A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
THE REFUTATION OF THE
HADITH AND THE
AUTHENTICITY OF ITS
COMPILATION
The Ahaadith of Rasulullah
((Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
have been unanimously accepted
by the entire Ummah as the
source of Islamic Law, after the
Noble Qur �n. In fact, upon
pondering, it can be concluded
that the entire Ahaadith contain
the real essence of Islamic Law
(Islamic Shariah) as the Ahaadith
comprise of the mubarak words,
actions and approvals of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) who has interpreted
the Noble Quran and defined its
object and purpose. However, it
is regrettable that a certain
group of people influenced by
the corrupt western culture and
civilization, have began refuting
the Ahaadith.
...Read the remaining part from the comments
In the beginning of the twentieth
ReplyDeletecentury, when the Western
nations dominated over Muslims,
many Muslims of poor
understanding and little
knowledge became overwhelmed
by the Western Ideologies and
concepts. They opined that
progress was impossible without
upholding and adopting the
western lifestyle. They began
propagating this concept among
the masses. In order to
propagate this concept they
distorted all the Islamic teachings
that opposed this western
culture and ideology. This group
was called the modernists. Among
the leaders of such groups were
people like Sir Sayed and Ahmed
Khan of India, Taha Hussain of
Egypt and Ziyad Khog of Turkey.
It should be borne in mind that
the objects and aims of this
group could not be achieved
without rejecting the Ahaadith
because, the Ahaadith contain
detailed guidelines to every
aspect of life which are totally
opposed to western norms and
trends.
Consequently, a group among
this cult began to negate the
Ahaadith and called themselves
the "Quranic Group". Sir Sayed
and his companion Moulvi Chirag
Ali were the founders of this
movement in India. They did not
negate the Ahaadith completely,
instead they rejected all those
that were contrary to their aims
and objects and their limited
understanding and reasoning
even though all these Ahaadith
were authentically narrated.
They discreetly propagated that
the Ahaadith are not legal
Shariah proof in this age and
era. This led to the legalising of
interest and usury; the rejection
of the Prophets, the denial of
the Angels, the negation of
Purdah and other essentials of
Islam, and moreover, legalizing of
prohibited things.
Thereafter, Abdullah Chakardalwi
formed a group called, Quranic
Group and his object was the
total rejection of Ahaadith. This
concept was further promoted
by Aslam Inerajpuri. Finally, Gulam
Ahmed Parwez established this
erroneous belief among the
masses through his influential
writings.
This fitnah spread
ReplyDeletewidely in his period (era).
Basically this fitnah revolves
around 3 different beliefs viz.
1. The Holy Prophet's (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) mission was to
deliver the Quran only. Obedience
is restricted to the Quran only.
Adherence to the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is
not binding upon us, nor was it
binding upon the Sahaba (RA).
Divine Revelation was only in the
form of the Quran. Hence there
is no need for the Ahaadith. 2.
The Sayings of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) were
binding and obligatory upon the
Sahaba (RA) only, not upon us. 3.
The teachings of the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) are binding upon the
entire Ummah. However, due to
the Ahaadith being unauthentic,
we are not obliged to accept
them
All these concepts are totally
false and rejected. Numerous
verses of the Noble Quran, prove
that divine revelation besides
the Noble Quran, was revealed
to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam). Missions of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) as mentioned in the
Noble Qur �n is to teach and
explain the Noble Qur�n and its
wisdom. If the Ahaadith are
rejected, can this object of
teaching and explaining the
Quran be realised? Another clear
indication towards the
authenticity of the Ahaadith is
the fact that the Noble Qur�n
commands us to show obedience
to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) together with
obedience to Allah. In one verse,
obedience to the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has
been regarded as the basis of
Imaan. Logically, it is not possible
to follow the Quranic injunctions
without the Ahaadith as the
details of many Quranic
injunctions such as Salaat,
Zakaat, Haj, etc. are explained in
the Ahaadith. The entire Ummah
has accepted the authenticity of
the Ahaadith in order to make
the divine injunctions practical.
Can it be claimed that the entire
Ummah is misguided?
The fallacy of the second
(concept) belief i.e. obedience of
the Holy Prophet is binding upon
the Sahaba (RA) only, is evident
and exposed that needs no
further elaboration. This concept
implies that the Prophethood of
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) was restricted
only to the period of his
companions whereas numerous
verses very clearly indicate the
opposite. - "O people I am a
prophet to all of you". "We did
not send you except to all the
people' as a giver of glad tidings
and as a warner". "We did not
send you, except as a mercy to
all the worlds". "Blessed is the
one who revealed the Furqaan
that he may be a warner to the
worlds".
