Legal aspect of hadith

[ralph]

I have studied Islam for some years now and believe I have gained a fairly good understanding of the basics of the religion at least and recently I created a web site (which I do not wish to advertise here) where I displayed some of my essays on the Qur'an and Hadith.

Soon after the first essays were completed I invited a fellow student of Islam to visit the site and eagerly waited for his comments and suggestions. His conclusion startled me!

He replied that I was "promoting a corrupt version of Islam" because I had stated: AHADITH WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SOUND ARE REFERRED TO AS THE SECOND SOURCE OF THE SHARI'AH (He is of the opinion that the Qur'an alone is the only source of Law).

My question is this:

Are there many Muslims who share his views. Can someone also explain to me please how they can justify this.

Many thanks
Ralph

[Om_Mohammed]

Hello, Ralph.

I will attempt to answer your question in the briefest possible manner. However, would you please tell me...are you a muslim? I notice that you have not entered here with the accustomed muslim greeting of 'salam'. It really makes little difference to your participation at this site...you are most welcome here, regardless of your religious preference. However, it seems rather odd to me that a non-muslim (regardless of his/her acclaimed knowledge of Islam) would make a site or a book or any other literature claiming Islam. I mean...how would it sound ... that me, being a muslim...write a book or author a site on christianity, say...or judaism, or any other religion of which perhaps I had not enough knowledge about. Islam is quite deep and extensive...and even muslims rarely gain enough knowledge and experience to be qualified to teach others...let alone non-muslims.

I would be quite interested in viewing your site. Please forward to me the address...if at all possible.

Now...to address the question at hand: yes...there are many nowadays who are claiming that the Quran is the only source. They are a newly developing sect of Islam, something which in itself (division into sects) is haram. They totally ignore the teachings and sayings of the prophet (SAAW), even using one quote from hadith to try to prove their point. They call themselves many names, such as: 'Quran only', or '19-ers', among some other names which do not come to my finger tips at this time. We have, in the past, had some visit this site, to argue their point. It is totally absurd, their argument that they raise, trying to ignore the hadith, yet pointing out their argument by using a quote from hadith. Also...we are told throughout the quran in many places...to follow the prophet, to take what he has given us, and to leave that which he has forbidden us. In looking to the hadith, it is not overlooking the Quran, but rather enabling us to implement the Quran to the fullest extent.

Again...please forward to me your address of your site...would be quite interested in viewing it.

Om Mohammed.

[ralph]

LAST EDITED ON 30-05-01 AT 11:23 PM (GMT)[p]Many thanks

for your time in answering my question regading those who follow the Qur'an alone. It is interesting and yet confusing to find that there are some who say they are instructed only by the Qur'an but then disregard the passages which clearly bestow the Messenger the responsibility of explaining the Message (for example 23: 23, 3: 164).

You asked me in your reply if I am a Muslim. I am a Christian but am very interested in what different peoples believe. I have studied Islam under the tuition of the Muslim College (London)and privately for this reason.

I realise Islam is an enormous subject and do not claim to have grasped any more than the fundamentals of the faith. So, why would I choose to publish some essays on the www?

Well, my eventual aim (God willing) is to have a site that will be visited by both Christians and Muslims and that they will use the message board to discuss the similarities and differences of the two faiths. It is my feeling that the two religions have more in common than most Christians believe and this is my aim, to point out to them that Islam is not some strange religion from the dark ages that many would have us believe. At the same time I am personally curious to compare the two religions and learn exactly which beliefs, issues, etc, are similar or not.

Anyway, I am a little reluctant to post my site address here for the reason you mentioned in your reply. I do not wish to be in the position of explaining to Muslims their own religion - especially as I am a Christian. However, when I am sure that the information is correct and that I am not misrepresenting Islam in any way then I will proceed with the above aim.

Email:

ralphmcdowell69@hotmail.com

many thanks

Ralph