When debating with the people of the scripture, it is most effective to use sources they recognize which they claim to uphold rather than sources they doubt. So, for example, if one is debating with a Christian, it is more effective to use the New Testament. If one was to argue with a Christian using the Quran, it is easy for them to dismiss the claims because they do not recognize the Quran as a legitimate source. Similarly, if one is debating a traditionalist, it is helpful to show the flaws in their logic based on the Hadith they claim to uphold. One could use the Quran since traditionalists recognize this as a divine book from God, but by their logic, they think the Hadith supersedes the Quran in understanding.
For instance, al-Shāfiʿī, the founder of the Shafi’i school of Sunni jurisprudence, argued that the Sunnah stands on equal footing with the Quran in authority for “the command of the prophet is the command of God.” Yet despite this claim, we see that time and time again, they take the ruling of the Hadith over the Sunnah.
Ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali school of Sunni jurisprudence, took this one step further and argued that “The Quran needs the Sunnah more than the Sunnah needs the Quran.” Therefore if I argue with people with this mentality and attempt to make my points using the Quran alone, they will most likely disregard my claims. So this article aims to dismantle the Sunnah using the Hadith itself.
#1 Muhammad was human
Rafi’ b. Khadij reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina and the people had been grafting the trees. He said: What are you doing? They said: We are grafting them, whereupon he said: It may perhaps be good for you if you do not do that, so they abandoned this practice (and the date-palms) began to yield less fruit. They made a mention of it (to the Holy Prophet), whereupon he said: I am a human being, so when I command you about a thing pertaining to religion, do accept it, and when I command you about a thing out of my personal opinion, keep it in mind that I am a human being. ‘Ikrima reported that he said something like this.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الرُّومِيِّ الْيَمَامِيُّ، وَعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ، جَعْفَرٍ الْمَعْقِرِيُّ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمَّارٍ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّجَاشِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي رَافِعُ بْنُ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ قَدِمَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَهُمْ يَأْبُرُونَ النَّخْلَ يَقُولُونَ يُلَقِّحُونَ النَّخْلَ فَقَالَ ” مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ” . قَالُوا كُنَّا نَصْنَعُهُ قَالَ ” لَعَلَّكُمْ لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا كَانَ خَيْرًا ” . فَتَرَكُوهُ فَنَفَضَتْ أَوْ فَنَقَصَتْ – قَالَ – فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ ” إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَخُذُوا بِهِ وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ مِنْ رَأْىٍ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ ” . قَالَ عِكْرِمَةُ أَوْ نَحْوَ هَذَا . قَالَ الْمَعْقِرِيُّ فَنَفَضَتْ . وَلَمْ يَشُكَّ .
#2 Muhammad Made Mistakes in Religion
‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us five (rak’ahs in prayer). We said: Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been extended? He said: What is the matter? They said: You have said five (rak’ahs). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Verily I am a human being like you. I remember as you remember and I forget just as you forget. He then performed two prostrations as (compensation of) forgetfulness.
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ عَوْنُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ الْكُوفِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ النَّهْشَلِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَمْسًا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَزِيدَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ ” وَمَا ذَاكَ ” . قَالُوا صَلَّيْتَ خَمْسًا . قَالَ ” إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ أَذْكُرُ كَمَا تَذْكُرُونَ وَأَنْسَى كَمَا تَنْسَوْنَ ” . ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَىِ السَّهْوِ .
#3 Muhammad’s judgment was fallible
Narrated Um Salama: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “I am only a human being, and you people (opponents) come to me with your cases; and it may be that one of you can present his case eloquently in a more convincing way than the other, and I give my verdict according to what I hear. So if ever I judge (by error) and give the right of a brother to his other (brother) then he (the latter) should not take it, for I am giving him only a piece of Fire.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ، وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَىَّ، وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بِحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَأَقْضِي نَحْوَ مَا أَسْمَعُ، فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بِحَقِّ أَخِيهِ شَيْئًا فَلاَ يَأْخُذْهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ ”.
