Hadith
Those who accept Submission (Islam) as their religion unanimously agree that the Quran was divinely revealed by God through Prophet Muhammad during his time as a messenger of God. Unfortunately, traditional Muslims place higher value on the extremely popular Hadith, claiming them to be divinely revealed as a source of religious law and as additional explanations needed to explain the Quran. This claim challenges the word of God when He affirms that the Quran is perfect, complete, and fully detailed (7:52,10:37). In the Quran, God states that the revelations were given to Muhammad and will be perfectly preserved, containing no ambiguity or contradictions (15:9, 39:28, 4:82). Hadith cannot qualify as revelation or a source for religious law as they were assembled from reports of hearsay long after the death of Prophet Muhammad, and are full of ambiguity and contradictions, therefore failing to meet the divine criterion defined by God.
How God’s revelations are mediated to us
God has established a system for delivering His revelations. The system is designed to distinguish those among us who will believe in God’s revelations when delivered through a human being like ourselves.
O children of Adam, when messengers come to you from among you, and recite My revelations to you, those who take heed and lead a righteous life, will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
- Quran 7:35
Each of us must listen to the message and decide to believe or disbelieve. However God does not leave us without guidance in regards to making this decision; He gives us very specific guidelines to determine if the message we’re hearing are revelations from God:
- God selects a human being from among us who will receive the revelations mediated through an angel. (5:20, 16:2, 2:97)
- God’s messengers are given divine proof of their messengership.
- God’s messengers never ask for any money for themselves. (6:90, 10:72, 11:29, 51 26:109, 127 ,145 164, 180)
- God’s messengers advocate the worship of God ALONE, and the abolishment of all forms of idolatry. (10:104)
These guidelines establish a means for us to distinguish between God's messengers and those who attribute lies to God. With the exception of the time God spoke directly to Moses, the revelations are mediated through the angel Gabriel to a selected messenger (2:97, 26:192-194, 4:163), then they are delivered by the messenger to us, ultimately assuring the believers that the information is correct and from God. Outside of the mediators mentioned (angels and messengers), there are no subsidiaries involved in the flow of the message that could cause confusion or ambiguity.
Muhammad forbidden from delivering anything but Quran
God selected Prophet Muhammad to deliver the revelations in the form of the Quran. He was forbidden from uttering anything but Quran and specifically commanded to adhere strictly to the Quran. The following verses warned of punishment he would suffer had he uttered anything else or altered even a single word.
This is the utterance of an honorable messenger. Not the utterance of a poet; rarely do you believe. Nor the utterance of a soothsayer; rarely do you take heed. A revelation from the Lord of the universe. Had he uttered any other teachings. We would have punished him. We would have stopped the revelations to him. None of you could have helped him.
- Quran 69:40-47
They almost diverted you from the revelations we have given you. They wanted you to fabricate something else, in order to consider you a friend. If it were not that we strengthened you, you almost leaned towards them just a little bit. Had you done that, we would have doubled the retribution for you in this life, and after death, and you would have found no one to help you against us.
- Quran 17:73-75
We have revealed to you this Quran; a special revelation from us.
- Quran 76:23
Verse 69:46 above reconfirms that the revelations were specifically delivered to Muhammad and would have been stopped had he disobeyed God.
From verses 75:16-19 of the Quran we also learn that he was forbidden from explaining the Quran. This nullifies the claim made by followers of Hadith when they say Muhammad authorized Hadith to explain the Quran.
Muhammad Forbidden From Explaining the Quran
Do not move your tongue to hasten it. It is we who will collect it into Quran. Once we recite it, you shall follow such a Quran. Then it is we who will explain it.
- Quran 75:16-19
Muhammad was commanded to deliver the Quran, and nothing but the Quran. Since Hadith were assembled hundreds of years after his death from the hearsay of multitudes of different people, they were obviously not delivered by the prophet himself, thus Hadith does not fit the system established by God for delivering His revelations.
God’s revelations were perfectly preserved and without any ambiguity or contradictions
God promises the revelations given to Muhammad will be perfectly preserved and will not contain any ambiguity or contradictions. Hadith does not conform to this divine criterion as it is full of ambiguity and contradictions, and in many instances even contradicts the commandments found in the Quran.
Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it.
- Quran 15:9
Those who have rejected the Quran's proof when it came to them, have also rejected an Honorable book. No falsehood could enter it, in the past or in the future; a revelation from a Most Wise, Praiseworthy.
