Friday prayer holds a special status apart from the other days. What is the time of this prayer? What is the method of calling? How many rak'ahs does it have? The Holy Quran is silent on this matter, and no one can know the details of the prayer through Quranic verses unless they refer to Hadith.
Question: Can the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) also make mistakes in understanding the meaning of the Holy Quran without Hadith?
Answer: Certainly, the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, also needed the Hadith of the Prophet to understand the meaning of the Holy Quran. This verse of the Holy Quran was revealed: [اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ لَمۡ یَلۡبِسُوۡۤا اِیۡمَانَہُمۡ بِظُلۡمٍ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمُ الۡاَمۡنُ وَ ہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ] And those who believe and do not mix their faith with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.
Reference: (Al-An'am:82)
From the above noble verse, some Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, considered all sins, big and small, as injustice, and therefore this verse was difficult for those people. So they asked, O Messenger of Allah! Who among us has not committed any sin with his faith? Then you ﷺ said: This injustice does not mean ordinary sins, but here injustice means polytheism (shirk). Have you not read the saying of Luqman (peace be upon him) in the Wise Quran: [اِنَّ الشِّرۡکَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِیۡمٌ] Polytheism is a great injustice.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Repentance of Apostates and Opponents and Fighting Them, Chapter on the Interpreters: 6937, Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Truthfulness and Sincerity of Faith: 124
Question: Can the Sunnah abrogate the condition mentioned in the verse of the Holy Quran?
Answer: Yes, and an example of this is the shortened prayer (Salat al-Qasr) during travel. Allah Almighty says: [وَ اِذَا ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَلَیۡسَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ جُنَاحٌ اَنۡ تَقۡصُرُوۡا مِنَ الصَّلٰوۃِ ٭ۖ اِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ اَنۡ یَّفۡتِنَکُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا] And when you travel in the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, if you fear that the disbelievers may harm you.
Reference: (An-Nisa: 101)
The above verse conditions the shortened prayer on a journey during which there is fear. Therefore, some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that now it is a time of peace, yet we still shorten our prayers. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no harm in shortening the prayer during travel in times of peace; this is a concession from Allah for you, so accept this concession.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer of Travelers and Shortening It, Chapter on Prayer of Travelers and Shortening It:686
