Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Whims
Al Jathiyah (Kneeling Down) - Chapter 45: Verse 23

"Have you seen the kind of person who takes his own whims as his gods? God has left that one astray - sealing his hearing, veiling his heart and covering his sight. So who can now guide him after God (has withdrawn His support)? Won't you take a reminder?"

One who comments on the eloquent text of a great man of letters or a great poet must study it closely and make fine distinctions in his commentary until he has explained the intended meaning of the text. The research gives expression to the purpose of the author of the text, and it sustains the meaning commensurate with the rhetorical norms of the writer. This is more obligatory and necessary when the text is a religious or sacred one, such as the text of the Quran, or a text of the Prophet, which attained the summit of human eloquence, and which turned within the horizon of the Quran, clarifying and detailing from the Prophet what was in the Book revealed to him.

It is enough for some words that one refers to the dictionary of the language for their explanation. However, some words are not understood except in the light of their context, and their purposes, and their local and historical situations.

We see how some have intruded what is foreign in the sciences of the Law, play in commentary on the words of the Quran and the hadith. It is a matter of regret to all with a kernel of knowledge, and to all with a conscience, for these are commentaries that do not rely upon the logic of religion or of language or of science. They are following only their whims, and as Ibn Abbas puts it, whim is the worst of what is worshipped on earth.

Compiled From:
"The Holy Quran: Guidance for Life" - Yahiya Emerick, p. 360
"Approaching the Sunnah" - Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, pp. 182, 183

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Vulnerability and Power

The Prophet, peace be upon him, knew where both his vulnerability and his power came from, when so many enemies tried to deceive, lure or destroy him. The signs in creation, his ability to marvel at events or at the seemingly slight details of life, to recognize the heart's charity in a person's generous word ("A benevolent word is charity." [Bukhari]) or through a fellow being's smile ("The smile you offer your brother [your sister] is charity." [Tirmidhi]), gave him that strength to resist and persevere. Being constantly with the One, and remembering His presence through a look or a gesture as the presence of the Friend and Protector rather than that of a judge or a censor - such is the meaning of excellence (al-ihsan), of the power of the heart and of faith: "Excellence is worshipping God as though you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He indeed sees you." [Bukhari, Muslim]

His companions recognized those qualities in him, loved him, and drew their spiritual energy from his presence among them. He taught them to constantly deepen that love: "None of you believes [perfectly, completely] until I am dearer to him than his father, his son, and all humankind." [Muslim] They had to carry on their spiritual and loving quest, love the Prophet, and love one another in God.

Compiled From:
"In The Footsteps of The Prophet" - Tariq Ramadan, p. 135

Blindspot!

Hadith Forgery

[continued from previous issue]

History and Context

1. Personality Cults

Forgery in hadith is believed to have begun in the context of personality cults which aimed to credit or discredit leading political figures with exaggerated claims. An example of this is the following statement attributed to the Prophet: "Whoever wishes to behold Adam for his knowledge, Noah for his piety, Abraham for his gentleness, Moses for his commanding presence and Jesus for his devotion to worship - let him behold Ali.

2. Political Differences

Political differences between Ali and Abu Bakr, Ali and Muawiya, Ali and Aisha, between Abdullah bin Zubayr and Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, and generally between the Umayyads and Abbasids were among the causes of hadith forgery. Numerous fabricated hadith have thus been recorded in condemnation of Muawiya including, for example, the one in which the Prophet is quoted to have ordered the Muslims "When you see Muawiya on my pulpit, kill him." The fanatical supporters of Muwayia and the Umayyad dynasty are, on the other hand, known to have fabricated hadith such as "The trusted ones are three: I, Gabriel and Muawiya." Political motives also seem to be behind the so-called hadith, for example, that "When the caliphate reaches bani al-Abbas, it will not leave them until they surrender it to Jesus the Son of Mary."

[to be continued ...]

Compiled From:
"A Texbook of Hadith Studies" - Mohammad Hashim Kamali, pp. 67, 68