#4 Muhammad’s Judgment Came From Quran Alone
Narrated `Aisha: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and I told him about the slave-girl (Barirah) Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is for the one who manumits.” In the evening the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, “Why do some people impose conditions which are not present in Allah’s Book (Laws)? Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in Allah’s Laws, then that condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for Allah’s conditions are more binding and reliable.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ـ رضى الله عنها دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” اشْتَرِي وَأَعْتِقِي، فَإِنَّ الْوَلاَءَ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ”. ثُمَّ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْعَشِيِّ، فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ” مَا بَالُ أُنَاسٍ يَشْتَرِطُونَ شُرُوطًا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، مَنِ اشْتَرَطَ شَرْطًا لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَهْوَ بَاطِلٌ، وَإِنِ اشْتَرَطَ مِائَةَ شَرْطٍ، شَرْطُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ وَأَوْثَقُ ”.
#5 Muhammad prohibited writing anything from him besides the Quran
Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Do not write down anything from me, and he who wrote down anything from me except the Qur’an, he should erase it and tell me and not he be blamed. But he who attributed any falsehood to me-and Hammam said: I think he also said: ” deliberately” -he should, in fact, find his abode in the Hell-Fire.
حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَكْتُبُوا عَنِّي وَمَنْ كَتَبَ عَنِّي غَيْرَ الْقُرْآنِ فَلْيَمْحُهُ وَحَدِّثُوا عَنِّي وَلاَ حَرَجَ وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَىَّ – قَالَ هَمَّامٌ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ – مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ” .
#6 Best People ARe Those who Focus on Quran Alone
Narrated Uthman binAffan: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The most superior among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ”.
#7 The Companions Were not Allowed to Ask about Quran to Muhammad
It is narrated on the authority of Thabit that Anas said: We were forbidden in the Holy Qur’an that we should ask about anything from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and then Anas reported the hadith in similar words.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ قَالَ أَنَسٌ كُنَّا نُهِينَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ أَنْ نَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ شَىْءٍ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ .
#8 What to do if differ on interpretation of Quran?
Narrated Jundab bin `Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Recite (and study) the Qur’an as long as you are in agreement as to its interpretation and meanings, but when you have differences regarding its interpretation and meanings, then you should stop reciting it (for the time being.)
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَلاَّمِ بْنِ أَبِي مُطِيعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ مَا ائْتَلَفَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإِذَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فَقُومُوا عَنْهُ ”. قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ سَمِعَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ سَلَّامًا.
#9 The Quran is the best Hadith
Jabir b. Abdullah said: When Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his voice rose, and his anger increased so that he was like one giving a warning against the enemy and saying: “The enemy has made a morning attack on you and in the evening too.” He would also say: “The Last Hour and I have been sent like these two.” And he would join his forefinger and middle finger; and would further say: “The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given to Muhammad. And the most evil commands are its narrators of Hadith; and every innovation is an error.” He would further say:, I am dearer to a Muslim even than his self; and he who left behind property that is for his family; and he who dies under debt or leaves children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me.”
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا خَطَبَ احْمَرَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ وَعَلاَ صَوْتُهُ وَاشْتَدَّ غَضَبُهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ مُنْذِرُ جَيْشٍ يَقُولُ ” صَبَّحَكُمْ وَمَسَّاكُمْ ” . وَيَقُولُ ” بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةَ كَهَاتَيْنِ ” . وَيَقْرُنُ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى وَيَقُولُ ” أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَخَيْرُ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ ” . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ ” أَنَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ مَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلأَهْلِهِ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْنًا أَوْ ضَيَاعًا فَإِلَىَّ وَعَلَىَّ ” .
It is worth noting that the word “muḥaddith” ( مُحَدِّث ), means “narrator” or “transmitter” in Islamic scholarship. In the context of hadith, a muḥaddith refers to someone who narrates the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
#10 Muhammad warned against spreading everything one hears
Ubayd Allah bin Mu’ādh al-Anbarī narrated to us, my father narrated to us; and Muhammad bin ul-Muthannā narrated to us, Abd ur-Rahman bin Mahdī both narrated to us: Shu’bah narrated to us, on the authority of Khubayb bin Abd ir-Rahman, on the authority of Hafs bin Āsim, on the authority of Abī Hurayrah, he said, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, said: ‘It is enough of a lie for a man to narrate (Hadith) everything he hears.’
