16:44 used as a support for extra Quranic sources

[ahmad]

[16:44] Saheeh International
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.

بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ ۗ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾

Some argue that this verse is proof that we need extra quranic sources to understand the Quran. I think the main part is "letobayen".

I think they mean that according to this verse the prophet's role was to explain the Quran. Which for them justifies the need for other sources.


Thoughts ?

Thanks in advance.

[Sardar Miyan]

Allah asks Prophet Mohammad SA to explain the Revealation to Muslims & not anything else. The question of any other source does not arise. In some verses Allah said sarcastically " what Hadith do believe?( other than Quran ) Therefore there is no extra source to exist or believe.

[Joseph Islam]

Dear Ahmad,

Wa alaikum assalam

The Prophet was not simply a postman. He applied God's verses / guidance to his particular circumstances in his many capacities which I have discussed below in the quoted text. [1]

The prophet’s judgement and explanations given his specific circumstances of 7th century Arabia is one thing. It is quite another matter however, to assert or suggest that all his sayings were then faithfully transmitted many centuries after his death by fallible human beings who were part of another social-political environment. The two are not the same. Most Muslims in my humble view do not make this distinction.

As I mentioned in the post below, "Prophet Muhammad had TWO major roles during his ministry. His task was to deliver the revelations inspired in him by way of the Quran to mankind and in the same stroke, to IMPLEMENT ITS guidance in the complete sphere of his life during his Prophetic ministry."

WAS THE PROPHET OF GOD AKIN TO A POSTMAN WHO SIMPLY DELIVERS A MESSAGE?

In discussions and in what is written, it is often implied that the Quran-centric approach renders the Prophet into merely a 'postman' who is tasked to simply deliver a message.

Such an attribution seems to be in part, a result of the limiting reading of verses such as 42:48, 13:40 and 5:99, in which the Prophetic role to deliver the message is emphasised without giving due appreciation to context and wider Quranic narratives.

If one studies such verses, one would note that such an emphasis to deliver the message is hedged with the underlying proviso that the Prophet would not be a warden over his people or be responsible for 'converting' others to the true religion.

Rather, it would remain God’s responsibility as to whom to ultimately guide. Hence, it is in this context that once notes the emphasis of the Prophetic role to primarily deliver the message.

Prophet Muhammad had TWO major roles during his ministry. His task was to deliver the revelations inspired in him by way of the Quran to mankind and in the same stroke, to IMPLEMENT ITS guidance in the complete sphere of his life during his Prophetic ministry.

The Prophet made use of the Quran as a clarification (tibiana lekulli shaye 16:89) and a guide to apply to his particular circumstances where:

(1) He made judgments by making use of the Quran's guidance. (24:48)
(2) He was an arbitrator and settled disputes (24:51; 8:46)
(3) He was a counsellor / consultant (58:12)
(4) He was a military leader and made use of the Quran's guidance to conduct his affairs during war (8:1; 8:7)
(5) He was a community leader (60:12) and consulted with his contemporaries to make best decisions for the community (3:159)
(6) He was the state leader of a chain of commands (4:59)
(7) He was the community's treasurer (8:41)
[8] He was a spiritual leader and was tasked to proclaim the message and deliver warnings (38:70)
(9) He was a spiritual guide in his personal sphere (e.g. with his wives 33:33)

In all that he did engulfing his ministry and in dealing with his wider circumstances, the Prophet made use of God's guidance as revealed to him by the Quran.

If one were alive during His ministry and took ‘BAYA'A’ (oath of allegiance) with him (60:12; 48:18), then as a believer, one would be expected to follow / obey the Prophet's commands. A 'baya'a' with the Prophet would be akin to making an oath with God Himself (48:10).

However, the Prophet is not alive today to take 'baya'a with nor are the circumstances present for the Prophet to implement the Quran's guidance. We all exist in different communities, at a different time with differing circumstances and challenges.

Prophetic practice refers to the practical responses of a Prophet in his capacity as a guide sent by God to deal with the circumstances that he is presented with during his ministry. In such a capacity, a Prophet makes use of Divine guidance revealed to him and implements them in the best possible manner to his circumstances. Therefore, for the Prophet's Sunna to have any intrinsic relevance, the circumstances of 7th century Arabia that the Prophet faced would also inevitably need to exist.

Hence, there is no Quranic warrant to 'religiously' sanction a corpus that 'allegedly' details a practice of a people of a certain time of ancient history.

Indeed, one should attempt to understand how a people attempted to implement the guidance of the Quran to their particular circumstances to gain any pearls of underlying wisdom and possible best practice. However, this should not be understood as 'religiously binding'.

Therefore, to draw an analogy of the Prophet simply with a 'postman' is not only unduly inappropriate and restrictive; it is also without any Quranic warrant regardless of who makes the assertion.

Similarly, to make use of Prophetic practice to sanction a corpus as 'religiously binding' also remains without any Quranic warrant.

[2]

I hope that helps, God willing
Joseph


REFERENCES:

[1] Was the Prophet of God Akin to a Postman Who Simply Delivers a Message?
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/247680292035772
[2] TIME-BOUND SUNNA
http://quransmessage.com/articles/timebound%20sunna%20FM3.htm

[ahmad]

Thank you for the replies.