Sunnis Followed the Sunnah of the Jews

Dhat Anwat ( ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ ) was the name of a particular tree that was worshipped in Arabia before the revelation of the Quran.¹ Pagans, including that of the Quraish, used to suspend their weapons on it as well as slaughter to it and devote themselves to it as they blessed and glorified it.²

In the following Sahih hadith from at-Tirmidhi, the companions requested that the prophet make for them Dhat Anwat like the pagans had. This incident supposedly took place on their way to Khaybar, which is understood to be in the year 628 CE / 7 AH, just a few years before the prophet’s passing.

Sa’eed ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Makhzumi reported to us, he said: Sufyan reported to us, from al-Zuhri, from Sinan ibn Abi Sinan, from Abu Waqid al-Laithi, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, when he went out to Khaybar, passed by a tree of the polytheists called Dhat Anwat, upon which they would hang their weapons. So, they (the companions) said, “O Messenger of Allah, make for us a Dhat Anwat like they have a Dhat Anwat.” The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Glory be to Allah. This is as the people of Moses said: ‘Make for us a god as they have gods.’ By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will follow the Sunnah of those before you.”

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سِنَانِ بْنِ أَبِي سِنَانٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى خَيْبَرَ مَرَّ بِشَجَرَةٍ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ يُقَالُ لَهَا ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ يُعَلِّقُونَ عَلَيْهَا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اجْعَلْ لَنَا ذَاتَ أَنْوَاطٍ كَمَا لَهُمْ ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ هَذَا كَمَا قَالَ قَوْمُ مُوسَى ‏: ‏ ‏(‏اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ ‏)‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَرْكَبُنَّ سُنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَأَبُو وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيُّ اسْمُهُ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2180
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2180

According to the above Hadith, the prophet’s response was to compare their request to the following verse, indicating the blatant blasphemy of what they were asking for.

[7:138] We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. When they passed by people who were worshiping statues, they said, “O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have.” He said, “Indeed, you are ignorant people.
[7:139] “These people are committing a blasphemy, for what they are doing is disastrous for them.

 وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ

 إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

The prophet then according to the Hadith claimed that his companions will follow the Sunnah of those from before. Additionally, the next narration it specifies that this meant that of the Jews and Christians.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: You would tread the same Sunnah as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step, so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah’s Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)” those before you”? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?

حَدَّثَنِي سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ، بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلُوا فِي جُحْرِ ضَبٍّ لاَتَّبَعْتُمُوهُمْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ آلْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى قَالَ ‏”‏ فَمَنْ ‏“‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 2669a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2669a

The situation presents a rather ironic dilemma for Sunnis. God willing, allow me to elaborate: Sunnis consider this Hadith to be authentic (Sahih). Consequently, if they accept the Hadith as true, they must also acknowledge the truth of the Prophet’s prophecy about the destiny of his followers. Put another way, the Prophet is declaring that his people are bound to repeat the same unfortunate precedents (Sunnah) that became of the Children of Israel.

Jewish Oral Law

Rabbinical Jews believe that along with the Written Torah given to Moses on Mount Sinai, he also received a secondary Torah known as the Oral Torah or the Oral Law. While the written Torah is contained in the Written Torah we have today, the Oral Law is contained in the Talmud.

The Talmud is a central text of Rabbinic Judaism and operates much like the Sunnis treat the Hadith to the Quran. It is a comprehensive record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs, and history. The Talmud has two components:

1. The Mishnah: Compiled around 200 CE, the Mishnah is a written collection of Jewish oral laws. It organizes and categorizes the Jewish oral tradition known as the Oral Torah. The Mishnah’s main purpose is to document the oral laws that interpret and explain the Written Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
2. The Gemara: Compiled between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE, the Gemara discusses and elaborates on the Mishnah. It includes rabbinical analyses, commentary, and debates on the Mishnah’s teachings. The Gemara helps to clarify the Mishnah’s laws and teachings, often providing practical applications and different viewpoints.

Together, the Mishnah and the Gemara form the Talmud, a foundational source of Jewish religious law (Halakha) and theology.

Quran’s Take on Jewish Oral Law

The function of the Quran is to clarify and supersede matters that have been disputed regarding the previous scriptures. The Quran first points out that Moses and Aaron were given the Kitab, which infers a written text. Secondly, the Quran not only does not mention an Oral Torah, but the very concept contradicts the verses of the Quran.

[7:145] We wrote for him on the tablets all kinds of enlightenments and details of everything: “You shall uphold these teachings strongly, and exhort your people to uphold them—these are the best teachings. I will point out for you the fate of the wicked.”

 وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْعِظَةً وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ

[6:154] And we gave Moses the scripture, complete with the best commandments, and detailing everything, and a beacon and mercy, that they may believe in meeting their Lord.

 ثُمَّ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تَمَامًا عَلَى ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ

[6:93] Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD, or says, “I have received divine inspiration,” when no such inspiration was given to him, or says, “I can write the same as GOD’s revelations”? If only you could see the transgressors at the time of death! The angels extend their hands to them, saying, “Let go of your souls. Today, you have incurred a shameful retribution for saying about GOD other than the truth, and for being too arrogant to accept His revelations.

 وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

[9:31] They have set up their Rabbis and monks 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.

 ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Believers only rule by God’s revelations

Ironically, the Sunnis have done the exact same thing as the Jews in their compilation of Hadith. They claim that in addition to the written Quran that the prophet also received the Oral Law known as Hadith and his actions known as Sunnah. Additionally, the Quran condemns such secondary laws for the Muslims by name, just like it did for the Jews in the past.

[77:50] Which Hadith, other than this, do they uphold?

 فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ

1	fabi-ayyi	فَبِأَىِّ	So which
2	ḥadīthin	حَدِيثٍۭ	Hadith
3	baʿdahu	بَعْدَهُۥ	after it
4	yu’minūna	يُؤْمِنُونَ	they believe?

[45:6] These are GOD’s revelations that we recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than GOD and His revelations do they believe?

 تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ يُؤْمِنُونَ

1	til’ka	تِلْكَ	These (are)
2	āyātu	ءَايَـٰتُ	(the) verses / revelations
3	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	(of) God.
4	natlūhā	نَتْلُوهَا	We recite them
5	ʿalayka	عَلَيْكَ	to you
6	bil-ḥaqi	بِٱلْحَقِّ	in the truth (*truthfully).
7	fabi-ayyi	فَبِأَىِّ	So which
8	ḥadīthin	حَدِيثٍۭ	Hadith
9	baʿda	بَعْدَ	after
10	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God
11	waāyātihi	وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ	and His verses / revelations
12	yu’minūna	يُؤْمِنُونَ	they believe?

[6:114] 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.

 أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

[6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

 وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

[6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.

 وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

Believers Only Rule by God’s Revelations

The Quran also uses some of the strongest language against those who rule by other than God’s revelations. This addresses not only the Jews who created the Talmud, that was never authorized by God, or the Christians who follow their Church Fathers who were never authorized by God, but also the Muslims who follow the Hadith that were never authorized by God. This is because the Talmud, Church Fathers, or Hadith are not divine revelations but only the writings of men who were never authorized by God.

[5:41] O you messenger, do not be saddened by those who hasten to disbelieve among those who say, “We believe,” with their mouths, while their hearts do not believe. Among the Jews, some listened to lies. They listened to people who never met you, and who distorted the words out of context, then said, “If you are given this, accept it, but if you are given anything different, beware.” Whomever GOD wills to divert, you can do nothing to help him against GOD. GOD does not wish to cleanse their hearts. They have incurred humiliation in this world, and in the Hereafter, they will suffer a terrible retribution.

[5:42] They are upholders of lies, and eaters of illicit earnings. If they come to you to judge among them, you may judge among them, or you may disregard them. If you choose to disregard them, they cannot harm you in the least. But if you judge among them, you shall judge equitably. GOD loves those who are equitable.

[5:43] Why do they ask you to judge among them, when they have the Torah, containing GOD’s law, and they chose to disregard it? They are not believers.

Honoring Previous Scripture

[5:44] We have sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. Ruling in accordance with it were the Jewish prophets, as well as the rabbis and the priests, as dictated to them in GOD’s scripture, and as witnessed by them. Therefore, do not reverence human beings; you shall reverence Me instead. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations, are the disbelievers.

The Law of Equivalence

[5:45] And we decreed for them in it that: the life for the life, the eye for the eye, the nose for the nose, the ear for the ear, the tooth for the tooth, and an equivalent injury for any injury. If one forfeits what is due to him as a charity, it will atone for his sins. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations are the unjust.

The Gospel of Jesus: Guidance and Light

[5:46] Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous.

[5:47] The people of the Gospel shall rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations therein. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations are the wicked.

Quran: The Ultimate Reference

[5:48] Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD‘s revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny—all of you—then He will inform you of everything you had disputed.

[5:49] You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD’s revelations to you. Do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you from some of GOD’s revelations to you. If they turn away, then know that GOD wills to punish them for some of their sins. Indeed, many people are wicked.

[5:50] Is it the law of the days of ignorance that they seek to uphold? Whose law is better than GOD’s for those who have attained certainty?

Hadith ≠ Divine Revelation

Despite the Quran clearly stating those who rule according to other than God’s revelations are disbelievers (5:44), unjust (5:45), and wicked (5:47), later Muslims, starting with Imam Shafi’i (767-820 CE, 150-204 AH) created this narrative that the Hadith is Divine Revelation (wahi). He did this by reinterpreting the word Hikma used in the Quran to claim that this was in reference to the Hadith, except prior to him and his contemporaries, none of the scholars held this understanding.

In the book Hadith As Scripture: Discussions on the Authority of Prophetic Traditions in Islam, by Aisha Y. Musa, on page 41, it states:

Up to this point, al-Shafi’i has relied primarily on interpretation of Qur’anic verses to convince his adversary of the obligation to accept the authority of the Hadith. The interpretation of hikma as Sunna is central to al-Shafi’i’s argument. In examining Qur’an commentaries that predate or are contemporary with al-Shafi’i in his work in the Risala, where he presents the same line of argument, Lowry finds that with the exception of Abd al-Razzaq’s [d. 827 CE / 211 AH] commentary on 33:34, no one interprets the word hikma as sunna. My own investigation of early Qur’an commentaries reveals much the same thing. However, the commentary of Hud ibn Mumakkam does address the question of hikma and sunna. Hud ibn Mumakkam was a Kharijite commentator who lived during the middle or late third/ninth century. Commenting on verses such as 62:2, which mention “the Book and the Wisdom,” he says: “Some of them say the Book is the Qur’an and the Wisdom is the Sunna.” The wording that ibn Mumakkam uses suggests that there was disagreement about the interpretation of hikma as sunna in the generations following al-Shafi’i. This, together with the paucity of earlier evidence for that idea, suggests that it was not a common interpretation before al-Shafi’i’s careful and forceful articulation.

Aside from Shafi’i’s argument, it is clear that historically, prior to Shafi’i, most scholars of their time did not treat the Hadith as divine law but, at best, as a just opinion that should be taken into consideration in rulings.

A prime example of the evolving attitudes toward Hadith can be seen in the practices of early Islamic scholars and founders of major schools of thought. Abu Hanifa (697-767 CE, 80-150 AH), for instance, was known for his minimal use of Hadith, a point that later Sunni scholars frequently criticized. Similarly, Malik ibn Anas (711-795 CE, 93-179 AH) also demonstrated less reliance on Hadith compared to later scholars. According to page 26 of the book “Hadith Muhammad’s Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World,” by Jonathan Brown, it states:

The version of the Muwatta that became famous in North Africa and Andalusia contains 1,720 reports. Of these, however, only 527 are Prophetic hadiths; 613 are statements of the Companions, 285 are from Successors, and the rest are Malik’s own opinions.

Muhamad Abd al-Rauf, ‘Hadith Literature – 1:Development of the Science of Hadith,’ p. 273; Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali al-Qabisi, Muwatta’ al-imam Malik

But if Muhammad was the ultimate interpreter of God’s will as was understood in later generations of Sunnis, why would a scholar like Imam Malik so infrequently rely on his words in a mussannaf collection for his legal rulings? This shows that they did not treat the prophet’s words as divine revelation. This is even perfectly encompassed in their own Hadith.

