Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 961 [Read full issue]
The Framework
At-Tirmidhi transmitted from al-Harith al-Awar: "I went by the mosque and found the people there delving into hadiths. I went to Ali and told him. He said, 'Are they really doing that?' 'Yes,' I said. He said, 'As for me, I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "It will become a trial." I asked, "What is the way out of it, Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "The Book of Allah contains news of what was before you, reports about what will come after you, and judgement of what is among you. It is a Decisive Word and is not a joke. If any tyrant abandons it, Allah Almighty will crush him. If anyone seeks guidance from other than it, Allah Almighty will misguide him. It is the firm rope of Allah. It is the Wise Reminder and it is the Straight Path. It is that which sects cannot make deviate and which cannot be disordered by tongues. Scholars can never have their fill of it and it does not wear out by repetition. Its wonders do not end. When the jinn heard it, it made them say, 'We have heard a most amazing Recitation. It leads to right guidance, so we believe in it.' (72:1) Whoever utters it is truthful. Whoever acts by it is rewarded. Whoever judges by it is just. Whoever calls to it is guided to a Straight Path.' Take it for yourself, Awar.'"
A religious judgement cannot be made on the basis of one hadith separate from others. One hadith must be added to other hadiths and then the combined hadiths compared with what the Quran indicates. The Quran is the framework within which hadiths are acted upon and it must not be overstepped. Anyone who claims that the Sunna overrules the Book or can abrogate any of its rulings is deluded.
Compiled From:
"The Sunna of the Prophet" - Muhammad al-Ghazali