Popular Arguments Made When the Ahadith Corpus is Criticised

[Joseph Islam]

1. THE QURAN WAS COMPILED BY THE SAME MEN THAT COMPILED THE AHADITH

FALSE

The Quran as a canon was compiled and propagated in the prophet’s presence en masse (mutawaatir - through multiple chains) during his lifetime.  This would have been transmitted by the Prophet himself (foremost), his contemporaries and entrusted entourage.

The canonised hadith as we know them today are the works of fallible men centuries removed from the prophet and the immediate generations of people that came into contact with the prophet. [1], [2], [3]


2. THE COMPILATION OF THE QURAN WAS ALSO A HUMAN EFFORT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET

FALSE

These claims are sourced from secondary sources (such as Ahadith), not the Quran. The Quran’s own testimony provides clear evidence that the entire Quran was complete (15:87; 15:91; 17:88; 17:106; 30:58; 36:2; 5:3) and hand written by the noble scribes during the life of the prophet (80:013-16). [4]


3. THE QURAN WAS TRANSMITTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS AHADITH

FALSE

The Quran was propagated from the source (revelation to the prophet) by multiple chains en masse. The Ahadith corpus was propagated in the main as 'ahad transmissions' (limited corroboration, single source of evidence), simply by word of mouth allegedly across entire centuries. 


4. YOU NEED AHADITH TO PRAY SALAAT

FALSE

No Muslim learns to pray from a complete hadith. There is not one hadith in the entire corpus of the Ahadith canons that teaches a Muslim the complete salaat as it is practiced today from start to finish.

Salaat is a traditional practice from the time of Prophet Abraham (2:128), practiced by the people of the Book even before Islam was revealed in Arabia to the Prophet's contemporaries and then continued en masse generation to generation. This is an unbroken practice across the Abrahamic creeds. Past noble personalities such as Mary were simply expected to assimilate with the existing prayer practice of her day (3:43), as were the Jews of the time of Prophet Muhammad (2:43). [5]


5. THE QURAN ONLY PROVIDES BROAD GUIDANCE. THE AHADITH ARE REQUIRED FOR THE DETAILS

FALSE

The Quran claims to be a ‘tibaina le kulle shaye’ (clear explanation for all things) for matters of religion (16:9). Nothing is omitted from the Book (6:38) for necessary religious guidance for believers and God never runs out of words (31:27). The Quran further claims to be a Book which is explained in detail (fussila - 41:3; mufassal 6:114; tafsil 12:111)  and thus, the sole source of religious authority for believers. [6], [7]

The secondary source corpus such as Ahadith can indeed provide many insightful details which may assist present day Muslims to understand how early Muslims practiced their religion, but this does not warrant it the status of ‘authority’. That status belongs only to the revelation, the Quran. [8]




REFERENCES:

[1] WAS THE QURAN REALLY TRANSMITTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE HADITH?
http://quransmessage.com/charts%20and%20illustrations/en%20masse/enmasse%20FM2.htm
[2] TIMELINE
http://quransmessage.com/charts%20and%20illustrations/timeline/timeline%20FM2.htm
[3] WHAT DOES 214 YEARS FEEL LIKE?
http://quransmessage.com/charts%20and%20illustrations/214%20years/214%20years%20FM2.htm
[4] THE COMPILATION OF THE QURAN
http://quransmessage.com/articles/the%20compilation%20of%20the%20quran%20FM3.htm
[5] HOW CAN WE LEARN PRAYER IF WE DON'T HAVE HADITH TO TEACH US?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/prayer%20without%20hadith%20FM3.htm
[6] HOW THE QURAN DESCRIBES ITSELF
http://quransmessage.com/articles/how%20the%20quran%20describes%20itself%20FM3.htm
[7] THE QURAN STANDS ALONE AS SOLE RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE
http://quransmessage.com/articles/quran%20sole%20guidance%20FM3.htm
[8] QURAN-CENTRISM
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2622

[Joseph Islam]

Please also kindly see:

Techniques Deployed Against the Quran-Centric Position by the Tradionalist
 
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2621.0