Narrated Abu Juhaifa: I asked Ali, “Do you have the knowledge of any Divine Inspiration (wahi) besides what is in Allah’s Book?” Ali replied, “No, by Him Who splits the grain of corn and creates the soul. I don’t think we have such knowledge, but we have the ability of understanding which Allah may endow a person with, so that he may understand the Qur’an, and we have what is written in this paper as well.” I asked, “What is written in this paper?” He replied, “(The regulations of) blood-money, the freeing of captives, and the judgment that no Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُطَرِّفٌ، أَنَّ عَامِرًا، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ إِلاَّ مَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَالَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ فَهْمًا يُعْطِيهِ اللَّهُ رَجُلاً فِي الْقُرْآنِ، وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَمَا فِي الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ الْعَقْلُ وَفَكَاكُ الأَسِيرِ، وَأَنْ لاَ يُقْتَلَ مُسْلِمٌ بِكَافِرٍ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 3047
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3047

Narrated AbdulAziz bin Rufai’: Shaddad bin Ma’qil and I entered upon Ibn `Abbas. Shaddad bin Ma’qil asked him, “Did the Prophet (ﷺ) leave anything (besides the Qur’an)?” He replied. “He did not leave anything except what is Between the two bindings (of the Qur’an).” Then we visited Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyya and asked him (the same question). He replied, “The Prophet (ﷺ) did not leave except what is between the bindings (of the Qur’an).

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ رُفَيْعٍ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَشَدَّادُ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ، عَلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضى الله عنهما فَقَالَ لَهُ شَدَّادُ بْنُ مَعْقِلٍ أَتَرَكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ شَىْءٍ قَالَ مَا تَرَكَ إِلاَّ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ‏.‏ قَالَ وَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ ابْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فَسَأَلْنَاهُ فَقَالَ مَا تَرَكَ إِلاَّ مَا بَيْنَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 5019
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5019

Even in the Hadith attributed to the prophet by Bukhari, he informs his followers what to do if they disagree regarding an interpretation of the Quran, and the answer was not to consult his Hadith or Sunnah.

Narrated Jundab bin `Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Recite (and study) the Qur’an as long as you are in agreement as to its interpretation and meanings, but when you have differences regarding its interpretation and meanings, then you should stop reciting it (for the time being.) (See Hadith No 581, Vol. 6)

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سَلاَّمِ بْنِ أَبِي مُطِيعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ، عَنْ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ مَا ائْتَلَفَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإِذَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فَقُومُوا عَنْهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ سَمِعَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ سَلَّامًا.

Sahih al-Bukhari 7364
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7364

Umar’s View on Hadith

The earliest true Muslims condemned such secondary sources of laws. One of the best examples of this is Umar, the second Caliph, who in the Sunni’s own history books is depicted as being staunchly against Hadith.

Narrated ‘Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah: Ibn `Abbas said, “When the ailment of the Prophet (ﷺ) became worse, he said, ‘Bring for me (writing) paper and I will write for you a statement after which you will not go astray.’ But `Umar said, ‘The Prophet is seriously ill, and we have got Allah’s Book with us, and that is sufficient for us.’ But the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) differed about this, and there was a hue and cry. On that, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to them, ‘Go away (and leave me alone). It is not right that you should quarrel in front of me.” Ibn `Abbas came out saying, “It was most unfortunate (a great disaster) that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا اشْتَدَّ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَعُهُ قَالَ ‏”‏ ائْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ أَكْتُبُ لَكُمْ كِتَابًا لاَ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَلَبَهُ الْوَجَعُ وَعِنْدَنَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ حَسْبُنَا فَاخْتَلَفُوا وَكَثُرَ اللَّغَطُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ قُومُوا عَنِّي، وَلاَ يَنْبَغِي عِنْدِي التَّنَازُعُ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَخَرَجَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّزِيَّةَ كُلَّ الرَّزِيَّةِ مَا حَالَ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبَيْنَ كِتَابِهِ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 114
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:114

Additionally, it is reported that during his reign as Caliph, Umar did not allow the prophet’s companions to travel freely without his permission because he did not want them to propagate Hadith. It wasn’t until the reign of Uthman that this ban was lifted, and the companions were allowed to emigrate to some of the newly Muslim-conquered regions.

In Tadhkirat al-huffaz, al-Dhahabi reported from Shu’bah, from Sa’id ibn Ibrahim from his father, that Umar detained Ibn Mas’ud, Abu al-Darda’, and Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari, saying to them: You have narrated hadith abundantly from the Messenger of Allah. It is reported that he had detained them in Medina, but they were set free by Uthman.

Ibn Sa’d, and Ibn Asakir reports from Mahmud ibn Labid that he said: I heard Uthman ibn Affan addressing people from over the pulpit: It is unlawful for everyone to narrate any hadith he never heard of during the time of Abu Bakr and that of Umar. Verily that which made me abstain from narrating from the Messenger of Allah was not to be among the most conscious of his Companions, but I heard him declaring: “Whoever ascribing to me something I never said, he shall verily occupy his (destined) abode in Fire.”

Also, we find the following Hadith in The History of al-Tabari, Vol. XIV p. 108, and from the Leiden edition of al-Tabari titled “Annales quos scripsit Abu Djafar Mohammed ibn Djarir at-Tabari” Vol III, p. 188.

According to Abu Kurayb – Abu Bakr b. Ayyash – Abu Hasin: Whenever ‘Umar appointed his governors, he would go out with them to bid them farewell, saying, “I have not appointed you governor over Muhammad’s community with limitless authority. I have made you governor over them only to lead them in prayer, to make decisions among them based on what is right, and to distribute (the spoils) among them justly. I have not given you limitless authority over them.

Do not flog the Arabs and humiliate them; do not keep them long from their families and bring temptation upon them; do not neglect them and cause them deprivation. Be exclusively devoted to the Qur’an, and diminish the annotations of Muhammad, and I am your partner.”

