Obeying The Messanger-A New Look

By Yusuf Patton

Dear brothers and sisters,

Assalaamu aleikum wr wb,

Here is an essay entitled, "Obey the Messenger; A new approach to ahadith"

Allah Almighty who created all things, has given us only one book for our guidance: Al Qur'an Al
Karim. It contains guidance and rules for behavior in all walks of life for both man and woman.

"This is the Book; it it is guidance sure, without doubt,..." Holy Qur'an 2:2

Allah Almighty has promised that He will guard His Book from corruption:

"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it from corruption."
Holy Qur'an 15:9

Furthermore, Allah Almighty tells us that He has left NOTHING out of His book:

"Nothing have we omitted from the Book,..." Holy Qur'an 6:38

Al Qur'an Al Karim is the ONLY Book, Message, and Guidance that is sanctioned by Allah. It is
the ONLY Book, Message, and Guidance that Allah has promised to guard and protect. However, over centuries, there has come into our Deen many unauthorized books which add things to it. Traditionalists, those who uphold these other books with the Qur'an, have indeed strayed far from the straight path. They have discredited Al Qur'an by claiming that it is not complete. This essay will present two arguments from the traditionalists viewpoint and then give a rebuttal using Al Qur'an Al Karim. The arguments are as follows:

1. "Obey the Messenger", a phrase often used to support other books besides Al Qur'an.

2. Hadith explain the Qur'an and give us examples of conduct.

Whenever one upholds Allah's message alone, the traditionalits shake their heads and point out that
the Qur'an says "obey the Messenger". While the Qur'an does indeed tell us to obey the messenger many times, it does not imply ONLY nabi Muhammad, nor does it imply the observance of any other book(s). The word 'rasool' is not an exclusive term for nabi Muhammad as it means 'messenger' and their are many messengers named (and some not named) in the Qur'an. Secondly, the word 'rasool' comes from 'risala' meaning message. Without the Message there is no messenger. Although the Qur'ans final form, which we have today, was given specifically to nabi Muhammad, traditionalist's explain that 'obey the messenger' does not mean just ANY messenger but specifically THE messenger, nabi Muhammad, implying that nabi Muhammad is somehow more important than the others. This is explicitly condemned in Al Qur'an Al Karim by Allah:

s"...and the prophets, from their Lord; We make NO DISTINCTION between one and another among them,..." Holy Qur'an 3:84

It is irrelevent WHO received the Message first or
last for it is the SAME MESSAGE; "Our Lord! Grant us what You have promised to us through Your messengers,..." Holy Qur'an
3:194

"Indeed it was the truth that the messengers of our Lord brought unto us." Holy Qur'an 7:43

Each rasool had their own distinct personality, as we all do; they were not robots, but their message was the same. We are even told what their duty was:

ss"The messenger's duty is but to proclaim the message. But Allah knoweth all that you reveal and conceal." Holy Qur'an 5:99

Also, when we read about a nabi in Al Qur'an, we are told to obey him:"When Isa came with clear signs, he said, '...fear Allah AND OBEY ME.'" Holy Qur'an 43:63

"So fear Allah, and OBEY ME (Nuh)." HQ 26:108,110

In surah 73 we read that Fir'oun was punished for not obeying nabi Musa: "But Fir'oun disobeyed the messenger; so we seized him with a heavy punishment." HQ 73:16

In surah 4, we read that it is Allah's will that we obey ALL of the messegers: "We sent not a messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah." HQ 4:64

If we are told to obey them all, then it becomes quite clear that they must have had the same message. They had to have been in harmony with each other.

Furthermore, if we use the phrase "obey the messenger" to explicitly mean nabi Muhammad and therefore uphold his hadith, then using the same reasoning, nabi Musa, Isa, Nuh and Ibrahim must ALL have their own hadith too because we are told to obey them. So, where are their hadith?

