Message #2914

[Ruhi_Rose]

Though this is the first time I've seen the name of this author, he's written a very satisfying article - MaashAllah.

It is usually said and believed that in those days the Arabs had stupendous memory and also those sayings (hadiths) were very dear to the hearts of the disciples.  Now the mind again questions, if memory was enough of a viable resource to be depended upon, why then was the need felt to have the Holy Quran dictated and written on paper, then recited again to remove any possibility of errors or mistakes during the process of its dictation.  If any disciple of the Messenger had learnt those hadiths or sayings of the Messenger by heart, we still are not in a position to vouch for it. Until and unless those sayings were not verified, and the seal of approval cast on them by the Messenger Muhammad PBUH himself, we cannot depend on them. We also have no knowledge of the Messenger ever giving to the Muslims the Hadith in the form of a book coming down to us through the generations. We observe the Messenger MuhammadPBUH did not take any of the precautions in the case of hadith, as he did for the Holy Quran.  

I can't but agree with this thru and thru.  I've talked to so many hadithers who've said this that I've literally lost count of them.

First, the author's perceptive logic brazenly exposes the contradictory claim of these hadithers.  If memory of the 'sahabas' can be trusted in connection with hadith, why didn't the Prophet (pbuh) trust their memory concerning the Noble Quran? 

Secondly, if Arabs had great memories 1400 years ago, why has it changed now?  Why do Arabs have memories just like anyone else now?  1400 years is not that long a period at all to bring about such vital natural & functional changes in the human mind or body.  The capacity of the human mind doesn't alter with different historical periods.  There's absolutely no spiritual nor scientific reasons for that.  I haven't heard or read about this anywhere except from the hadithers in their desperate effort to cover up the inconsistencies of hadith.  Acts of desperation usually make people end up doing or saying silly and contradictory things.  This is a fact that's very well established, not that myth about Arabs having stupendous memories 1400 years ago.  Those people who are naive enough to believe this story that  Arabs had perfect memories in the 7th century should know that the Prophet (pbuh) had himself rejected any such ideas. 

For more info on this topic, check former posts

Hadith - contradiction within itself
Compilation of the Glorious Quran


AsSalaam alaykum and peace!