In the book Ta’wil Mukhtalif al-Hadith by Ibn Qutaybah (828-890 CE/213-276 AH), on page 70 of the Annotated Translation, Ibn Qutaybah says the following regarding ‘Umar’s view on Hadith transmission:

…’Umar, who was abrasive against whoever transmitted numerous ahadith or reported information related to judicial judgment without any witness. He used to order (the narrators) to reduce the number of narrations so that the masses will not be confused or corrupted by falsehood.

In the book “Imam Abu Hanfiah Life and Work” by Shibli Nomani, on pages 131-132, it states,

“Al-Dhahabi writes in the Tabaqat al-Huffaz that Umar, from a fear that narrators might ascribe incorrect traditions to the prophet, always used to tell them to narrate as few traditions as possible. While sending a delegation of Ansar to Kufah, he instructed them as follows: “In Kufah you will meet a group of people who reciate the qur’an in a voice full of emotion. On hearing of your arrival they will come to you, eager to listen to traditions of the Prophet from you. Be careful not to narrate to them too many traditions.

Similarly when sending a number of Companions to Iraq, ‘Umar went part of the way with them to see them off. “Do you know,” he asked them, “why I am accompanying you part of the way?” “In order to honour us,” they replied. “That is so,” said ‘Umar, “but there is also another reason. I want to tell you that the people of the country to which you are going are fond of reading the Qur’an. Try not to entagle them in traditions but narrate very few traditions from the Prophet.” When the Companions arrived at Qurzah, the inhabitants came to see them and requested them to narrate traditions; but they declined to do so, excusing themselves by saying that they had been forbidden by the caliph.

Abu Hurayrah, asked by Abu Salamah whether he used to narrate traditions as freely in ‘Umar’s time as he was then doing, replied, “No, for if I had tried, ‘Umar would have had me whipped.”

UMAR BURNS HADITH AND COMPARES IT TO MISHNA

The following narration in Ibn Saad’s “Tabaqat” (Volume 5) includes another story about Umar and his stance on Hadith. This account is attributed to Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Siddiq (d. 106 AH). Al-Qasim, the grandson of Abu Bakr (one of Prophet Muhammad’s closest companions and the first Caliph), was approached by his student, Abd Allah ibn al-Ala’ (d. 164 AH), with a request to dictate Hadith. Al-Qasim, however, refused to do so and supposedly stated:

“the Hadith multiplied during the time of Umar; then he called on the people to bring them to him, and when they brought them to him, he ordered them to be burned.” Afterward, he said, ‘a Mishna like the Mishna of the People of the Book,’ (mathna’a ka mathna’at ahl al-Kitab).”

In the above narration not only does Umar burn Hadith attributed to the prophet but he compares it to the Mishna, the Oral Law of the Children of Israel. This is the folly of the Muslim ummah that they set up a secondary book of law beside the Quran, just like the Children of Israel have done to the Torah in the past.

Sunnis Repeat the Follies of the Jews

Abu Hurayra & Ka’b Al-Ahbar

Many Muslims are unaware of the degree of Jewish Talmudic influence that their Hadith corpus contains. The most prolific companion who is attributed with narrating the most Hadith by a wide margin is Abu-Hurayra ( أبو هريرة ). Historically, he was believed to have been a companion of the prophet and is known for having the greatest number of Hadith attributed to him compared to any other companion, despite only being among the prophet for a couple of years before his passing. It is estimated that there are ~5,374 unique traditions attributed to him.

Also, most people are oblivious that Aub Hurayra was heavily influenced by someone by the name of Ka’b al-Ahbar (Ka’b the Rabbi), who apparently converted to Islam during the reign of Umar. It is documented that at first, Umar utilized Ka’b as a prominent position³ to educate him on what was written in the Torah, but after he discovered that he was a liar and was narrating Hadith and attributing it to the prophet, he deposed him and threatened to exile him if he continued.⁴ It is because of this that it is speculated that Ka’b was involved in the assassination of Umar, as there are narrations where Ka’b told Umar that his death was prophesized in the Torah and that he was going to die in three days, which happened. ⁵

Not surprisingly, the Sunni history books claim that during the reign of Mu’awiya, Ka’b’s integrity was reestablished.

Narrated Humaid bin ‘Abdur-Rahman that he heard Mu’awiya talking to a group of people from Quraish at Al-Madina, and on mentioning Ka’b Al-Ahbar, he said, “He was one of the most truthful of those who used to talk about the people of the Scripture. And indeed in spite of that we used to test him for lying.”

وَقَالَ أَبُو الْيَمَانِ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، سَمِعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ رَهْطًا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، وَذَكَرَ كَعْبَ الأَحْبَارِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَصْدَقِ هَؤُلاَءِ الْمُحَدِّثِينَ الَّذِينَ يُحَدِّثُونَ عَنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ، وَإِنْ كُنَّا مَعَ ذَلِكَ لَنَبْلُو عَلَيْهِ الْكَذِبَ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 7361
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7361

As for Abu Hurayra, he went from being threatened by Umar for imprisonment for spreading Hadith to being made the governor of Medina,⁶ and his restrictions on narrating Hadith lifted during the reign of Mu’awiyah and the Ummayad dynasty. The Ummayads used him for their own means and transformed him from a village idiot to someone to be venerated and looked upon for religious laws and guidance. Rather than having his work discarded as untrustworthy, he is viewed as an authority to the traditions of the prophet. Roughly 1,034 Hadith compiled by Bukhari and 391 Hadith compiled by Muslim are from Abu Hurairah and labeled as Sahih (authentic). 

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘The best alms is that which is given when one is rich, and a giving hand is better than a taking one, and you should start first to support your dependents.’ A wife says, ‘You should either provide me with food or divorce me.’ A slave says, ‘Give me food and enjoy my service.” A son says, “Give me food; to whom do you leave me?” The people said, “O Abu Huraira! Did you hear that from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ?” He said, “No, it is from my own self.”

