salam, peace be on to you...
lately i've been having a lot of discussion regarding the issue of the people of anti-hadeeth (also known as quraanites or quraaniyun). these people rejected the concept of sunnah/hadeeth in its content and its method of transmission, (among other reasons). and they claim to only holding to the Quraan as the only source of knowledge. i won't go into details and bluntly pointing their deviations on that matter, rather i'd like to share on why we have to hold on to the sunnah/hadeeth of the prophet, and also to point out the importance in following it. also there's benefit in pointing out the errors in the quraanites method of understanding so that we might not fall into this grievous error. may we benefit from it and may we have a better understanding of the status of the sunnah in our deen..
The Status of Sunnah in Islam: A Declaration that it cannot dispense with The Qur'an by Al Allamah Syeikh Muhammad Naseeruddin Al-Albani (rahimahullahu Ta'ala)
The Role of Sunnah Towards The Qur'an
You all know that Allah, The Blessed and Mighty, chose Muhammad (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) as His Prophet and picked him to deliver the final message. The Qur'an was revealed to him and commanded him to obey all what He had ordered him to do, that is, to expound His message to the people. Allah says,
We have revealed to you the Reminder (The Qur'an) to expound to people what was revealed to them (An Nahl:44).
I think that the declaration mentioned in the verse contains two orders:
1. Declaration of the word and its arrangement. It is the communication of the Qur'an and its non-concealment, and its pursuit to Mankind just as Allah, The Blessed Almighty, has revealed to the heart of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) which is the intent of His saying;
O Messenger proclaim what is revealed to you from your Lord (Al Maidah:67).
Aishah (radhiallaahu anha) is reported to have said 'Whosoever says that Muhammad (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) concealed something which he was commanded to communicate, it is a great calumny (falsification) against Allah.' Then she read the abovementioned verse. (Bukhari and Muslim have stated it.)
And according to the narration of Muslim: 'If the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) had concealed something which he was commanded to communicate, he would have concealed the saying of The Almighty:
Behold thou didst say to one who had received the grace of Allah and thy favour: Keep your wife to yourself and fear Allah. But thou didst hide in thy heart that which Allah was about to make manifest; you did fear the people, whereas Allah had a better right that you should fear Him (Al Ahzab:37).
2. The explanation of the meaning of the word or sentence or verse for which man needs an explanation, most of which bear reference to 'Mujmal' (comprehensive) verses or 'Amah' (general) verses or 'Mutlaq' (unbounded) verses.
Then comes the Sunnah and clarifies the sentences and specifies the verses called 'Amah' and defines what is 'mutlaq' that is, in reference to the saying (Qaul) of The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam), his deed (Fi'l) and the act he confirmed (Iqrar).
The necessity of Sunnah to understand The Qur'an and Parables on that
Allah says: The male thief and female thief cut off their hands (Al Maidah:38) is a fitting example of that. The thief described in this verse is general likewise the hand.
The oral tradition (hadeeth) explains the first of them and restricts it by 'as-sareq' (the thief) who steals something worth a fourth of a Dinar (gold currency) according to the saying of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) There is no cutting - of the hand - unless the thing stolen is worth a fourth of a Dinar or more (Bukhari & Muslim) the two imams have recorded this Hadeeth.
Again, the other is explained by the action of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) or the action of his companions and his confirmation. They used to cut the hand of the thief from the wrist as is known in the work of Hadeeth. The oral tradition explains the hand mentioned in the verse on Tayammum (dust ablution) And rub therewith your faces and hands (Al Maidah:6) is also the palm of the hand as is stated in a Hadeeth: Tayammum is the wiping of the face and the hands recorded by the two imams (Bukhari and Muslim) and Imam Ahmad and others from a tradition reported by Ammar bin Yasir (radhiallaahu anhu).
There are other verses that cannot be completely understood except through Sunnah. They are:
1. It is whose who believe and confuse not their beliefs with wrong, 'dhulm' that are (truly) in security for they are on (right) guidance (Al An'am:82).
The companions of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) understood the word 'dhulm' in its general sense to mean every wrong doing, even if it be little. On this account the verse is regarded as dubious and they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, which of us did not involve his faith with obscurity?' He (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) said; It is not that. It is only the 'shirk'. Have you not heard what Luqman said: Verily, 'shirk' is a very great sin (dhulm) (31:13). The two imams have recorded it with others.
2. Allah says: When you travel on earth, there is no blame on you to shorten your prayer, for fear the unbelievers will persecute you (An Nisa':101). It is obvious from this verse that fear is a pre-requisite for the shortening of prayers. Some of the Prophet's companions asked him: 'Why do we shorten our prayers while we feel safe?' He said: It is a charity from Allah, so accept it (Muslim).