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ ” .
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ ” .
#11 Muhammad advises rejecting Hadith
Narrated Aisha: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If somebody innovates (Hadith) something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected.“
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ ”. رَوَاهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْمَخْرَمِيُّ وَعَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ أَبِي عَوْنٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ.
#12 Muhammad warned against spreading Hadith
It is narrated on the authority of Mu’adh b. Jabal that he observed: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on an ass known as ‘Ufair. He (Mu’adh) observed: He (the Holy Prophet) said: Mu’adh, do you know what right has Allah over His bondsmen and what right have His bondsmen over Him? Mu’adh added: I replied: Allah and his Messenger know best. Upon this he (the Prophet remarked: The right of Allah over His bondsmen is that they should worship Allah and should not associate anything with Him, and the right of His bondsmen over Allah, Glorious and Sublime, is that He does not punish him who associates not anything with Him. He (Mu’adh) added: I said to the Messenger of Allah: Should I then give the tidings to the people? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Do not tell them this good news, for they would trust in it alone.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، سَلاَّمُ بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ رِدْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى حِمَارٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ عُفَيْرٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ ” يَا مُعَاذُ تَدْرِي مَا حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ وَمَا حَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ ” . قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ ” فَإِنَّ حَقَّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلاَ يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَحَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لاَ يُعَذِّبَ مَنْ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا ” . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ أُبَشِّرُ النَّاسَ قَالَ ” لاَ تُبَشِّرْهُمْ فَيَتَّكِلُوا ” .
#13 Muhammad warned against narrators of Hadith
Muhammad bin Abd Allah bin Numayr and Zuhayr bin Harb narrated to me, they said Abd Allah bin Yazīd narrated to us, he said Sa’īd bin Abī Ayyūb narrated to me, he said Abū Hāni’ narrated to me, on the authority of Uthmān Muslim bin Yasār, on the authority of Abī Hurayrah, on the authority of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, he said: ‘There will be in the last of my nation a people narrating to you what you nor your fathers heard, so beware of them.’
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، مُسْلِمِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ “ سَيَكُونُ فِي آخِرِ أُمَّتِي أُنَاسٌ يُحَدِّثُونَكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَسْمَعُوا أَنْتُمْ وَلاَ آبَاؤُكُمْ فَإِيَّاكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ” .
#14 HAdith States the Hadith narrators will not be saved on the day of Resurrection
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Some of my companions will come to me at my Lake Fount, and after I recognize them, they will then be taken away from me, whereupon I will say, ‘My companions!’ Then it will be said, ‘You do not know what they narrated (Hadith) in the religion after you.”
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لَيَرِدَنَّ عَلَىَّ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي الْحَوْضَ، حَتَّى عَرَفْتُهُمُ اخْتُلِجُوا دُونِي، فَأَقُولُ أَصْحَابِي. فَيَقُولُ لاَ تَدْرِي مَا أَحْدَثُوا بَعْدَكَ ”.
#15 The only thing the prophet Left His People was the Quran alone
Narrated AbdulAziz bin Rufai’: Shaddad bin Ma’qil and I entered upon Ibn `Abbas. Shaddad bin Ma’qil asked him, “Did the Prophet (ﷺ) leave anything (besides the Qur’an)?” He replied. “He did not leave anything except what is between the two bindings (of the Qur’an).” Then we visited Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyya and asked him (the same question). He replied, “The Prophet (ﷺ) did not leave except what is between the bindings (of the Qur’an).
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ رُفَيْعٍ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَشَدَّادُ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ، عَلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضى الله عنهما فَقَالَ لَهُ شَدَّادُ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ أَتَرَكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ شَىْءٍ قَالَ مَا تَرَكَ إِلاَّ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ. قَالَ وَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ ابْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فَسَأَلْنَاهُ فَقَالَ مَا تَرَكَ إِلاَّ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ.