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو صَالِحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تَرَكَ غِنًى، وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ ‏”‏‏.‏ تَقُولُ الْمَرْأَةُ إِمَّا أَنْ تُطْعِمَنِي وَإِمَّا أَنْ تُطَلِّقَنِي‏.‏ وَيَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ أَطْعِمْنِي وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي‏.‏ وَيَقُولُ الاِبْنُ أَطْعِمْنِي، إِلَى مَنْ تَدَعُنِي فَقَالُوا يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ سَمِعْتَ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ هَذَا مِنْ كِيسِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 5355
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5355

Israʼiliyyat

Between Abu Hurayra and his pal Ka’b Al-Ahbar, they formed a whole series of Hadith attributed to the prophet known as  Israʼiliyyat ( اسرائیلیات ), which are Hadith lifted straight from Jewish sources.

Bukhari shamelessly authenticated this jewish fabricated hadith, lifted from rabbinic midrash. https://t.co/Zz8BfMfXy7 pic.twitter.com/A6yfhpp7j5

— Balaamaret 🎩🪄 (@BalaamAndDonkey) January 9, 2024

Not surprisingly, the fabricators gave themselves cover by claiming the following Hadith from the prophet, which gave them permission to do such things.

Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: relate traditions from the children of Isra’il; there is no harm.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ حَدِّثُوا عَنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلاَ حَرَجَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud 3662
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3662

This is why we see all kinds of Talmudic-influenced Hadith inside the most revered compilations like Bukhari and Muslim.

Entering Dragging Their buttocks

Hammim b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and in this connection he narrated some of the ahadith and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “It was said to the Children of Israel, ‘Enter the gate prostrating and say ‘Repentance,’ and your sins will be forgiven.’ But they changed it and entered the gate crawling on their buttocks and said, ‘A grain in a hair.’”

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ قِيلَ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ ‏{‏ ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ يُغْفَرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ‏}‏ فَبَدَّلُوا فَدَخَلُوا الْبَابَ يَزْحَفُونَ عَلَى أَسْتَاهِهِمْ وَقَالُوا حَبَّةٌ فِي شَعَرَةٍ“‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 3015
https://sunnah.com/muslim:3015

Moses Punches the Angel of Death

Narrated Abu Huraira: The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him, Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, “You sent me to a slave who does not want to die.” Allah restored his eye and said, “Go back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand.” (So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, “O my Lord! What will be then?” He said, “Death will be then.” He said, “(Let it be) now.” He asked Allah that He bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stone’s throw. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, “Were I there I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill.”

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ ‏”‏ أُرْسِلَ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ إِلَى مُوسَى ـ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ ـ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ صَكَّهُ فَرَجَعَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ فَقَالَ أَرْسَلْتَنِي إِلَى عَبْدٍ لاَ يُرِيدُ الْمَوْتَ‏.‏ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَيْنَهُ وَقَالَ ارْجِعْ فَقُلْ لَهُ يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَى مَتْنِ ثَوْرٍ، فَلَهُ بِكُلِّ مَا غَطَّتْ بِهِ يَدُهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ سَنَةٌ‏.‏ قَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ، ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ ثُمَّ الْمَوْتُ‏.‏ قَالَ فَالآنَ‏.‏ فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُدْنِيَهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ الْمُقَدَّسَةِ رَمْيَةً بِحَجَرٍ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ فَلَوْ كُنْتُ ثَمَّ لأَرَيْتُكُمْ قَبْرَهُ إِلَى جَانِبِ الطَّرِيقِ عِنْدَ الْكَثِيبِ الأَحْمَرِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 1339
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1339

Solomon Refuses to Say God Willing

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying that Sulaiman b. Dawud (once) said: I will go round in the night to my ninety wives, and every one of them will give birth to a child (who will grow up) as a horseman and fight in the cause of Allah His companions said to him: Say” Insha’ Allah.” but he did not say Insha-Allah. He went round all of them but none of them became pregnant but one, and she gave birth to a premature child. And by Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, if he had said, Insha’ Allah (his wives would have given birth to the children who would all have grown up into horsemen and fought in the way of Allah).

وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي وَرْقَاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً كُلُّهَا تَأْتِي بِفَارِسٍ يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ قُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ‏.‏ فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جَمِيعًا فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَجَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ رَجُلٍ وَايْمُ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ‏.‏ لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فُرْسَانًا أَجْمَعُونَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 1654e
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1654e

A Group of Bani Israel turned to Mice

Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: A group of Bani Isra’il was lost. I do not know what happened to it, but I think (that it ‘underwent a process of metamorphosis) and assumed the shape of rats. Don’t you see when the milk of the camel is placed before them, these do not drink and when the milk of goat is placed before them, these do drink. Abu Huraira said: I narrated this very hadith to Ka’b and he said: Did you hear this from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)? I (Abu Huraira) said: Yes. He said this again and again, and I said: Have I read Torah? This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ishaq with a slight variation of wording.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى الْعَنَزِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرُّزِّيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، – وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى – حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ، سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ فُقِدَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لاَ يُدْرَى مَا فَعَلَتْ وَلاَ أُرَاهَا إِلاَّ الْفَأْرَ أَلاَ تَرَوْنَهَا إِذَا وُضِعَ لَهَا أَلْبَانُ الإِبِلِ لَمْ تَشْرَبْهُ وَإِذَا وُضِعَ لَهَا أَلْبَانُ الشَّاءِ شَرِبَتْهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَحَدَّثْتُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ كَعْبًا فَقَالَ آنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا ‏.‏ قُلْتُ أَأَقْرَأُ التَّوْرَاةَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ ‏”‏ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا فَعَلَتْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 2997a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2997a

Abu Huraira reported that the rat (is the result of) metamorphosis (of a group of Bani Isra’il) and the proof of this is that when the milk of goat is placed before it, it drinks it, and when the milk of the camel is placed before it, it would not taste it at all. Ka’b said: Did you hear it from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)? Thereupon he said: Has Torah been revealed to me?

