The deniers of hadith

[Salman_Hanafi]

What is the legal ruling concerning the iman/kufr of deniers of hadith.....people who reject the legislative/source of law status of Sunnah and claim that ahadith are not authentic and are not obligatory to be acted upon...are they kafirs or fasiq?? is there a difference of opinion on this?? can we let them pray with us if we are not praying behind them????

[abulayl]

QUESTION:

A book by the name of 'Mazhabi Dastanain Aur Unn Ki Haqeeqat' comprising of four volumes. This book is authored by Habib ar-Rahman Siddiqui Khandhalvi.

Is the afore-mentioned person a Munkir-e-Hadith (Hadith Rejector) or a Pervaizi or does he in reality hold any scholarly status? Please tell me briefly about him.

In this book, many views that are contradictory to the Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah are written, for example denial of Imam Mahdi and denial of Hazrat Ali being the 4th Caliph etc.

What is the ruling for such a person and those who agree with his views, follow or propogate them?

ANSWER:

Habib ar-Rahman Siddiqui Kandhalvi is a Pervaizi (Munkir-e-Hadith).

And Pervaiz and his adherents (Parvezi's) - the Ulema have declared them as Kafirs, on the basis of being rejectors of hadith.

Habib ar-Rahman Siddiqui Kandhalvi [deceased] is the son of a renowned scholar of Islam, Ashfaq ar-Rahman Khandhalvi. Ashfaq ar-Rahman Kandhalvi is famous for his book Hujjat-al-Hadith.

Both of them are relatives of Sheikh-ul-Hind Muhammad Idrees Khandhalvi (Sheikh-ul-Hadith).

We do not know anything about Habib ar-Rahman Kandhalvi's scholarly status [ calibre, competence, qualification ] and neither are we aware of any details in regards to his Shuhrat [ recognition, popularity, reputation ]

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Answer is correct/approved: Mufti Hameedullah Jhaan

Darul Iftaa
Jamia Ashrafia
Lahore, Pakistan

November 5th 2004

[abulayl]

Primarily, there are two types of Ahaadith; Mutawaatir and Ahad.

Mutawatir Ahaadith are narrated by innumerable number of narrators. It is impossible that such a large number of people will unite on speaking a lie. It is similar to a verse of the Qur'aan in its authenticity. To reject a Hadith Mutawaatir is Kufr. To reject Hadith Aahaad (which has many branches in relation to the standard of its authenticity) is Fisq (transgression).

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

[Salman_Hanafi]

Primarily, there are two types of Ahaadith; Mutawaatir and Ahad.

Mutawatir Ahaadith are narrated by innumerable number of narrators. It is impossible that such a large number of people will unite on speaking a lie. It is similar to a verse of the Qur'aan in its authenticity. To reject a Hadith Mutawaatir is Kufr. To reject Hadith Aahaad (which has many branches in relation to the standard of its authenticity) is Fisq (transgression).

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

JazakAllah Brother...always thought so... is ahad narration also called as "ghareeb" sometimes...tell me if you know???

[TripolySunni]

JazakAllah Brother...always thought so... is ahad narration also called as "ghareeb" sometimes...tell me if you know???

My opinion,

Salam, i guess it can be called Ghareeb if it is Narrated only through one Person...

The Denier of the Hadiths is a Kaffir because the Quran says to Obey the prophet PBUH and his Hadiths are preserved and some of them are Mutawatir like the Quran.

Salam Aleykum,

[Salman_Hanafi]

My opinion,

Salam, i guess it can be called Ghareeb if it is Narrated only through one Person...

The Denier of the Hadiths is a Kaffir because the Quran says to Obey the prophet PBUH and his Hadiths are preserved and some of them are Mutawatir like the Quran.

Salam Aleykum,

Salam...i know what ghareeb is....i dnt know whether its the same as ahad....i always get confused when someone says ahad narration....is it the other name for ghareeb??

[farook]

What is the legal ruling concerning the iman/kufr of deniers of hadith.....people who reject the legislative/source of law status of Sunnah and claim that ahadith are not authentic and are not obligatory to be acted upon...are they kafirs or fasiq?? is there a difference of opinion on this?? can we let them pray with us if we are not praying behind them????

Dear Brother, Assalaamoalaikum

When Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah(SWT) be pleased with him) was asked about haram and halal, he would tremble with fear. Today, eavery one, including our Respected Ullama, distribute the titles of kaafir very easily.

Let us go through the following two hadiths from Sahih Muslim (courtesy: searchtruth.com)

(1) It is reported on the authority of Abu dharr that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying: No person who claimed knowingly anyone else as his father besides (his own) committed nothing but infidelity, and he who made a claim of anything, which (in fact) did not belong to him, is not amongst us; he should make his abode in Fire, and he who labeled anyone with unbelief or called him the enemy of Allah, and he was in fact not so, it rebounded on him. (Book #001, Hadith #0118)

(2) Abu dharr reported,: I came to the Apostle (may peace be upon him ) and he was asleep with a white mantle over him. I again came, he was still asleep, I came again and he had awakened. I sat by his side and (the Holy Prophet) observed: There is none among the bondsmen who affirmed his faith in La illaha ill-Allah there is no God but Allah) and died in this state and did not enter Paradise. I (Abu dharr) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. I (again said): Even if he committed adultery and theft? He replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. (Th Holy Prophet repeated it three times) and said for the fourth time: In defiance of Abu dharr. Abu dharr then went out and he repeated (these words): In defiance of Abu dharr. (Book #001, Hadith #0172)

Given above, would a hadith rejector be a kaafir?

