A Review of the Compilation and Authenticity of Hadith (Part 11)
Or, for example, he said in another place: «عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّى أَنْ جَاءهُ الأعْمَى وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُ يَزَّكَّى» Translation: “He frowned and turned away because the blind man came to him. But what could make you know that perhaps he would be purified?” Does the Holy Quran reveal who this blind man was? And who were those present in the presence of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?
Also, regarding the battles of Ahzab, Hunayn, etc., whose events are partially described in the Quran, if the collection of narrations and hadiths is deemed unacceptable, can the necessary explanations and details of these events be found elsewhere? In another place in the Holy Quran, it is mentioned: «وَإذْ يَعِدُكُمُ الله إحدى الطائفتين أَنهَا لَكُمْ» “And when Allah promised you [victory over] one of the two groups, it is for you.”
Can anyone determine from the Quran alone who these two groups were? And where is the promise that Allah Almighty mentioned here stated? If it is not clear from the Quran, it must be accepted that another revelation was also sent down to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Or, for example, it is mentioned in the Holy Quran: «إذْ أَنْتُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ بِالْعُدْوَةِ الْقُصْوَى وَالرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ» That is: “When you were on the near side, and they were on the far side and the caravan was below you.”
Can anyone tell which event is being referred to here and which place is meant by the far and near sides? And which caravan was below them?
It is also mentioned in the Holy Quran: «لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَة» That is: “Indeed, Allah has helped you in many places.”
Can these many places be identified without referring to the narrations?
It is also stated in the Quran: «الا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِه لا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا» “If you do not help him, then indeed Allah has already helped him when the disbelievers drove him out. The second of the two was when they were in the cave, when he said to his Sahaba: Do not grieve, indeed Allah is with us.”
In this verse, where did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) come out? Who was his Sahaba? And in which cave did he take refuge with his companion? Can these questions be answered solely from the Quran? Is there any other way to find out these matters aside from referring to the hadiths?
It also says somewhere: «لَمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوى مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَق أَنْ تَقُومَ فِيهِ، فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا» “A mosque founded on piety from the beginning is more deserving that you should stand in it, and in it are men who love to purify themselves.”
Which mosque is this? And who are the people praised in this verse? And what was the characteristic of their purity that was praised in this verse? Can the answers to these questions be found solely in the Quran?
It also states: «وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا» That is, “Allah will also accept the repentance of the three who were left behind [without any judgment for the future].”
Who were these three people? What is their story? Why was their matter postponed? Can these matters be clarified without relying on the narrations?
It is also mentioned: «وَأَنْزَلَ الَّذِينَ ظَاهَرُوهُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مِنْ صَيَاصِيْهِمْ وَقَذَفَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الرَّعْبَ فَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ وَتَأْسِرُونَ فَرِيقًا وَأَوْرَثَكُمْ أَرْضَهُمْ وَدِيَارَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ وَأَرْضًا لَمْ تَطَؤُوهَا» Meaning: “And He brought down those who had helped and assisted these armies from the People of the Book from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts. You killed some and captivated others, and finally, He made you inherit their land, houses, and wealth, and He also gave you another land that you had not yet set foot in (the land of Khaybar).”
Who were these angels? Where were the lands and wealth? Also, which was the other land that the Muslims had not yet set foot in? Can these questions be answered without reference to the narrations?
These few examples are given only as samples. There are many such examples. What is meant is that after denying the narrations, it is impossible to understand the meaning and significance of the verses of the Quran mentioned and to explain them.
In short, anyone who considers the Holy Quran to be a divine book and who believes it is necessary for believers of every age and time to understand and act upon it has no choice but to accept the collection of hadiths and biographies that the Imams, mujtahids, and biographers have preserved and compiled with great effort. The majority of these narrations serve as an explanatory appendix to the Holy Quran.