#16 The Only Divine Revelation (Wahi) left by the prophet was the Quran
Narrated to us Ahmad ibn Yunus, narrated to us Zuhair, narrated to us Mutarrif, that Aamir narrated to them from Abu Juhaifah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: I asked Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, “Do you have any divine revelation (wahi) that was not included in the Quran?” He said, “By the One who split the seed and created the soul, I have no knowledge of it except that which Allah may grant to a person from the Quran, and what is in this sheet (referring to a manuscript or a piece of paper).” I asked, “What is in this sheet?” He said, “The intellect, the freeing of prisoners, and that a Muslim should not be killed in place of a disbeliever.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، أَنَّ عَامِرًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ إِلاَّ مَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ فَهْمًا يُعْطِيهِ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً فِي الْقُرْآنِ، وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ. قُلْتُ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ وَفَكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَأَنْ لاَ يُقْتَلَ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ.
#17 The WRitten Paper
Narrated Ali: We have nothing except the Book of Allah and this written paper from the prophet (wherein is written:)
“The Sacred City, what is between ‘Aer and such and such, whoever he narrates therein a Hadith (innovation) or sheltered a propagator of Hadith (innovator), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. [And he said] The responsibility of the Muslim (Submitter) is one. Then whoever he violated (his responsibility with) a Muslim (Submitter), then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom. And whoever he turned away a people without the permission of his master, then upon him is the curse of God, the angels, and all the people. Not He will accept from him an excuse and not a ransom.”
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ التَّيْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، خَطَبَنَا عَلِيٌّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَلَى مِنْبَرٍ مِنْ آجُرٍّ، وَعَلَيْهِ سَيْفٌ فِيهِ صَحِيفَةٌ مُعَلَّقَةٌ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا عِنْدَنَا مِنْ كِتَابٍ يُقْرَأُ إِلاَّ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ. فَنَشَرَهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا أَسْنَانُ الإِبِلِ وَإِذَا فِيهَا ” الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَمٌ مِنْ عَيْرٍ إِلَى كَذَا، فَمَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ”. وَإِذَا فِيهِ ” ذِمَّةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ، فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ”. وَإِذَا فِيهَا ” مَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ صَرْفًا وَلاَ عَدْلاً ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1870 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1870
Sahih al-Bukhari 7300 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7300
Sahih al-Bukhari 3047
Sahih al-Bukhari 3172 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3172
Sahih al-Bukhari 3179 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3179
Sahih al-Bukhari 6755 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6755
Sahih al-Bukhari 6915:
#18 The Companions Rejected the prophet leaving them any writing except Quran because they believed the Quran was sufficient for them
Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the time of the death of the Prophet (ﷺ) approached while there were some men in the house, and among them was Umar bin Al-Khatttab, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Come near let me write for you a writing after which you will never go astray.” Umar said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) is seriously ill, and you have the Qur’an, so Allah’s Book is sufficient for us.” The people in the house differed and disputed. Some of them said, “Come near so that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) may write for you a writing after which you will not go astray,” while some of them said what Umar said. When they made much noise and differed greatly before the Prophet, he said to them, “Go away and leave me.” Ibn `Abbas used to say, “It was a great disaster that their difference and noise prevented Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) from writing that writing for them.
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا حُضِرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَيْتِ رِجَالٌ فِيهِمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ـ قَالَ ” هَلُمَّ أَكْتُبْ لَكُمْ كِتَابًا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ ”. قَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَلَبَهُ الْوَجَعُ وَعِنْدَكُمُ الْقُرْآنُ، فَحَسْبُنَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ. وَاخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ وَاخْتَصَمُوا، فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ قَرِّبُوا يَكْتُبْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كِتَابًا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ. وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَا قَالَ عُمَرُ، فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرُوا اللَّغَطَ وَالاِخْتِلاَفَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” قُومُوا عَنِّي ”. قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّزِيَّةَ كُلَّ الرَّزِيَّةِ مَا حَالَ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنِ اخْتِلاَفِهِمْ وَلَغَطِهِمْ.