The second addressed argument, and we will tie them both together, is that the hadith explain the
Qur'an as well as give us examples of conduct. Yes, nabi Muhammad did give us an example, but
then so did nabi Ibrahim;

xx"There is for you an excellent example to follow in Ibrahim AND those with him,..." HQ 60:4

"Ibrahim was indeed a model. Devoutly obedient to Allah, true in faith, and he joined not gods with
Allah,..." HQ 16:120

Allah points to the other messengers as examples to follow; "And We made them (the messengers) leaders, guiding by our command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practise regular charity: and they constantly served Us (and
only Us)." HQ 21:73

Why would Allah tell us to use nabi Ibrahim's example if we could not read somewhere what that example is? The fact is we can. It's found in the only source of Islam; Al Qur'an Al Karim. In the last two ayats above, Allah gave us a sampling of that example;

1. Be devoutly obedient
2. Be true in faith
3. Do not join false gods with Allah
4. Do good deeds
5. Establish regular prayers
6. Practise regular charity

Once we begin to open our eyes and really examine Al Qur'an, and not just chant the Arabic, the
answers to our questions come pouring out.

The second half of this arguement that the traditionalists use to uphold other books besides the Qur'an, that being nabi Muhammad HAD to explain the Qur'an, blatantly mocks Allah's words and implies that only the Arabs had to have the Qur'an explained.

If the message that nabi Muhammad received and transmitted to the people was the same message received and transmitted by the other nabi's, then we ask again- where are their explanations? Where are their hadith?

"Indeed it was the truth that the MESSENGER'S of our Lord brought unto us." HQ 7:43

"Our Lord! Grant us what you have promised to us throught Your MESSENGERS." HQ 3:194

Did nabi Musa's generation not need exlaining to? Were they smarter than nabi Muhammad's generation? How about nabi Ibrahim? Were his people smarter than nabi Muhammad's? You may not realize it but that's exactly what's being said when we hear "Nabi Muhammad had to explain the Qur'an." Does this make sense? Did the ability to think, analyse, and understand digress generation after generation until finally even a simple phrase needed to have another whole book(s) just to explain?The Qur'an is the ONLY book sanctioned and protected by Allah. The word 'hadith' is mentioned by Allah Almighty twenty-eight times in His Qur'an. 'Hadith' simply means a tiding, message, discourse, or story. Surprisingly, many Muslims seem to believe that the ALLEGED 'hadith' or 'khabar' of nabi Muhammad are a second source of guidance other than the Qur'an. The 'scholars' of Islam also say that without the ALLEGED other 'hadith' or 'khabar' of nabi Muhammad, the meaning of the Qur'an cannot be understood. Yet Allah says in His Qur'an; "Easy have we made the Qur'an to understand; is there anyone who will pay heed?"

Allah repeated Himself exactly, word for word, four times in Surah 54:17, 22, 32, and 40. Perhaps Allah wanted to repeat Himself four times because He knew that there would be 'scholars' who will insist otherwise. Now let's look at how Allah uses the word 'hadith' in His Qur'an;

"Allah has revealed the most beautiful Hadith in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, repeating it's teaching in various aspects. THIS is the guidance of Allah." HQ 39:23

Allah has stated that the Qur'an is the most beautiful (or best) hadith, therefore becoming the
guidance of Allah. This immediately renders ANY and ALL other 'hadith' as useless;
"There are, among men, those who purchase useless hadith without knowledge, to mislead from the path of Allah" HQ 31:6

Allah continues to tell us about hadith. He asks;
"AND WHOSE HADITH ARE TRUER THAN GOD'S?" HQ 4:87
Having said that the Qur'an is indeed the 'most beautiful and best hadith' (39:23)

Allah now asks whose hadith can be truer than His? Who is foolish
enough to answer Allah for this question? Bukhari, Tirmizi, Jaafar Al Tusi? God further asks;

sss"Have they not contemplated the kingdom of the Heavens and the earth and everything created
by God, that perhaps their own term is drawing to a close? IN WHICH HADITH AFTER THIS WILL THEY THEN BELIEVE? HQ 7:185

"These are the revelations of Allah which We recite to you correctly. IN WHAT OTHER HADITHTHAN GOD AND HIS REVELATIONS
WOULD THEY THEN BELIEVE?" HQ 45:6

