A Review of Compilation and Authenticity of Hadith (Part Three)
In the second case, most of the prophetic hadiths play a significant role in the verbal interpretation of the Holy Quran. Of course, perhaps due to the limitations of our perception and understanding, the Quranic sources of these hadiths may not always be clear to us. However, there are many hadiths whose Qur’anic sources become evident with a bit of reflection. Here, I present at least two examples:
1. The Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, says: “None of you will become a believer as long as his carnal desire is not subject to my teachings and guidance.” With a little consideration, it becomes clear that this saying of the Prophet relates to the following verse of the Qur’an: «فَلَا وَرَبّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيْمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُم لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا» This means: “Swear by your Lord that they will not believe until they make you the ruler in the disputes that exist between them, then do not feel in their hearts any discomfort regarding what you have decreed and accept it with obedience and submission.”
«وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِن وَلا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ» This means: “When Allah and His Messenger command a believer, male or female, regarding something, they do not have the choice in their affairs.”
2. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stated: “Whoever has the means and provisions to reach the House of Kaaba to perform Hajj and does not perform Hajj and dies, there is no fear for him whether he dies as a Jew or a Christian.”
In relation to this issue, it is mentioned in Tirmidhi that this matter is deduced from the verse: «ولله على الناس حج الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْه سبيلاً»
However, because the entire verse is not included in the mentioned narration, many people have difficulty understanding the method of inference. Upon considering the whole verse, the relevant warning is evident from its concluding part. The complete verse states: «ولله على الناس حج البيت من استطاع إليه سبيلا ومن كفر فإن الله غني عن العالمين» This translates to: “Hajj to the Kaaba is a right of Allah over people for whoever has the means to go there, and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is free of need from the worlds.”
There are many other examples of this kind, but since the subject of our speech is currently focused elsewhere, we will limit ourselves to these two instances.
In short, most prophetic hadiths serve as explanations of the Holy Quran or derive inferences from it. According to texts such as «يعلمهم الكتاب ولتبين للناس ما نزل إليهم», these explanations and inferences are part of the duties of the Prophetic mission, and these texts and Qur’anic evidence indicate that the explanations and inferences of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are obligatory for his followers.