#19 Companions Rejected Hadith
Muhammad bin Abbād and Sa’īd bin Amr al-Ash’athī narrated to me on authority of Ibn Uyaynah; Sa’īd said Sufyān informed us on authority of Hishām bin Hujayr, on authority of Tāwus, he said (Bushayr bin Ka’b) came to Ibn Abbās so he set about narrating to him. Ibn Abbās said to him: ‘Go back to such-and-such narration‘. Then [Bushayr] returned to it and narrated it. So [Ibn Abbās] said to him: ‘Go back to such-and-such narration’. Then [Bushayr] returned to it and narrated it. Thus [Bushayr] said to him: ‘I do not know whether you know all of my Ḥadīth and you reject this one and that, or if you reject all of my Ḥadīth and know this one and that?’ Ibn Abbās said to him: “Indeed, we used to narrate from the Messenger of Allah when one would not lie upon him, however, when people began fabricating hadiths, we ceased to narrate from him.”
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الأَشْعَثِيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، – قَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، – عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حُجَيْرٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ هَذَا إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ – يَعْنِي بُشَيْرَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ – فَجَعَلَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عُدْ لِحَدِيثِ كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَعَادَ لَهُ ثُمَّ حَدَّثَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُدْ لِحَدِيثِ كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَعَادَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا أَدْرِي أَعَرَفْتَ حَدِيثِي كُلَّهُ وَأَنْكَرْتَ هَذَا أَمْ أَنْكَرْتَ حَدِيثِي كُلَّهُ وَعَرَفْتَ هَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُكْذَبُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا رَكِبَ النَّاسُ الصَّعْبَ وَالذَّلُولَ تَرَكْنَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْهُ .
Conclusion
[39:23] GOD has revealed herein the best Hadith; a book that is consistent, and points out both ways (to Heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord cringe therefrom, then their skins and their hearts soften up for GOD’s message. Such is GOD’s guidance; He bestows it upon whomever He wills. As for those sent astray by GOD, nothing can guide them. [39:24] What is better than saving one’s face from the terrible retribution on the Day of Resurrection? The transgressors will be told, “Taste the consequences of what you earned.” [39:25] Others before them have disbelieved and, consequently, the retribution afflicted them whence they never expected. [39:26] GOD has condemned them to humiliation in this life, and the retribution in the Hereafter will be far worse, if they only knew.
Quran: No Ambiguity
[39:27] We have cited for the people every kind of example in this Quran, that they may take heed. [39:28] An Arabic Quran, without any ambiguity, that they may be righteous. [39:29] GOD cites the example of a man who deals with disputing partners (Hadith), compared to a man who deals with only one consistent source (Quran). Are they the same? Praise be to GOD; most of them do not know.
Hadith: A Gross Blasphemy
[39:30] You (Muhammad) will surely die, just like they will die. [39:31] On the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, you people will feud with one another. [39:32] Who is more evil than one who attributes lies to GOD, while disbelieving in the truth that has come to him? Is Hell not a just requital for the disbelievers?
Quran: Absolute Truth
[39:33] As for those who promote the truth, and believe therein, they are the righteous. [39:34] They will get everything they wish, at their Lord. Such is the reward for the righteous. [39:35] GOD remits their sinful works, and rewards them generously for their good works. ]
Profound Question
[39:36] Is GOD not sufficient for His servant? They frighten you with the idols they set up beside Him. Whomever GOD sends astray, nothing can guide him. [39:37] And whomever GOD guides, nothing can send him astray. Is GOD not Almighty, Avenger?
They Believe in God Yet, They Are Going to Hell
[39:38] If you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth?” they will say, “GOD.” Say, “Why then do you set up idols beside GOD? If GOD willed any adversity for me, can they relieve such an adversity? And if He willed a blessing for me, can they prevent such a blessing?” Say, “GOD is sufficient for me.” In Him the trusters shall trust.