Another question that arises
with this concept is: Are the
Sahaba who witnessed the
revelation of the Noble Qur �n
more in need of its explanation
or are the ones that came after
them more in need?
The third concept is also totally
unacceptable because the Quran
has reached us through the
same method as the Ahaadith
have reached us. If the Ahaadith
are unauthentic, can one declare
the Noble Quran unauthentic as
well. The divine promise of safe-
guarding Noble Qur �n embodies
the safeguarding of the Ahaadith
also, because the Ahaadith
explain the Quran without which
one cannot practise upon the
Quran.
THE STAGES OF THE
ReplyDeleteCOMPILATION OF AHAADITH
The Ahaadith were not compiled
and codified in the time of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) like it is today. There
existed no real need for this as
the Sahaba memorised virtually
every word spoken by the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam). Allah Ta'ala had
granted them such perfect and
excellent memories that once
they heard anything they used
to remember it throughout their
lives. The remembering of
lengthy poems and the ancestral
details of horses and camels
bears testimony to this fact.
Once Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA)
repeated Ahaadith to a bedouin,
in order for him to memorize it
well. The bedouin remarked,
"Enough, once is sufficient I shall
not forget it till death. I have
performed 60 pilgrimages on 60
camels and I know perfectly well
which Hajj I performed on which
camel."
This was the condition of the
bedouins in ordinary matters and
mundane talk. How much more
did they preserve the speech of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam). Not only his speech
but every action notion,
indication, approval, disapproval
and deed of Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was
preserved by them. They valued
these more than their lives and
wealth. They used to alternate
with their business partners in
sitting in the gathering of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam). Each partner used to
narrate to his companion what
he had heard the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) say.
Extreme measures were taken
to safeguard the words of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam). Many of them (did not
know how to write) were not
literate. However, the Sahaba
who knew how to write used to
record and write down the
Ahaadith as well. The Ahaadith
were recorded in the presence
of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam)
THE PROHIBITION OF
ReplyDeleteRECORDING HADITH AND ITS
ANSWER
The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) has mentioned in
one Hadith, 'Do not record
(write) from me anything except
the Quran. Whosoever has
written anything should
obliterate it. (Muslim vol.2 Pg.44)
This prohibition is of a temporary
nature when the Quran was
initially being revealed (and
there was a possibility of the
hadith and Quran being mixed
up) so that the hadith and the
Quran do not get mixed up. When
this initial period has passed and
this possibility was ruled out, this
prohibition ceased and an order
was given to write and record
the Ahaadith as Allama Ibne-
Hajar has detailed in his
commentary on Bukhari Shareef.
Allama Nawawi in the
commentary of Muslim Shareef
has stated that the prohibition
was when the mixing was feared.
Thereafter when it was safe,
permission was granted for
writing.
THE THREE METHODS OF
PRESERVING AND
SAFEGUARDING THE HADITH
We hereby detail all the methods
utilised to preserve Ahaadith
from the prophetic era upto this
day. There is consensus that
recording and writing was not
the only method of safeguarding
Ahaadith. There existed other
reliable methods as well:
1. MEMORISING THE AHAADITH
The most reliable method
adopted by the Sahaaba (RA) to
safeguard the Ahaadith was
through memory.
2. PRESERVATION THROUGH
ACTION AND PRACTICE
This was another reliable means
of protecting and safeguarding
the Ahaadith. The Sahaaba (RA)
used to transform the words of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) into action immediately
and every Sahaabi used to
practice upon the Hadith. This
resulted in every word of
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) becoming a practical
action and deed, which was
thoroughly remembered and
preserved. Therefore, many
traditions contact the phrases:
"This is how I saw the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) carry out and perform
this."
This practical method was very
effective in preserving the
Ahaadith. It is continuing upto
this day.
3. WRITING AND RECORDING
THE HADITH
This method was also customary
in the prophetic era. This
procedure had passed through
four stages (phases)
1. Recording of Ahaadith without
any arrangement or sequence
2. Arranging the Ahaadith
relating to certain subject
(topic) or subjects into one small
book 3. Accumulating of various
Ahaadith into one book. 4.
Compiling Ahaadith and codifying.
The first two types of compiling
were extensively practised
during the time of the Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and
the Sahaba (RA). The following
details will suffice for the
Rejectors of Hadith.