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ ‏ “‏ الْفَأْرَةُ مَسْخٌ وَآيَةُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يُوضَعُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا لَبَنُ الْغَنَمِ فَتَشْرَبُهُ وَيُوضَعُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا لَبَنُ الإِبِلِ فَلاَ تَذُوقُهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَعْبٌ أَسَمِعْتَ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَفَأُنْزِلَتْ عَلَىَّ التَّوْرَاةُ

Sahih Muslim 2997b
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2997b

Insulting Hajar the wife of Abraham

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) Abraham migrated with Sarah. The people (of the town where they migrated) gave her Ajar (i.e. Hajar). Sarah returned and said to Abraham, “Do you know that Allah has humiliated that pagan and he has given a slave-girl for my service?”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ هَاجَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِسَارَةَ، فَأَعْطَوْهَا آجَرَ، فَرَجَعَتْ فَقَالَتْ أَشَعَرْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ كَبَتَ الْكَافِرَ وَأَخْدَمَ وَلِيدَةً ‏”‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ فَأَخْدَمَهَا هَاجَرَ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 2635
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2635

Juraij

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “None spoke in cradle but three: (The first was) Jesus, (the second was), there a man from Bani Israel called Juraij. While he was offering his prayers, his mother came and called him. He said (to himself), ‘Shall I answer her or keep on praying?” (He went on praying) and did not answer her, his mother said, “O Allah! Do not let him die till he sees the faces of prostitutes.” So while he was in his hermitage, a lady came and sought to seduce him, but he refused. So she went to a shepherd and presented herself to him to commit illegal sexual intercourse with her and then later she gave birth to a child and claimed that it belonged to Juraij. The people, therefore, came to him and dismantled his hermitage and expelled him out of it and abused him. Juraij performed the ablution and offered prayer, and then came to the child and said, ‘O child! Who is your father?’ The child replied, ‘The shepherd.’ (After hearing this) the people said, ‘We shall rebuild your hermitage of gold,’ but he said, ‘No, of nothing but mud.'(The third was the hero of the following story) A lady from Bani Israel was nursing her child at her breast when a handsome rider passed by her. She said, ‘O Allah ! Make my child like him.’ On that the child left her breast, and facing the rider said, ‘O Allah! Do not make me like him.’ The child then started to suck her breast again. (Abu Huraira further said, “As if I were now looking at the Prophet (ﷺ) sucking his finger (in way of demonstration.”) After a while the people passed by, with a lady slave and she (i.e. the child’s mother) said, ‘O Allah! Do not make my child like this (slave girl)!, On that the child left her breast and said, ‘O Allah! Make me like her.’ When she asked why, the child replied, ‘The rider is one of the tyrants while this slave girl is falsely accused of theft and illegal sexual intercourse.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ فِي الْمَهْدِ إِلاَّ ثَلاَثَةٌ عِيسَى، وَكَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ جُرَيْجٌ، كَانَ يُصَلِّي، فَجَاءَتْهُ أُمُّهُ فَدَعَتْهُ، فَقَالَ أُجِيبُهَا أَوْ أُصَلِّي‏.‏ فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُمِتْهُ حَتَّى تُرِيَهُ وُجُوهَ الْمُومِسَاتِ‏.‏ وَكَانَ جُرَيْجٌ فِي صَوْمَعَتِهِ، فَتَعَرَّضَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ وَكَلَّمَتْهُ فَأَبَى، فَأَتَتْ رَاعِيًا، فَأَمْكَنَتْهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهَا فَوَلَدَتْ غُلاَمًا، فَقَالَتْ مِنْ جُرَيْجٍ‏.‏ فَأَتَوْهُ فَكَسَرُوا صَوْمَعَتَهُ، وَأَنْزَلُوهُ وَسَبُّوهُ، فَتَوَضَّأَ وَصَلَّى ثُمَّ أَتَى الْغُلاَمَ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَبُوكَ يَا غُلاَمُ قَالَ الرَّاعِي‏.‏ قَالُوا نَبْنِي صَوْمَعَتَكَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ مِنْ طِينٍ‏.‏ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ تُرْضِعُ ابْنًا لَهَا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَمَرَّ بِهَا رَجُلٌ رَاكِبٌ ذُو شَارَةٍ، فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلِ ابْنِي مِثْلَهُ‏.‏ فَتَرَكَ ثَدْيَهَا، وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى الرَّاكِبِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَجْعَلْنِي مِثْلَهُ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى ثَدْيِهَا يَمَصُّهُ ـ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمَصُّ إِصْبَعَهُ ـ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأَمَةٍ فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَجْعَلِ ابْنِي مِثْلَ هَذِهِ‏.‏ فَتَرَكَ ثَدْيَهَا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِثْلَهَا‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ لِمَ ذَاكَ فَقَالَ الرَّاكِبُ جَبَّارٌ مِنَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ، وَهَذِهِ الأَمَةُ يَقُولُونَ سَرَقْتِ زَنَيْتِ‏.‏ وَلَمْ تَفْعَلْ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 3436
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3436

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “There was an Israeli man called Juraij, while he was praying, his mother came and called him, but he did not respond to her call. He said (to himself) whether he should continue the prayer or reply to his mother. She came to him the second time and called him and said, “O Allah! Do not let him die until he sees the faces of prostitutes.” Juraij used to live in a hermitage. A woman said that she would entice Juraij, so she went to him and presented herself (for an evil act) but he refused. She then went to a shepherd and allowed him to commit an illegal sexual intercourse with her and later she gave birth to a boy. She alleged that the baby was from Juraij. The people went to Juraij and broke down his hermitage, pulled him out of it and abused him. He performed ablution and offered the prayer, then he went to the male (baby) and asked him; “O boy! Who is your father?” The baby replied that his father was the shepherd. The people said that they would build for him a hermitage of gold but Juraij asked them to make it of mud only.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ كَانَ رَجُلٌ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، يُقَالُ لَهُ جُرَيْجٌ، يُصَلِّي، فَجَاءَتْهُ أُمُّهُ فَدَعَتْهُ، فَأَبَى أَنْ يُجِيبَهَا، فَقَالَ أُجِيبُهَا أَوْ أُصَلِّي ثُمَّ أَتَتْهُ، فَقَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُمِتْهُ حَتَّى تُرِيَهُ الْمُومِسَاتِ‏.‏ وَكَانَ جُرَيْجٌ فِي صَوْمَعَتِهِ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لأَفْتِنَنَّ جُرَيْجًا‏.‏ فَتَعَرَّضَتْ لَهُ فَكَلَّمَتْهُ فَأَبَى، فَأَتَتْ رَاعِيًا، فَأَمْكَنَتْهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهَا فَوَلَدَتْ غُلاَمًا، فَقَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ جُرَيْجٍ‏.‏ فَأَتَوْهُ، وَكَسَرُوا صَوْمَعَتَهُ فَأَنْزَلُوهُ وَسَبُّوهُ، فَتَوَضَّأَ وَصَلَّى ثُمَّ أَتَى الْغُلاَمَ، فَقَالَ مَنْ أَبُوكَ يَا غُلاَمُ قَالَ الرَّاعِي‏.‏ قَالُوا نَبْنِي صَوْمَعَتَكَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ مِنْ طِينٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 2482
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2482