I may reject all the hadith collections in all good faith if to the best of my judgment and belief, I consider that the authenticity of all hadiths is doubtful even if others claim the contrary. If I act on this basis, does this mean that I am de facto saying that I do not intend to obey the Holy Messenger(SAW)? Does it mean that I have no love for the Holy Messenger(SAW)? NO. I am only saying that I do not consider the reports to be correct. I am only saying that I do not trust the reports that we have today. Would I then be a kaafir?

If I were living during the time of the Holy Messenger(SAW) and I disobeyed him, then I would have been a kaafir because I would then have disobeyed Allah(SWT). Today the situation is different because I only have reports that have been assessed by others. I decide that the ways these have been collected and analysed do not convince me. Am I a kaafir?

Notwithstanding above, the hadith rejecters are, in my opinion, on the wrong track. As a muslim, I wish to follow the path of the Holy Messenger(SAW), and the only means available to me are the hadiths. The hadith collections represent the only source from which I may have an idea of what the Holy Messenger(SAW) did, said, behaved towards others, towards his wives, etc... Without these hadiths, I would be in total darkness as to what he did, said etc.. There may be doubts in my mind regarding the authenticity of the hadiths, but what can I do - these represent the only means I have to be able to live as the Holy Messenger(SAW) did and / or advised.

As conclusion, I would say that only Allah(SWT) Knows whether the hadith rejecters are kaafir or not. It's all a question of intention / purity of heart.

Brotherly yours
farook

[Salman_Hanafi]

Dear Brother, Assalaamoalaikum

When Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah(SWT) be pleased with him) was asked about haram and halal, he would tremble with fear. Today, eavery one, including our Respected Ullama, distribute the titles of kaafir very easily.

Let us go through the following two hadiths from Sahih Muslim (courtesy: searchtruth.com)

(1) It is reported on the authority of Abu dharr that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying: No person who claimed knowingly anyone else as his father besides (his own) committed nothing but infidelity, and he who made a claim of anything, which (in fact) did not belong to him, is not amongst us; he should make his abode in Fire, and he who labeled anyone with unbelief or called him the enemy of Allah, and he was in fact not so, it rebounded on him. (Book #001, Hadith #0118)

(2) Abu dharr reported,: I came to the Apostle (may peace be upon him ) and he was asleep with a white mantle over him. I again came, he was still asleep, I came again and he had awakened. I sat by his side and (the Holy Prophet) observed: There is none among the bondsmen who affirmed his faith in La illaha ill-Allah there is no God but Allah) and died in this state and did not enter Paradise. I (Abu dharr) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. I (again said): Even if he committed adultery and theft? He replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. (Th Holy Prophet repeated it three times) and said for the fourth time: In defiance of Abu dharr. Abu dharr then went out and he repeated (these words): In defiance of Abu dharr. (Book #001, Hadith #0172)

Given above, would a hadith rejector be a kaafir?

I may reject all the hadith collections in all good faith if to the best of my judgment and belief, I consider that the authenticity of all hadiths is doubtful even if others claim the contrary. If I act on this basis, does this mean that I am de facto saying that I do not intend to obey the Holy Messenger(SAW)? Does it mean that I have no love for the Holy Messenger(SAW)? NO. I am only saying that I do not consider the reports to be correct. I am only saying that I do not trust the reports that we have today. Would I then be a kaafir?

If I were living during the time of the Holy Messenger(SAW) and I disobeyed him, then I would have been a kaafir because I would then have disobeyed Allah(SWT). Today the situation is different because I only have reports that have been assessed by others. I decide that the ways these have been collected and analysed do not convince me. Am I a kaafir?

Notwithstanding above, the hadith rejecters are, in my opinion, on the wrong track. As a muslim, I wish to follow the path of the Holy Messenger(SAW), and the only means available to me are the hadiths. The hadith collections represent the only source from which I may have an idea of what the Holy Messenger(SAW) did, said, behaved towards others, towards his wives, etc... Without these hadiths, I would be in total darkness as to what he did, said etc.. There may be doubts in my mind regarding the authenticity of the hadiths, but what can I do - these represent the only means I have to be able to live as the Holy Messenger(SAW) did and / or advised.

As conclusion, I would say that only Allah(SWT) Knows whether the hadith rejecters are kaafir or not. It's all a question of intention / purity of heart.

Brotherly yours
farook

Salam Brother.. leaving aside the issue of kafir or no kafir......have you ever met a hadith rejector and ask him what beliefs and practices they have after they deny hadiths???...