DOUBTS ABOUT SUNNAH?

II & Final Part

Imam Shafi‘ee mentioned:
Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) mentioned the book which is the Quraan, and mentioned the wisdom, and I heard from the scholars whom I accept, saying that the wisdom is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam), and this statement is similar to the verses of the Quraan. Because the Quraan has mentioned the Book and added the wisdom, and Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has ordered the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) to teach his followers the book and the wisdom. So, it is not proper to mention that the wisdom is anything other than the Sunnah of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam).

4- If Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has said:
“… We have not neglected anything in the Book..” (6:38)

Then what do we need the Sunnah for?
The answer is that the book in that verse does not point at the Quraan, because if you read the whole verse : 

“And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered.” (6:38)

The book in that verse is the tablet of records (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz) where everything that has happened and will happen in the universe is recorded on this tablet. No sane person could ever say that the number of animals, birds and all other creatures is mentioned in the Quraan.

Even if you think that the book in that verse means the Quraan, then it may be said that the Quraan explained everything including the order to obey the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) in many positions in the Quraan, and it explained that the Sunnah explains the Quraan , so how come you accept some verses and refuse others? 

“……. Do you then believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other?....”(2:85)

5- as for the following verse is concern:
“……. and We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything,…”(16:89)

If this verse means that only the Quraan explains everything, then where in the Quraan the forms of worship which are considered the pillars of Islam? All the Ulamaa of Tafseer (Interpretation of the Quraan) are agreed against this assumption:

- Imam Al-Awza‘ee said:
The verse (16:89) refers to the Sunnah.

-Allama Ibn Al-Jawzi in Zad Al-Maseer said:
When Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has said explaining everything, the Ulamaa referred to everything of the religion’s matters, in text, or that people should learn from what the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) explained or what the majority of Muslims agreed upon.

- Imam Al-Jassas said in Al Ahkaam ul Quraan:
It means that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has explained everything of the matters of religion by text & by proof, for there is not even a small incident but Allah has mentioned it‘s rule: by text or by a proof, what the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) has explained, is derived from the Quraan as Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has said:

“…… and whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back,…….”(59:7)

“……… and most surely you show the way to the right path:” (42:52)

“Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them.” (4:80)

So what the Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) has explained came from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), and it is an explanation of the Book of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). For Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has asked us to obey the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) and follow his orders and the resource of what the majority have agreed upon is also from the book, because the book has mentioned that what the majority agrees upon is right and that they do not agree upon a deception.

- Allama Al-Shawkani said in Fath Al-Qadeer:
The meaning of explaining everything is that it explains many rules and what left is explained by the Sunnah. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has ordered to follow the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) with what he guides and to obey him. This is mentioned in the Quraan and the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) said :

”I have been given the Quraan and what is like it.”

6- Some of the skeptics rely on the Hadeeth:
“Compare everything offered to you from me with the Quraan.”

But with that they are contradicting themselves. Because they are offering the Hadeeth as a proof while they claim that they only believe the Quraan. Why? Is it only a stubbornness as Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) said:

“And if the truth be on their side, they come to him quickly, obedient. Is there in their hearts a disease, or are they in doubt, or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will act wrongfully towards them? Nay! They themselves are the unjust.” (24:49-50)

First let’s search if this Hadeeth is an authentic one or not. It is known that this Hadeeth has a sequence of narrators which is discontinued starting from an unknown man.

Imam Al-Shafi‘ee said:
Some of those who denied some of what has been narrated from Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) relied on the Hadeeth: “compare everything offered to you from me with the Quran. If it agrees with it then accept it but if it contradicts it then I haven’t said it.”. So I tell them that no one could prove that this Hadeeth is authentic. It came by a sequence of narrators discontinued starting from an unknown man and we do not accept this narration.

The multiple sequences of narrating this Hadeeth are not authentic when studying it according to the rules of narration of Hadeeth. So, it’s not acceptable. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has asked us to investigate and make sure of things before accepting them:

7- The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) has already prophesized that some people would follow only the Quraan:

The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) said:
“I shall not find any of you reclining over his couch while being offered what I have ordered and what I have prohibited and then says: I do no know! I only follow what I find in the Book of Allah.”

He also said:
“I have been given the Book and what is like it, and there shall be a man reclining over his couch saying: we only agree on the Book of Allah, so whatever lawful thing we shall find in there, that we will do, and whatever unlawful thing we shall find in there, that we’ll not do.”

Imam Abu Dawood said:
We went with the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) to Khaibar alongside with his compa-nions, and the leader of Khaibar was a wicked man. He told the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam):

O Mohammad! Are you allowed to kill our cattle, eat our fruits, and beat our women? The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) got angry and said:

O son of Awf! Ride over your horse and call the people out by saying: the paradise is not lawful but for the believer, and gather to prayer. So, they gathered, then the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) prayed with them and then said: “There shall be one of you who will recline over his couch thinking that Allah has not forbidden anything unless it is mentioned in the Quraan. By Allah! I have adviced, ordered and forbidden things which are like the Quraan and even more. Allah has not made lawful for you to enter the houses of the people of the book unless by a permission, neither beat their women, or eat their fruits, if they gave you what is upon them.”

                                    (Concluded)