Back to the Children of Israel

So not only did the Sunni Muslims make the same mistakes as the Children of Israel by upholding a secondary Oral Law like the Children of Israel did, but they also inserted the exact same Oral Laws inside their Oral Law. It is as if they followed in the footsteps of their Sunnah, rather than the actual path of the messenger. And this is very telling when we go back to the history of the Children of Israel in the Quran.

Recall the Quran stated that after God saved the Children of Israel from Pharoah and his troops, the Children of Israel showed their ignorance by requesting Moses to build an idol for them like th pagans had.

[7:138] We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. When they passed by people who were worshiping statues, they said, “O Moses, make a god for us, like the gods they have.” He said, “Indeed, you are ignorant people.
[7:139] “These people are committing a blasphemy, for what they are doing is disastrous for them.

 وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ

 إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

The Children of Israel’s Golden Calf

Afterward, we see that Moses rushed to God, hoping God would be pleased with him. Additionally, he said that the people were close behind his footsteps. The two words in Arabic that are critical in the understanding of this history are the words rushed (‘ajal) and my footsteps (athari).

[20:83] “Why did you rush (aʿjalaka) away from your people, O Moses?”
[20:84] He said, “They are close behind my footsteps (athari). I have rushed to You my Lord, that You may be pleased.”
[20:85] He said, “We have put your people to the test after you left, but the Samarian misled them.”

(٨٣) وَمَا أَعْجَلَكَ عَنْ قَوْمِكَ يَامُوسَىٰ
(٨٤) قَالَ هُمْ أُولَاءِ عَلَىٰ أَثَرِي وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَىٰ
(٨٥) قَالَ فَإِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَوْمَكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ وَأَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ

20:83:1	wamā	وَمَآ	“And what
20:83:2	aʿjalaka	أَعْجَلَكَ	has hastened you / made you rush
20:83:3	ʿan	عَن	from
20:83:4	qawmika	قَوْمِكَ	your people,
20:83:5	yāmūsā	يَـٰمُوسَىٰ	O Moses?”
20:84:1	qāla	قَالَ	He said,
20:84:2	hum	هُمْ	“They
20:84:3	ulāi	أُو۟لَآءِ	those
20:84:4	ʿalā	عَلَىٰٓ	upon*
20:84:5	atharī	أَثَرِى	my footsteps,
20:84:6	waʿajil’tu	وَعَجِلْتُ	and I rushed
20:84:7	ilayka	إِلَيْكَ	to you
20:84:8	rabbi	رَبِّ	my Lord,
20:84:9	litarḍā	لِتَرْضَىٰ	that You may be pleased.”

We see that while Moses was rushing to please God, the Children of Israel were rushing to oppose Him.

[20:86] Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, saying, “O my people, did your Lord not promise you a good promise? Could you not wait? Did you want to incur wrath from your Lord? Is this why you broke your agreement with me?” [20:87] They said, “We did not break our agreement with you on purpose. But we were loaded down with jewelry, and decided to throw our loads in. This is what the Samarian suggested.”

The following verse informs us that the Childen of Israel made a sculpted calf, and the word for “calf” in Arabic is “ʿij’lan” ( عِجْلًا ), which comes from the same root for the word “rush,” which is “Ayn-Jim-Lam” ( ع ج ل ).

[20:88] He produced for them a sculpted calf, complete with a calf’s sound. They said, “This is your god, and the god of Moses.” Thus, he forgot. 

فَأَخْرَجَ لَهُمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ فَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ وَإِلَـٰهُ مُوسَىٰ فَنَسِىَ

1	fa-akhraja	فَأَخْرَجَ	Then he produced
2	lahum	لَهُمْ	for them
3	ʿij’lan	عِجْلًا	a calf
4	jasadan	جَسَدًا	statue
5	lahu	لَّهُۥ	for it
6	khuwārun	خُوَارٌ	a lowing sound,
7	faqālū	فَقَالُوا۟	and they said,
8	hādhā	هَـٰذَآ	“This (is)
9	ilāhukum	إِلَـٰهُكُمْ	your god
10	wa-ilāhu	وَإِلَـٰهُ	and (the) god (of)
11	mūsā	مُوسَىٰ	Moses.”
12	fanasiya	فَنَسِىَ	Then he forgot.

When Moses returned to his people and confronted the Samarian…

[20:95] He said, “What is the matter with you, O Samarian?”

 قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكَ يَاسَامِرِيُّ

[20:96] He said, “I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the messenger’s footsteps (athari), and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do.”

 قَالَ بَصُرْتُ بِمَا لَمْ يَبْصُرُوا بِهِ فَقَبَضْتُ قَبْضَةً مِنْ أَثَرِ الرَّسُولِ فَنَبَذْتُهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ سَوَّلَتْ لِي نَفْسِي

1	qāla	قَالَ	He said,
2	baṣur’tu	بَصُرْتُ	“I perceived
3	bimā	بِمَا	in what
4	lam	لَمْ	not
5	yabṣurū	يَبْصُرُوا۟	they perceive
6	bihi	بِهِۦ	in it.
7	faqabaḍtu	فَقَبَضْتُ	So I grabbed
8	qabḍatan	قَبْضَةً	a handful
9	min	مِّنْ	from
10	athari	أَثَرِ	(the) track / foot-print (of)
11	l-rasūli	ٱلرَّسُولِ	the messenger
12	fanabadhtuhā	فَنَبَذْتُهَا	then I threw it,
13	wakadhālika	وَكَذَٰلِكَ	and thus
14	sawwalat	سَوَّلَتْ	it suggested / enticed / inspired
15	lī	لِى	to me
16	nafsī	نَفْسِى	my soul / ego / mind.

