Sunni polemicists are infamous for suddenly becoming Quranists (Quran-only ‘muslims’) when it comes to debating with the Shia. It is a tactic they use to try to narrow down the various proofs and evidences that are found in the Sunnah and traditions. But, is this method of debate, confining oneself to the Book of God itself considered valid?After all, we know in the Hadith of Al Thaqalayn we were ordered to hold on to the Book of Allah, and the (Sunnah of the) AhulBayt. Or in the version found in Mustadrak of Al Hakim, Quran and Sunnah.
It is as if the Sunni polemicists have gone back 1400 years and followed in the transgression of the second tyrant, Umar. He was the first to reject the Sunnah (prophetic sayings and actions) and to consider the Quran as sufficient for guiding the Ummah.
Narrated Ubaidullah ibn Abdullah: Ibn Abbas said:
"When the ailment of the Prophet (saw) 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 illness has defeated the Prophet (i.e. in other versions of this hadith the word used here is ‘yahjuru’ which literally means that he is talking nonsense)...
and we have got Allah's Book with us and that is sufficient for us.'”
Source: Saheeh Al-Bukhari. Pg. # 41, H. # 114.
Now for the opinions on some of the scholars of Ahlul Sunnah on the issue of someone who confines themselves to the Quran only:
Aboo Bakr Al-Ajuri:
The decision about all the religious duties that Allah (swt) ordered in His Book can not be known without the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saw). This is the opinion of the scholars of Muslims, and
"In regards to the field of beliefs and the field of allowing and prohibition (judging actions and acts as Halal and Haram), as well as other fields, those two (i.e. Holy Qur'aan and Hadeeth) have the same status, wherein referring to and taking them both is obligatory as well as depending on them in issuing rulings of Halal and Haram.
So if a man came to you and said: "The Book of Allah (swt) is enough and sufficient for us, and you have not to bring anything (to prove your point) but the Book of Allah (swt), and that the Book of Allah (swt) is between our hands, what it permits, we permit, and what it prohibits, we prohibit,"
Now, you may ask, why is it such an issue? Surely everything that is an essential doctrine such as Hajj, Zakah, Sawm, Salah etc have been mentioned explicitly in the Quran right?
Well, that is the assumption of some of the weak-minded opponents who are unaware that some matters which are essential to the religion are not found (explicitly) in the Holy Quran. Such as the matter of Imam Mahdi, the Dajjal and the reappearance of Prophet Isa a.s. The scholars of the Sunni sect have ruled that since the hadith particular to Imam Mahdi are so numerous and evident that rejecting it is considered disbelief! If rejection of one Imam, Imam Mahdi is kufr in the Sunni school, wouldn’t it be a bigger issue to reject all 12? Interestingly we do have Shia hadith that mention denying even a single Imam is rejection of all of them.
Consider the following hadith that is found in the books of Ahlul Sunnah on the matter:
Sheikh Al Albani has commented on this issue with a very strong opinion. Albani (Famed Wahhabi scholar) says about the person who denies and doesn’t believe in Imam Al Mahdi (a.s.) rising:
و ما مثل هؤلاء إلا کمثل من ينکر عقيدة نزول عيسى عليه السلام في آخر الزمان التي تواتر ذکرها في الأحاديث الصحيحة ،... ، و أکاد أقطع أن کل من أنکر عقيدة المهدي ينکرها أيضا ، و بعضهم يظهر ذلک من فلتات لسانه ، و إن کان لا يبين . و ما مثل هؤلاء المنکرين جميعا عندي إلا کما لو أنکر رجل ألوهية الله عز وجل بدعوى أنه ادعاها بعض الفراعنة ! " فهل من مدکر"
Their likeness is that of those who deny the belief of appearing “Jesus” in the apocalypse - a matter that there are successive narratives about it - and
Now for the opinions on some of the scholars of Ahlul Sunnah on the issue of someone who confines themselves to the Quran only:
Aboo Bakr Al-Ajuri:
The decision about all the religious duties that Allah (swt) ordered in His Book can not be known without the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saw). This is the opinion of the scholars of Muslims, and
anyone who says something contrary to this, then it throws those individuals out of the fold of Islam and they become apostate.Source: Kitab Al-Shari'ah. Vol. 1, Pg. # 412.
Also,
Rabee' Ibn Haadee 'Umayr al-Madkhalee is a former head of department at the Islamic University of Madinah. He is a Salafist founder of the Madkhalism movement and is considered one of Salafis most radical thinkers. In his famous works he states the following about those who ask one to prove their beliefs from Quran alone;
"In regards to the field of beliefs and the field of allowing and prohibition (judging actions and acts as Halal and Haram), as well as other fields, those two (i.e. Holy Qur'aan and Hadeeth) have the same status, wherein referring to and taking them both is obligatory as well as depending on them in issuing rulings of Halal and Haram.
So if a man came to you and said: "The Book of Allah (swt) is enough and sufficient for us, and you have not to bring anything (to prove your point) but the Book of Allah (swt), and that the Book of Allah (swt) is between our hands, what it permits, we permit, and what it prohibits, we prohibit,"
then be sure he is either a Mubtadi' (innovator) or a Zindeeq (disbeliever)."Source: Awn Al-Bari. Vol 2, Pg. # 827 - 828.
Well, that is the assumption of some of the weak-minded opponents who are unaware that some matters which are essential to the religion are not found (explicitly) in the Holy Quran. Such as the matter of Imam Mahdi, the Dajjal and the reappearance of Prophet Isa a.s. The scholars of the Sunni sect have ruled that since the hadith particular to Imam Mahdi are so numerous and evident that rejecting it is considered disbelief! If rejection of one Imam, Imam Mahdi is kufr in the Sunni school, wouldn’t it be a bigger issue to reject all 12? Interestingly we do have Shia hadith that mention denying even a single Imam is rejection of all of them.
Consider the following hadith that is found in the books of Ahlul Sunnah on the matter:
Whoever denies belief in the Dajjal, has certainly committed disbelief and whoever denies belief in the Mahdi, has certainly committed disbelief
Sheikh Al Albani has commented on this issue with a very strong opinion. Albani (Famed Wahhabi scholar) says about the person who denies and doesn’t believe in Imam Al Mahdi (a.s.) rising:
و ما مثل هؤلاء إلا کمثل من ينکر عقيدة نزول عيسى عليه السلام في آخر الزمان التي تواتر ذکرها في الأحاديث الصحيحة ،... ، و أکاد أقطع أن کل من أنکر عقيدة المهدي ينکرها أيضا ، و بعضهم يظهر ذلک من فلتات لسانه ، و إن کان لا يبين . و ما مثل هؤلاء المنکرين جميعا عندي إلا کما لو أنکر رجل ألوهية الله عز وجل بدعوى أنه ادعاها بعض الفراعنة ! " فهل من مدکر"
Their likeness is that of those who deny the belief of appearing “Jesus” in the apocalypse - a matter that there are successive narratives about it - and
I say for sure that anyone who denies believing in Imam Al Mahdi, they’ll deny that too and some of these people have expressed this belief unwillingly {due to lapse} and to me these people – those who don’t believe that Imam Al Mahdi will arise – are like those who deny the divinity of almighty god like the claim of Pharaoh.
Special thanks to the RevisitingTheSalaf team for providing some of the materials. Be sure to view their article on the Calamity of Thursday and this matter of rejection of the Quran.
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