1. Imam Tirmidhi has included a
ReplyDeletespecial chapter in the Chapter of
knowledge titled, The chapter of
the permissibility of recording
Hadith - Hazrat Abu Hurrairah
(RA) reports that the Holy
Prophet indicated to a certain
Ansari Sahabi whose memory was
weak, to write. One Ansari
Sahabi (RA) used to sit by
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) and listen to the
Hadith; it used to please him, but
he was unable to memorise it. He
complained to the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) who
replied, "Seek assistance with
your right hand and he indicated
towards writing with his hand
(Jamia Tirmizi vol. 2 pg. 107). 2. In
a tradition recorded in
Mustadrak-e-Haakim, Hazrat Amr
bin Aas (R.A.) reports, 'I used to
record everything the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) used to say with an
incitation of (accumility) and
gathering same. The Quraish
stopped me saying: "Do you write
everything the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
says? He is a human being, he
speaks in anger and happiness." I
abstained from writing. I
mentioned this to the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) and he indicated
towards his tongue and said,
'Write! By Him in whose hand is
my life. Nothing except the truth
comes out of it.' (Mustadrak Vol.1
Page 104) 3. In one Hadith
recorded in Mustadrak-e-Haakim,
an explicit and clear order of
writing is given. The words are
'Tie down knowledge', the
Sahaabi enquired, 'What is tying
down knowledge?' The Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
replied, 'It's writing.' (Mustadrak
vol. 1 pg. 106) 4. The incident of
Abu Shah Yemani is famous. Once
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned an
incident and upon the request of
Abu Shah the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
instructed the Sahaaba to write
for Abu Shah - this Hadith is
recorded in Jame Tirmidhi vol. 2
pg. 107 and Bukhari vol. 1 pg. 23
There are numerous traditions
indicating the instruction of
writing Ahaadith. Therefore,
many Sahaaba recorded
ahaadith in the Prophetic era.
References are many of such
collections and compilations.
1. THE SAHIFA (COLLECTION)
OF ABDULLAH IBN AMR
(Radhiallaahu �nhu) Hadhrat
Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) is the greatest narrator
of Hadith. Despite this he says,
'No person has learnt more
Hadith than me. However,
Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) used to write the Hadith
and I should not write.' This is
clear evidence that Hadith used
to be written in that era.
Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr
(Radhiallaahu �nhu) possessed a
collection that exceeded one
thousand Ahaadith. Ibnr-Rushd
has mentioned in his Kitaab
Asadul Ghaaba (vol. 3 pg. 233)
that, this collection was named
As-saadiqah.
2. THE SAHIFA (COLLECTION
ReplyDeleteOF HADHRAT ALI
(Radhiallaahu �nhu) Imaam
Bukhari (RA) has mentioned in
this Sahifa in the chapter of
"Ilm" (vol. 1 pg. 21) and, he has
mentioned it in four places The
narrator Abu Juhaifa reports
that, 'I enquired from Hazrat Ali
(R.A.), do you possess a book?'
He replied: "No, except the Book
of Allah or the understanding
granted to a Muslim or what is in
this Sahifa." I asked him, "What is
in this Sahifa?" He replied,
"Orders relating to
'Diyat' (penalty or murder) - the
freeing of prisoners and no
Muslim will be killed in lieu of a
kaafir."
This Sahifa contained orders
regarding, murder,
compensations, capital
punishments, details of Zakaat
and matters relating to non-
Muslim citizens in an Islamic State.
3. KITABUS - SAQAH
This collection was personally
dictated by the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). It
contained details regarding
Zakaat, Ushar etc. According to
some reports it seems as though
this was written for the Zakaat
collectors. However, the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) left this world before
it was sent to them. This kitaab
remained with Hazrat Abu Bakr
and Hazrat Umar (R.A.).
Eventually Hazrat Umar bin Abdul
Aziz memorized it and thereafter
Ibn Shihaab Zohri memorised it.
4. SAHIFA IBN ABBAS (R.A.)
Ibn Saad (R.A.) mentions in his
kitaab "Tabaqaat" that the slave
of Ibn Abbas (R.A.) said 'He found
a large collection of the kitaabs
of Ibn Abbas equal to a camel-
load.'
5. SAHIFA JAABIR IBN
ABDULLAH (Radhiallaahu
� nhu)
Imaam Muslim has reported that
Hadhrat Jaabir (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) had compiled a book on
Hajj. Imaam Bukhari mentioned
this is his Taarikh-e-Kabeer vol.
7 pg. 186) - Hadhrat Qataaqda
bin De'aama as-Sodusi had
memorised this Sahifa.
6. SAHIFA SAMURA IBN JUNDOB
(Radhiallaahu �nhu)
Hafiz ibn Hajar (RA) reports that
Hadhrat Samoora (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) has narrated a big
(volume) chapter from his father.