This word for footstep in Arabic is “athari” ( أَثَرِ ) is the same word Moses used when God asked him where were the Children of Israel, and he said they are on my footsteps atharī ( أَثَرِى ). So, while Moses was rushing in the direction of God to please Him, the Children of Israel were worshiping the literal footsteps “athar” ( أَثَر ) of Moses.

Same Idol Worship Different Facade

Many people read this history and think how dumb the individuals were who created and worshiped the calf, except this history is not there for followers of the Quran to feel superior. It is there for us to take heed so that we do not fall into the same trap.

Obviously, Satan knows that he cannot make people fall into idol worship like he did in the past. So he has to devise new schemes that are more palatable for each generation. But despite the facade being slightly different, the swindle is one and the same.

In the above narrative, we have Moses, who rushed to God in order to try to please God. On the flip side, we had the Children of Israel who took the blessings that God gave them and with the ingenuity of the Samarian who took the dust from the footsteps “Athar” ( أَثَر ) of where the messenger stood and consolidated these items into an idol for the people.

What does this have to do with Hadith?

Most people are familiar with the term Hadith, which are the statements, actions, or inactions attributed to the prophet. But the Hadith also have other names as well. In addition to Hadith, they are called “Akhbar” ( أخبار ), which translates to news or report. They are called Sunnah, but they are also called “Athar” ( أَثَر ).

The Sunni masses, therefore, have fallen hook, line, and sinker into the same mistake as the Children of Israel have made in the past. When the prophet came, he taught the worship of God alone and to uphold the Quran alone, yet the traditionalists shifted the focus from the Quran and God to the prophet and Hadith.

Bukhari and the other Hadith collectors spent their lives collecting the supposed stories from the footsteps of the prophet and, in doing so, negated the entire message of the prophet: that the object of worship should always be God alone, that we should not associate anything with God, and that our only source of religious law should be that of the Quran.

[43:23] Invariably, when we sent a warner to any community, the leaders of that community would say, “We found our parents following certain practices, and we will continue to imitate their traditions (athar).”

 وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ

13	innā	إِنَّا	“Indeed, [we]
14	wajadnā	وَجَدْنَآ	we found
15	ābāanā	ءَابَآءَنَا	our forefathers / parents
16	ʿalā	عَلَىٰٓ	upon
17	ummatin	أُمَّةٍ	a religion / community / religious practices
18	wa-innā	وَإِنَّا	and indeed, we (are)
19	ʿalā	عَلَىٰٓ	upon
20	āthārihim	ءَاثَـٰرِهِم	their footsteps / traditions
21	muq’tadūna	مُّقْتَدُونَ	followers / [ones who] imitate.”

Learn from the Sunnah of God

Now we have a choice to learn from the Sunnah of God, or to follow the Sunnah of the generations of the past who suffered tremendously for their straying.

[35:43] They resorted to arrogance on earth, and evil scheming, and the evil schemes only backfire on those who scheme them. Then are they waiting except for the Sunnah of the past? You will find that GOD’s Sunnah is never changeable; you will find that GOD’s Sunnah is immutable.

اسْتِكْبَارًا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ السَّيِّئِ وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ الْأَوَّلِينَ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ اللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا

[48:23] Such is GOD’s Sunnah throughout history, and you will find that GOD’s Sunnah is unchangeable.

 سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا

[40:85] Their belief then could not help them in the least, once they saw our retribution. Such is GOD’s Sunnah that has been established to deal with His creatures; the disbelievers are always doomed.

 فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـٰنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِۦ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ

Hadith Are the Golden Calf of Muslims

Individuals like Bukhari and the other Hadith collectors are the Samarian of the Muslim Umma. Their collection of Hadith literature is the golden calf that they have produced, and the Muslim masses by upholding these books besides that of the Quran, are setting up a rival with God and His scripture.

[6:112] We have permitted the enemies of every prophet—human and jinn devils—to inspire in each other fancy words, in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.

 وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

[6:113] This is to let the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to such fabrications, and accept them, and thus expose their real convictions.

 وَلِتَصْغَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَفْئِدَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُوا مَا هُمْ مُقْتَرِفُونَ

[6:114] 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.

 أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

[6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

 وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

[6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.

 وَإِنْ تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

Final Thoughts

The prophet of God came and delivered God’s final scripture to mankind. It contains everything one needs in order to be redeemed by God.

[18:54] We have cited in this Quran every kind of example, but the human being is the most argumentative creature.

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكَانَ الْإِنْسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا

God has blessed the Arabs by sending his final prophet to them and revealing His final scripture, the Quran, in their language. Yet they have taken this blessing of having this messenger and turned him into an idol to rival God. They have transformed the religion from the messenger’s religion to a religion about the messenger.⁷

[25:27] The day will come when the transgressor will bite his hands (in anguish) and say, “Alas, I wish I had followed the path with the messenger.
[25:28] “Alas, woe to me, I wish I did not take that person as a friend.
[25:29] “He has led me away from the message after it came to me. Indeed, the devil lets down his human victims.”
[25:30] The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.”

(٢٧) وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَالَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا
(٢٨) يَاوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا
(٢٩) لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنْسَانِ خَذُولًا
(٣٠) وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَارَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا

1. https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/25_n/294_nwT.html ↩︎
2. https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D8%A3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7 ↩︎
3. https://sunnah.com/malik/54/30 ↩︎
4. Al-Bidya wa al-nihayah, vol. III, p. 206 & vol. II, p. 433 ↩︎
5. The History al-Tabari, Vol. 14, p. 90 ↩︎
6. https://sunnah.com/nasai:1023 ↩︎
7. Additional Readings:
   https://qurantalkblog.com/2023/11/16/typical-arguments-against-quran-alone/
   https://qurantalkblog.com/2023/01/20/abu-hurayra/
   https://qurantalkblog.com/2023/05/06/umar-advocated-quran-alone/
   https://qurantalkblog.com/2022/08/11/the-golden-calf-of-islam/ ↩︎