3. Allah says: The carcass and it's blood are forbidden to you (Al Maidah:3). In explanation of this verse, the corpse of locusts, fish, the livers, spleen of blood are lawful. So the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) said: He has made two dead things and blood lawful: the locusts and the fish, the liver and the spleen.
Baihaqi and others have recorded it as 'marfu' type of hadeeth as also 'mauquf' type. The 'isnad' of 'mauquf' is authentic and it is as good as 'marfu' tradition, since it is not stated in the form of a 'ra'y' (decision based on one individual's judgement, not on Qur'an and Sunnah).
4. Allah says: Say (O Muhammad SAW): 'I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maitah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork) for that surely is impure, or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (Al An'am:145).
The Sunnah has forbidden many things not mentioned in the verse mentioned above, as for example in the saying of the Holy Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam): All predatory animals with tusk and every bird with claw are forbidden for consumption. There are other traditions which have forbidden the consumption of such animals as the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) is reported to have said on the Day of Khayber: Allah and His Messenger have prohibited the consumption of domesticated asses, for they are filth. The two imams have reported it.
5. Allah says: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants, and the things clean and pure (which he has provided for sustenance) (Al A'raf:32).
The Sunnah, too, has forbidden some adornments, and this is evident from the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) who is reported to have met some of his companions, and had a silk garment in one hand, and gold in the other, and said: These are prohibited to Muslim males, lawful to females. The hadeeths in their interpretation are many and well known in both the authentic collections of hadeeths, and others and the like of many examples well known to scholars familiar with hadeeth and Islamic Jurisprudence.
From what has been stated above, O Muslim Brethren, you can see the importance attached to Sunnah in Islamic Law. When we divert our intention again to the examples mentioned beside others not mentioned, we are certain that there is no way to understand the Qur'an correctly except in association with the interpretation of the Sunnah.
In the first example, the understanding of the 'sahabah' of 'dhulm' mentioned in the verse is on its general sense, despite the fact that the sahabah (rahiallaahu anhum) were, as stated by Ibn Mas'ud: 'The best of this community, most pious, profound in learning, least of dissimulation.' Yet with all that they erred in their understanding of that.
Were it not for the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam), who held them back from their mistaken notion, and made them take the step in the right direction in that the correct meaning of 'dhulm' in the context is shirk (association of partnership with Allah), we too would have followed in their wrong thinking. Allah, The Blessed and The Most High saved us from that wrong notion by the grace of the right direction of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) and his Sunnah.
In the second example - with Allah's guidance - if not for the hadeeth mentioned above, we would have been in doubt at least with regard to the shortening of prayer (qasr-as-salat) during a journey while secure - if we did stipulate the condition of fear as obvious in the verse - till the companions saw the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) shorten the prayers when it was safe and secure.
In the third example, if not for the hadeeth, we would have forbidden ourselves the consumption of good things made lawful to us: locusts, fish, liver, and the spleen.
In the fourth example, if not for the hadeeths, some of which we have mentioned, we would have considered lawful what Allah has made unlawful through the dictum of the holy Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) like predatory animals, and the birds which have claws.
And so in the fifth example, if not for the hadeeths in regard to this question, we would have considered lawful what Allah prohibited through the words of His Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) like gold and silk.
It is for this, some forbearers (as-salaf) say that 'Sunnah' pronounces judgement of The Book (al-Qur'an).
The Deviation of those who are satisfied with The Qur'an to the exclusion of Hadeeth
It is a matter of regret that according to the interpretation found in the works of some commentators and modern authors, that it is permissible to do what is stated in the last two examples: Consumption of the predatory animals and the wearing of gold and silk by referring their interpretation only to the Qur'an.
Today, a sect exists called 'Quranites' who comment according to their whims and fancies; without seeking the explanation of the authentic Sunnah. They only accept and follow the Sunnah which suit their desires, the rest they throw behind. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) is reported to have said that: None of you reclines on his bed, the order comes to him on an affair which I am commanded to do or not to do. He says: 'I don't know, what is found in The Book of Allah we follow' (Tirmidzi). According to another report: What is found in The Book of Allah as 'Haram,' we pronounce it 'haram' (forbidden). Surely, I am given The Qur'an and its example with it. Yet, according to another report: What the Messenger of Allah has forbidden, Allah has prohibited it.
It is a matter of regret that one renowned scholar has written a book on Islamic law and its dogma, and in its preface, he says that he has written it and that he has made reference only to The Qur'an.