- Quran 41:41-42
Why do they not study the Quran carefully? If it were from other than GOD, they would have found in it numerous contradictions.
- Quran 4:82
Even the most devoted followers of Hadith unanimously agree the majority of recordings are not authentic and must be sifted away from the rest. These are referred to as authentic and unauthentic Hadith. The fact that this process must take place is proof in itself that Hadith are not revelations from God, nor can they be used for religious guidance or law.
Unfortunately Hadith narrations have become the basis of "Islamic law" despite the contradictions they contain with regards to the Quran. For example the punishment for adultery in the Hadith is stoning to death, which contradicts the Quran and yet is still the practiced punishment by the established so-called Islamic leaders. Both Quranic and Hadith references are seen below.
Quran:
The adulteress and the adulterer you shall whip each of them a hundred lashes. Do not be swayed by pity from carrying out GOD's law, if you truly believe in GOD and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their penalty*.
*24:2 Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the penalty, is the basic punishment (see also 5:38). The lashes shall be symbolic, not severe.
- Quran 24:2
Hadith:
I asked 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa, 'Did Allah's Apostle carry out the Rajam penalty ( i.e., stoning to death)?' He said, "Yes." I said, "Before the revelation of Surat-ar-Nur or after it?" He replied, "I don't Know."
- Fabricated Hadith Volume 8, Book 82, Number 804: Narrated by Ash Shaibani
Quran is fully detailed as a source of religious guidance & law
Followers of Hadith commonly claim the Quran is incomplete and Hadith is needed to explain the Quran. Many go as far as to say the Quran is too difficult to understand as a justification for this claim. Statements such as these prove that followers of Hadith do not know Quran, nor do they believe God when He states that His scripture is complete, fully detailed and easy to learn.
Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt. The word of your Lord is complete,* in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18).
- Quran 6:114-115
In their history, there is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is not fabricated Hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, provides the details of everything, and is a beacon and mercy for those who believe.
- Quran 12:111
God’s omnipotence is manifest in all the scriptures. Nothing has happened in the past or will happen in the future without God’s full knowledge of every tiny detail. God knew humans would claim the Quran is too difficult to understand as a defense to support the so-called necessity of Hadith; it is no coincidence that God proclaimed the Quran is easy to learn four times in a single chapter.
We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
- Quran 54:17
We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
- Quran 54:22
We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
- Quran 54:32
We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
- Quran 54:40
Importance of following the Quran alone
A common mistake made by most people regardless of religious denomination is that they blindly accept religious instructions and laws without taking the time to verify they are following the word of God. The majority of people are more comfortable with accepting information given to them by people they feel are knowledgeable and closer to God, as opposed to taking the time to read the scripture for themselves. This mode of thought is irresponsible and in the end will not help us as individuals facing God. God has given us the scripture and teaches us that we will be responsible for the religious laws we accept and the practices we pursue.
Crucial Advice
You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
- Quran 17:36
Upholding the Teachings of Religious Leaders Instead of God's Teachings
They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords, instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners.
*9:31 If you consult the "Muslim scholars" about worshiping God alone, and upholding the word of God alone, as taught in this proven scripture, they will advise you against it. If you consult the Pope about the identity of Jesus, he will advise you to uphold a trinity. If you obey the "Muslim scholars" whose advice is contrary to God's teachings, or if you take the Pope's advice instead of God's, you have set up these religious leaders as gods instead of God.
- Quran 9:31
The Idols: Innovating New Religious Laws*
They follow idols who decree for them religious laws never authorized by GOD. If it were not for the predetermined decision, they would have been judged immediately. Indeed, the transgressors have incurred a painful retribution.
*42:21 The Islam of today's Muslim world has been so distorted, it has become a Satanic cult. The Ulama, or religious scholars, have added many extraneous laws, prohibitions, dress codes, dietary regulations, and religious practices never authorized by God. This is one of the main reasons for sending God's Messenger of the Covenant (9:31, 33:67, and Appendix 33).
- Quran 42:21
The Quran details the laws and religious practices of Submission (Islam), a religion that is simple and devoid of all the nonsense and complexities that plague the traditional Islam we see today. It is not surprising that when we follow the religion using Quran alone, the religion and its practices become easy and truly enjoyable to follow.
Baseless Hadith
Among the people, there are those who uphold baseless Hadith, and thus divert others from the path of GOD without knowledge, and take it in vain. These have incurred a shameful retribution.
- Quran 31:6
Quran: The ONLY Source
We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away in aversion.
- Quran 17:46