Are hadith, slowing down the progress of the Muslims and the Muslim world, in general?

In a sense yes, its not so much as "Hadith" literature itself but the tragedy of Islamic history is the very early polarization of the Ummah resulting in two main groups, from there on it was a battle for proving the other group wrong by hook or crook. Unfortunately, as is the case with most historical narrations, the early history of Islam took a big hit. The resulting distortions were either actively pursued or remained dormant through the ages for new groups to dig them out and use them to justify everything under the sun.

It was always going to be a case of who was going to be in power and in true Nietzscheian manner, knowledge was what the mighty said it was. Pre Ghazali Islam managed to shake off the most distortions and progressed at a breakneck speed. Ironically it was the resulting literacy and the love of education that became the problem for the kings and dictators of the time.

Enter Ghazali and co. to counter the age of reason which was clearly seen as the threat by those who wanted to subjugate the masses for worldly gains. Its much easier to be the puppet master from behind the scenes to uneducated puppet like masses than the head master to the screaming school kids in front of the stage eager to learn and eventually question the dogma. Its not a coincidence that the concepts of abrogation and Shaan e Nazool also picked up steam around the same time to complete the trinity of deception.

The alien concepts of Fate and Tagleed were the icing on the cake. Fate was a convenient weapon in the arsenal of blundering rulers to draw blame away from them and tell their subjects that the famine was an act of God and there was nothing they could have done about it.

Tagleed insured the rationing of knowledge to protect all distortions that favored the clergy and the rulers, who are never shy of jumping into bed together.

So yes the Hadith literature has been responsible for justifying a host of alien concept which in turn has brought the progress of the Muslim World to a crawl. The only solution is a complete revisit and to bring Islam closer to the original Revelation in the form of Quran. Education and the modern means of information distribution hold the key.

Allow me to plug an excerpt from my blog on the issue of my concluding remark;

The advent of the internet has given the lonely warrior a glimmer of hope. For the first time in the history of mankind the speed and reach of an individual has become global. The human race has a window of opportunity to grab the initiative before the internet, as we know it, at the risk of sounding conspiratorial, is tamed by those in power.

At the risk of sounding a web nut, the web has not only given the world an alternate source of news both in terms of independent journalist, bloggers and low budget wire news concerns, the internet has enabled everyone to do research on political systems, religion and practically any subject without leaving your home. It is further possible to by pass the propriety publications and make your findings public virtually free.

It has become possible to discuss, attend conferences, participate in forums and ask questions, seek answers in any language, earn a degree and even declare yourself an expert. The implications are frightening to the people in Authority; it is finally probable to get to the crux of issues within a manageable time frame at fraction of the cost formerly associated with such endeavors. It is finally possible to educate yourself. It has finally become possible to have a real choice.

Full writeup can be read here

http://lifecheat.blogspot.com/2009/06/win-philosop...

Islam is 600 years newer than Christianity. If you look back in Christian history 600 years ago you'll see there was a problem with the religion and there were religious wars and the church was once again exerting a lot of pressure on the governments of the time. In fact in some areas the church was basically running the country in all aspects except name. Religious persecution was high and many suffered because of it. Most (if not all) religions change over time. Christianity has changed as times have changed with the advancement of science (which the church suppressed for years), inventions and education. As the western world advanced the church had to change to accommodate and of course the church split into many factions. Islam which once was very advanced in science, mechanics, education and medicine has gone backwards (much as Christianity did in the middle ages) due to the fighting and differences of opinion of many clerics. So if it follows historical precedents it should in the next 100 years see several changes that currently do not exist now. As the population grows and becomes more educated they will probably want a more open religious life with greater acceptance of other ideals. Only time will tell if the hardcore religious system of Islam today will change. It will be a struggle that will take a century or so.

No..in fact Hadith complement the Holy Quran.. example..in the Quran Allah tell us to pray..but there are no exact verse that tell us how the praying being done. So there's a hadith for this.. Prophet Muhammad said," Pray just like the way i'm praying".

hadith is contradictory to Glorious Quran, hadith have made divisions ,deep deep divisions.

hadith contradicts itself,hadith is man made 100 % pure hearsay, where as Glorious Quran is Divine direct Message from and Of Allah Rahman.

as far as your history is concerned, hadith again is contradictory !!

read 12:111.

that is true regarding camel, why dont they use camels, !! isnt it sunnah !

when according to hadith one should sleep in a particular way and style what is stopping them from using camels !! why dont they use stones odd in numbers after dumping !!

there are NO plug ins add ons to Glorious Quran . Glorious Quran is self explanatory.

the most horrendous crime is, to believe Glorious Quran is incomplete.therefore how can one do salat hujj,zakat.Thus exposing their conviction in Glorious Quran that it is incomplete !!

why Allah Rahman has used The Wrods, Tafseel and Mufasal,for Allah's Own Book !!

would you believe Allah is Saying Quran is Mufasal , Quran has Tafseel,and on the other hand Allah is NOT giving as the same !!

how could we even think of that Remotely !!

which piece of history is reliable sunnis, shias, tabaris,etc etc !!

we can have an insight in historical accounts but not in connection with Iman !!

Historical accounts in Glorious Quran are 100 % accurate and reliable and in it we have lessons 12:111

didnt you find 5 Pillars in Glorious Quran !!

Obey Allah and Obey Rasool, what made Muhammed a Rasool what Message made Muhammed a Rasool , Quran ofcourse and not books written after His Demise !!

regarding Surah Hashr verse 7, read few verses before and after it is regarding Fay , spoils of War, have you ever tried to understand 69:40-47 !!