This true hadeeth gives positive evidence that the divine law of Islam - As-Shari'ah - is not merely Qur'an, but Qur'an and Sunnah. Therefore, whoever holds fast to one source for reference to the exclusion of the other, he held fast to neither of them, since both complement each other. The Qur'an says: Whoever obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah.
Allah says, No, by your Lord they do not believe until they submit to your adjudication in all disputes between them, then they do not find themselves oppressed with your decisions and they completely submit (An Nisa':65).
Again, Allah says When a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, it does not behove a believer, man or woman, to have choice in their matter. One who disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path (Al Ahzab:36).
Furthermore, Allah says What the Messenger teaches you, take it, and what he forbids you, avoid doing it (Al Hashr:7).
In connection with this verse, I am marvelled by what is corroborated by Ibn Mas'ud (radhiallaahu anhu) that is, a woman came to him and told him, 'You who says: May Allah's curse be on 'Al-Namisat' and 'Al-Motanamisat' and those who tattoo.' He said 'Yes.' She said, 'I read the Book of Allah (Al-Qur'an) from beginning to its end. I did not find what you have said.' He told her, 'If you have read it, you would have found it. As for your reading what the Messenger teaches you, take it, and what he forbids you, avoid doing it.' She said, 'Certainly.' He said, 'I have heard the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) say May Allah's Curse be on the Al-Namisat.' (Bukhari and Muslim)
*Namisah: a woman who plucks hers or others eyebrows - to be a thin line - to seek beauty. Such an act is forbidden. It is a means to change the form of Allah's creation.
*Motanamisah: a woman who asks others to do it for her.
Inadequacy of Philology to understand The Qur'an
From what has been stated above, it is clear that there is no scope for anyone with all his Arabic Scholarship to understand the glorious Qur'an, without the help of the Sunnah of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam), his sayings and actions.
The companions of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) were the most knowledgeable in the language, which The Qur'an was revealed in, when it was not blemished by the incorrectness of the common folks knowledge or their grammatical mistakes. Yet, they erred in understanding the verses quoted above when they relied on language alone.
It is self-evident that a man well-informed of the Sunnah is more appropriate to understand The Qur'an and deduce the rules from it than one who is ignorant of it. How can it be a source to one who does not reckon it and does not make reference to it?
For this reason, it is part of the rules agreed upon that Qur'an should be interpreted by the Qur'an itself as well as the Sunnah, then by the sayings of the Sahabah... etc.
It is here that the cause of deviation of scholastic theologians (Ahlul Kalam) become clear, both ancient and modern, and their opposition to the forebearers 'As-salaf' (radhiallaahu anhum) in their doctrines not to speak of their laws. They are far from Sunnah, and knowledge of it, and rely on their intelligence and desires to decide on the verses of attributes and others.
What is best is what was written down in the exposition of Tahawi's doctrine (page 212 Fourth Edition):
When one is not well-informed of The Book and Sunnah, what would he say about the Fundamentals of Religion (usuluddin)? He only receives the assertion of someone. If he says that he takes it from The Book of Allah, he does not study the commentary of The Qur'an on the basis of prophetic traditions (hadeeth), and reflects over it, nor what the companions (Sahabah), and the following generations narrated, which is transmitted to us from the authorities whom the critics chose. They have not transmitted the system and arrangement of The Qur'an, but its poetic expression and meaning. They did not learn the Qur'an like children, but studied it with meaning. One who does not follow in their footsteps, speaks on his own accord. One who does that thinks it be the religion of Allah, and does not study The Book of Allah, he sins, even if he is right.
One who studies The Qur'an and The Sunnah, he is rewarded, even if he goes wrong, but if he is right in his opinion, his reward is doubled. Then he says:
What is obligatory, is submission to the Messenger (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) carrying out his saying and accepting his saying with satisfaction and belief without contradicting it with false ideas called 'apprehensive faculty' (Ma'qul) bearing doubt or complaint, or offering the opinions of men and the garbage of their intellect. We unite with The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam) in judgement, submission, obedience and compliance, just as we have unison with Allah, glory be to Him, by worshipping Him by humility, submissiveness, repentance and reliance.
In short, what is obligatory on all Muslims is that they do not separate between Qur'an and Sunnah; whereas, it is obligatory to take both of them and to formulate the law on both of them.
This is a safeguard for them, so that they won't fall right or left; and that they won't fall back in error as explained by The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa-sallam): I leave behind me two things. You will never go astray if you hold fast to them: The Qur'an and my Sunnah.
It is obligatory on the learned, especially those who spread the knowledge of fiqh and legal opinions among the public, that they shouldn't dare to argue with hadeeth unless it is well-attested.
may Allaah give us the guidance to the siratul mustaqim (straight path). ameen. Jazakallaahu khairan.