Imaam Muhammad ibn Sireen (RA)
reports that the Kitaab which
Hadhrat Samoora (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) has written for his
children contains great
knowledge.
7. SAHIFA SAAD IBN UBADA
Ibn Saad reports in 'Tabaqaat'
that Hadhrat Saad (Radhiallaahu
� nhu) had a collection of
Ahaadith.
8. SAHIFA ABU HURAYRA
(Radhiallaahu �nhu)
Imaam Hakim mentions in
Mustadrak that once Hadhrat
Hassan ibn Umar narrated a
Hadith to Hadhrat Abu Hurayra
(Radhiallaahu �nhu). Hadhrat Abu
Hurayra denied the Hadith.
Hadhrat Hassan told him, 'I have
narrated this Hadith from you'.
He replied, 'If I have narrated it,
it will definitely be written down.'
He had written down all his
Hadith in the end.
9. SAHIFA IBN MAS'OOD
ReplyDeleteHafiz ibn Abdul-Barr (RA)
mentions in his Kitaab, 'Jaame
Bayaan nul-Ilm' that ibn Mas'ood
(Radhiallaahu �nhu) took out
one Kitaab and swore an oath
that it was compiled by him.
10. SAHIFA AMR IBN HAZAM
(Radhiallaahu �nhu)
When the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
appointed Hadhrat ibn Hazam
(Radhiallaahu �nhu) as a
governor of Najran, he gave him
a Sahifa which was written by
Hadhrat Ubayy bin Ka'ab. It
contained orders regarding
cleanliness, purification, Salaat,
Hajj, Umra, Jihaad, etc.
11. SAHIFA IBN MUBAARAK
Hadhrat Sa'eed ibn Hilaal says,
'When we frequented Hadhrat
Anas bin Maalik he took out a
volume and said, 'I heard these
from the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). I
have written it and preserved
it.' (Mustadrak Hakim vol. 3 pg.
54)
12. There are many other small
Sahifas which the holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) sent
to the kings; and, other
compilations which have been
omitted for the sake of brevity.
THE ERA OF HADHRAT UMAR
BIN ABDUL AZIZ
Though the writing of the
Ahaadith had commenced it was
not done in an arranged manner,
i.e. it was compiled and codified.
Due to the pre-occupations of
the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen with
the compilation of the Noble
Qur �n and other important
matters, it was not possible for
them to accomplish this task.
However, when the politicians at
the time of Hazrat Ali (R.A.)
began to fabricate false
Ahaadith Hazrat Ali became
concerned about safeguarding
the authentic Ahaadith. He used
to stand on the mimbar and
announce the authentic Ahaadith
to the people. This continued till
the period of Hazrat Umar bin
Abdul Aziz (R.A.) who became the
khalifa after the demise of
Sulayman bin Abdul Malik. His
khilafat lasted only for 2 years.
After accepting khilafat, he
wrote to the judge of Madinah,
Abubakr bin Hazm saying,
"Whatever you find from the
Ahaadith of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam),
write it down. I fear the loss of
knowledge and the passing away
of the Ulema. (Bukhari vol.1 page
20)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentions that this
letter was addressed to all the
Judges of every province. A
large collection of Ahaadith were
compiled in this manner in the
first century. 1. Hafiz Ibn Abdul
Bar has written that Qazi Abu
Bakr has compiled many books
on Ahaadith called "Books of Abu
Bakr." 2. The Risala (Booker) of
Saalim ibn Abdullah on Sadaqaat.
3. The Registers of Zohri - he
says that whenever we were
given any command we compiled
a brief register. He had played a
great role in the compilation of
Hadith.
THE COMPILATIONS OF THE
ReplyDeleteSECOND - CENTURY
Various collections of Hadith are
found in this era like Jame
Ma'moon bin Raashid, Jame
Sufyaan Sowri, As-Sunem of Ibn
Juray - Sunan Abul Waleed -
Mu'atta Imam Maalik.
From the above discussion we
reach the following conclusion
that: 1. The recording and
writing of hadith had began from
the time of the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). 2.
Compiling had began in the time
of the Sahaba (R.A.) especially in
the time of Hazrat Ali (R.A.); 4.
Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz
strived in this matter and a
large collection was accumulated
during his period; 5. Many books
were compiled in the first
century; 6. the objections and
arguments of the Rejectors of
hadith are fully answered; 7. the
fitnah of Rejection in hadith is
old and detrimental to religion, in
fact rejecting the Quran; 8. the
Ahaadith are a complementary
and explanation of the Quran; 9.
the safeguarding of the Quran
entails the safeguarding of the
Hadith.
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best.