"In what other hadith after this will they then
believe?" HQ 77:50

Again, who is willing to be foolish enough to step forward to answer Allah? Why would anyone write their hadith and then claim that it is 'true', 'sahih', 'hassan', etc, etc,? Allah always provided answers; "There are among men those who sell idle (useless) hadith to mislead people from the path of Allah and to ridicule. For such menthere will be a humiliating penalty." HQ 31:6

No one has ever been authorized by Allah to write any hadith other than the 'best, most beautiful hadith' which is the Qur'an. Because they have chosen to go against Allah, and because their 'hadith' are not sanctioned by Allah, their actions can onlymislead people. For them Allah has promised; "On that day, those who reject faith and disobey the messenger will wish that the earth were made level with them. But never will they hide a single hadith from Allah." HQ 4:42

Which 'hadith' do you suppose Allah is referring to here? It cannot be the Qur'an, because it is Allah who has sent the Qur'an as the 'best, most beautiful hadith'. Can it be Bukhari's 'sahih', Abu Dawood's 'sunan', or Jaafar Al Tusi's 'khabar' etc, etc? Think very carefully? "Then leave me alone with those who reject this hadith. By degrees shall We punish them, from directions they perceive not." HQ 68:44

According to Almighty Allah, the people who have written their own hadith will have much to answer. When they write their own unauthorized 'hadith' they will be punished from directions which they will never perceive. In the 'best hadith', the Qur'an, Allah has asked the disbelievers; "Let them produce a hadith like this (Qur'an), if indeed they speak the truth." HQ 52:34

Ironically it is not the disbelievers but rather our very own Imam Bukhari and others who have tried a hand at answering this challenge from Allah.

They have also created the concept of 'hadith qudsi'.

According to the likes of Imam Bukhari and friends, the 'hadith qudsi' are 'actually' the unrevealedverses of the Qur'an!!!! They have bravely (foolishly) risen to answer Allah's challenge in the abovesurah (52:34), but Allah says; "Then woe to those who write the book with thier own hands and then say; 'This is from Allah', to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby." HQ 2:79

Another critical problem lies with these ALLEGED hadith; a large portion of Bukhari's 'hadith' are derived from the 'father of cats' or more commonly known as Abu Hurayra. Despite the fact that Sunni 'scholars' cannot provide any evidence for the existence of Abu Hurayra (no one knows the real name of the 'father of cats'), the largest portion of Sunni theology is derived from 'hadith' narrated by "Abu Hurayra the unknown". Among the 'hadith' narrated by 'Abu Hurayra the unknown', we can find fables about what nabi Muhammad did in the bathroom, in his bedroom, etc.

According to 'Abu Hurayra the unknown' he stuch very close to nabi Muhammad and thus was able to observe him at close quarters. But Allah told the 'companions' not to annoy the messenger of God in his home; "Oh you who believe, do not enter the houses of the Prophet until permission is given to you for a meal, not too early as to wait for its preparation, but when you are envited enter. And when you have taken your meal, disperse, WITHOUT WAITING AROUND FOR ANY HADITH. Such behavior annoys the Prophet. He is ashamed to dismiss you, but Allah is not ashamed to tell you the truth." HQ 33:53

If the believers were told not to enter the Prophet's house too freely and not even to hang around waiting for any 'hadith', how then could Abu Hurayra the unknown know about nabi Muhammad's domestic habits? Insisting that Al Qur'an Al Karim is difficult to understand and that it needs outside explaining is something many Muslims believe. Yet Allah the ALl KNOWING has stated;
"And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember; Then is there any that will receive admonition?" HQ 54:17

He also states that the Qur'an is clear; "By the Book that makes things clear-We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand it." HQ 43:2-3

And finally, Allah informs exactly WHO will explain it. After all, who better to explain Allah's book
than Allah?; "It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it: But when We have promulgated it, follow thou it's recital; nay more, IT IS FOR US TO EXPLAIN IT AND MAKE IT CLEAR" HQ 75:17-19

It is quite clear that Allah will never accept any hadith other than the Qur'an, which is the best hadith.

One last position must be stated. By accepting the Qur'an only, a challenge is NOT being made to
nabi Muhammad, but rather to the beleif that any of the so-called 'hadith' are from nabi Muhammad.

This in no way compromises the Deen of Allah, quite the contrary; it guides us all back to the straight path.