Author: Mohajer Azizi
Analysis and Criticism of Modernism in the Light of Islam (Part 25)
Doubts of Modernists in Denying the Authenticity of the Sunnah
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The Second Doubt
Modernists and Hadith deniers raise the doubt that the Quran has called its verses «بینات» “clear evidence” in various places. This also clearly indicates that the Quran itself is clear and does not need any further explanation.
Answer:
In response to this doubt, it should be said:
First: This matter, «بینات» includes issues of fundamental beliefs such as the evidences of monotheism, prophet hood, and resurrection, which are completely clear and obvious and can be understood with a little reflection and thought. However, other issues such as transactions, similarities, and some other rulings are not easy and «بینات» does not include them, and the Prophet is needed to explain them; as many transactions and rulings have been mentioned briefly and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has interpreted and justified them with his important hadiths.
Second: It is true that the Quran is “clear evidence”, but this does not mean that there is no need for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to explain and interpret the Quran, as the Quran has also made it the duty of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to explain and interpret the Quran, as it says: «وأنزلنا إلیک الذکر لتبین للناس ما نزل إلیهم» Translation: “And We have sent down to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them.” [1]
Third: The Quran contains rulings that cannot be understood without the Sunnah:
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The Quran has said:
«أقیموالصلاة» Translation: “Establish the prayer,” but the number of raka’ats, the quality of its performance, and also its times are mentioned in the Sunnah.
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The Quran has commanded the payment of Zakat; but nothing has been said about its amount, its quality and…, and they are mentioned In the Sunnah.
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The Quran has commanded the performance of Hajj and Umrah:
«وأتموا الحج والعمرة لله» Translation: “And complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah,” but the details of the rituals of Hajj are mentioned in the Sunnah.
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The obligation of fasting is mentioned in the Quran, but its details and issues are known from the Sunnah.
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The third doubt
In order to deny the authority of the Sunnah, modernists also argue that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the Ansar of Medina from «تأبیر» (the fruit of the date palms). Then, the same year, the trees did not produce a good crop and their fruits were not desirable accidentally. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said After informing about this incident: «انتم أعلم بأمور دنیاکم» Translation: “You are more knowledgeable about your worldly affairs.”
Answer:
The guidance and sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have two aspects:
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That part of his statements and instructions that he presented as a messenger and a lawgiver. This group of his statements has a legislative aspect and an explanation of the rulings.
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Another part of his statements had an advisory aspect, that is, they were presented as advice to the companions and Muslims. His statement: “You are the most knowledgeable about your worldly affairs,” belongs to the second type. Therefore, this statement cannot be used as a reason to deny the Sunnah, so this argument is completely false and has no scientific or logical aspect.
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Furthermore, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent to legislate and explain the Sharia rules, not to explain any worldly matters such as agriculture, architecture, etc. These are matters that can be mastered with experience and expertise. Therefore, the Sharia has also left the field open to reason and experience in worldly matters, which is a sign of the perfection of the Sharia, not its deficiency.
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The Fourth Doubt:
Hadiths were proof for the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who lived during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), but they are not proof for us. This is one of the most fundamental doubts of the modernists regarding the denial of the authority of the Sunnah.
Answer:
This theory and suspicion of modernists and Hadith deniers is a suspicion devoid of reason and logic; that is, they seem to consider the mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to be specific to the time of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) while there are many verses that clearly refute this theory and prove that the mission of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is universal and eternal until the Day of Resurrection:
- «قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا» Translation: “Say: O people! Indeed, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all.” [2]
2. «وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ» Translation: “And We have not sent you except as a bearer of good news and a warner to all mankind, but most of mankind do not know.” [3]
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«تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا» Translation: “Blessed and Exalted is He (Allah) Who sent down the Furqan (Criterion) [the Quran, the separator of truth from falsehood] upon His servant, that he may be a warner to the worlds.” [4]
4. «وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ» Translation: “And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.” [5]
Allamah Mufti Taqi Usmani (may Allah protect him) also rejects this theory and says: “The basic question is whether there is a need to learn from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in order to understand the Quran or not? If there is no need, then what was the purpose of sending the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)? And if there is a need for sending a Messenger, it is surprising that the Companions needed his teachings, while we are without need. While the Companions themselves (may Allah be pleased with them) witnessed the revelation of the Qur’an, were fully informed about the reasons for the revelation of the verses, and lived in the environment in which the Qur’an was revealed; while we are deprived of all these things.” [6]
Continues…
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References:
- A-Nahl: 44.
- Surah Al-A’raf, verse 158.
- Surah Saba, verse 28.
- Surah Al-Furqan, verse 1.
- Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 107.
- The authenticity of Hadith, p. 19.
