Dear Wakas,
Thank you for all your work to differentiate the Ahadith from the Qur'an. You have helped me understand the importance of primary sources.
It seems the Hadith are a source of conflict, between believers and non-believers, and which prevent non-believers from becoming believers. Much of the anti-Muslim rhetoric comes from people
who do not know the difference between Qur'an and Ahadith, like myself not too long ago. Yet, the Ahadith also seem like a good secondary source, even though they seem to require a scholarly approach.
I believe all our scriptures benefit from a scholarly approach. Because scripture requires linguistics and historical comparison to make sense of everything.
The main scriptures (TaNaKh, Bible, Qur'an) seem to have a historical innate value and represent a world of knowledge, which adds context and wisdom. The
Qur'an is important, and adds context even to the Jewish and Christian perspectives. Another reason why the Qur'an is important, is because it values simplicity and clarity of word.
Despite the many inspired secondary books about the Bible in the Christian world (ex: Hymnals, Book of Mormon, Course on Miracles, obscure ministries like Witness Lee, etc...), the Qur'an is the revelation of an Arab Prophet. The word "Hebrew" (those who crossed over from Mesopotamia to Egypt) and "Arab" (nomad, also similar to the word "erev" or west) seem to have the same connotation.
The name Gabriel seems to repeat across the scriptures as a source of prophetic knowledge ( https://www.gotquestions.org/angel-Gabriel.html ). It seems as if it indicates the miracle of information preserved through time. The strength of time. There is no other document or recitation like the Qur'an. It fits in a very important niche, which explains the Abrahamic worldview from the perspective of the believers outside of Judea, the origin of the first scribes exiled in Babylon. Without Jewish scribes, we would not have the Torah or any later revelations.
We search for a personal connection to Allah through prayer, because Allah is the source of everything. We prioritize and value the documents, which preserve the oldest information. The Qur'an is unique, because although it was recited and written after the time of Jesus, it contains information about ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt that the Gospels do not. This is a sign.
Here is an article about a controversial Hadith, which when studied scholarly gives a more plausible and meaningful answer. Many people say that the Prophet Muhammed had a nine year old wife, and use it to slander his name and the religion of Islam. https://www.islamicity.org/104636/was-aisha-ra-9-years-old-when-she-married-the-prophet/
The article says:
- The sayings (Ahadith) that mention Aisha, are a secondary type from the companions, called a "hadith mursal".
- Other books reveal the local traditions of women and how they interpreted their age after puberty
- Sister of Aisha is mentioned, and their ages can be inferred by comparison
- The age of Aisha was probably 17 or 18
I agree with the people in this video and article from Islamicity, because I believe it is important to honor and defend the Prophet Muhammed, who was the messenger that delivered the Qur'an.
As someone who comes from a Christian background and who admires Jesus as an important prophet and a distinguished Jewish leader, I believe it is important to keep balance and honor Prophet Muhammed, who is revered by so many people.
Without the Prophet Muhammed, there would be no Qur'an. I hope scholars can learn to guide their studies of the scriptures around their faith. I hope scholars can search to prove things true, or give context, rather than using their knowledge to invalidate and critique each other.
To provide more context to the aforementioned Hadith about Aisha. One of my great-grandparents was 18 at the time of marriage.
Another perspective is that Aisha was indeed 9 years old, and it was the tradition of those old times. Yet, I want to search for the truth, because I do not find that acceptable in comparison to all the other good deeds of the Prophet Muhammed.
Others have also criticized the Talmud, for verses which talk about 3 year olds in marriage. Scholars of Jewish literature and believers should seek to find the answer for these similar topics. In one instance, I had heard a Mexican-American person say "of third age" or "de tercer edad" in reference to the elderly. In time, perhaps we will know more.
Simple outline of documents and records (For inspiration)
Written in Hebrew, and Aramaic. A record from the beginning of time to thousands of years before 0 BCE.
- Gospels, Paul's Letters, other letters
Written in Koine Greek. A record about the life of Jesus and his followers.
Written in Arabic, and still recited. A record from the beginning of time til the time of the Prophet Muhammed.
*Beginning of time from the perspective of the people tracking time through narrations.
Surah al-Ma'arij 70:3-7
Quoteمِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ
فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًا
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًا
Sahih Intl.
Quote3.[It is] from Allah , owner of the ways of ascent.
4. The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.
5. So be patient with gracious patience.
6. Indeed, they see it [as] distant,
7. But We see it [as] near.
Sincerely,
Firehear47