This blind following is called taqlid in Shariah terminology. Taqlid comes from the Arabic root q-l-d. Al-Iqlidu is the camel’s nosering through which the leash is passed. Thus anyone who is doing taqlid (i.e., blindly following) is on a leash. our ‘Ulema’s insistence on Taqlid contributes to the rapid decay of the general condition of Muslims. It is important to note here that the ability to think differentiates human beings from animals. If this freedom is taken away, human beings descend to the level of animals.

The need for Muslims to be released from the leash, controlled by the ‘Ulema and Imams who insist on Taqlid or strict adherence to the status quo (the man-made Shariah), is both obvious and urgent. But how can we do this? This task is rendered even more difficult because these ‘Ulema and Imams pretend to speak in the name of Allah.

we need to Hold The Rope Of Allah,and free ourself from the leash which is attached to majority's nose ring !!

"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allâh; verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment."

(Qur'aan 59:07)

All the Companions of Allaah's Messenger, peace be upon him, without exception understood that no one could reject an authentic report from Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Qur'aan and the Sunnah are both primary sources of legislation in Islaam and one cannot be rejected without rejecting the other and leaving the fold of Islaam as both the Qur'aan and Sunnah are Revelation from Allaah.

The authentic Sunnah clarifies the proper implementation, limits, exceptions, and details to rulings mentioned in the Qur'aan only in a general sense. If you were to study the way of the Companions and the scholars who followed them, they regarded the Qur'aan and authentic narrations as being of equal status with regards to deriving religious rulings and establishing Islaamic beliefs.

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Note that the authentic Sunnah is from the completed Deen that Allaah has legislated and perfected for us. The compilations of hadeeth were simply the organizing of narrations that were preserved from the time of Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, into volumes for easy reference.

May Allaah assist us in increasing in beneficial knowledge.

For more information on this issue from Islaamic scholars, please see:

The Beginning of 'ilmul-Hadeeth

By al-'Allaamah Muhammad Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee

http://www.troid.org/index.php?option=com_content&...

Summary: The Shaykh begins by explaining how Allaah the Exalted has honoured the Ummah of Islaam by giving them the isnaad (chain of narration). Then he goes on to explain how the isnaad has helped this Ummah to differentiate the authentic from the weak and the truth from falsehood. And that this is what the noble science of hadeeth has come to purify.

People you have to obey the Apostle in order to obey Allah (SWT). Muhammad (SAW) ordered us to follow the 6 sahih hadiths. It states in NUMEROUS verses throughout the Qur'an that Allah (SWT) says to mankind "WHOEVER OBEYS THE APOSTLE OBEYS ME".

[3.32] Say: Obey Allah and the Apostle; but if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.

[3.132] And obey Allah and the Apostle, that you may be shown mercy.

[4.13] These are Allah's limits, and whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, He will cause him to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them; and this is the great achievement.

[4.59] O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.

[4.69] And whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they!

[4.80] Whoever obeys the Apostle, he indeed obeys Allah, and whoever turns back, so We have not sent you as a keeper over them.

I like Rambo's answer a lot. I'd have to agree.

I have a question: What do you mean by Submitter? Isn't that what being a Muslim is, submitting to the will of Allah (literally what Islam means)?

Dear,

Peace be upon you.

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Al-Qur'an and Hadiths goes hand in hand.

AL-QUR'AN NUR KARIM:

(a). PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHHU'ALAIHI WASSALAM DIVINE CALL BEGAN IN 610. A. D. RECEIVED THE FIRST OF LONG SERIES OF REVELATIONS WHICH CONTINUE UNTIL HIS DEATH IN DEAD IN 632 A. D.

HADITHS:-

(b). HE WAS THE POSSESSOR OF SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION AND VISION, AND AS SUCH HE COULD INTERPRET THE INNER MEANING OF THE REVELATION AND GUIDE MEN UPON THE ASCENDING STAGES OF THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.

These are in his last Khutbah before his death (Wafat).

He says, l leave you two things. The Al-Quran Nur Karim and My Sunnah (Hadiths). Follow them and you will not go "ASTRY".

Therefore, Hadiths NEVER slow down the progress of Muslims and the Muslim world.

Wabillahhitaufiq Walhidayah Wassalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahhi Wabarakatuh.

I agree, this is why I follow the Quran only.

Edit: We have no intermediaries, unlike in Christianity.

Interesting thoughts of a lecturer:

".. much of the responsibility for fanning intra-Muslim sectarian strife rests with the traditional ulama of the madrasas. Unlike Christianity, Islam has no place for an official priesthood that can lay down the official doctrine. In principle, in Islam there are no intermediaries between man and God, the relation being direct and unmediated. While this makes religious leadership in Islam more democratic in theory, it also means that the ulama of different Muslim groups are free to stake their own competing claims to represent true Islam, branding other Muslim groups as deviant. This fuels intra-Muslim disputes that can often take a violent turn. It also means that the ulama of the different sects can easily use the absence of a central religious authority that lays down the official doctrine in order to promote sectarian rivalry to advance their own vested interests. By dismissing other Muslim sects as aberrant they put forward their own claims of being the authorities of the sole authentic Islam tradition..."

@FTL: Quran is not a document frozen in time. It is a Living Breathing Document and as such can be understood and applied. Understanding and guidance comes from Him in due course.

But wrong interpretation can be very dangerous, you may not agree with all Hadith but Tafsir...

Where in the Gospels is Trinity mentioned? Its wrong interpretation...

And there are people who interpret Quran to their desire...