Hadith gives totally WRONG interpretations of the Quraan
Zainab_M:
BismEm
Taken from Section 5 of Muhammed Abdel Maliks 'Implications of Hadith for Islam'
One of the commonest beliefs of Hadith adherents is that Hadith is essential in order to understand the Qur'an. This is misleading on many grounds. Hadith talks very little about the Quran and when it does, its interpretations of the Quran are all completely incorrect.
Firstly, the number of verses covered by Bukhari are insignificant compared to the total number of Qur'anic verses. Therefore, if this assertion were correct, how then would we understand and follow the other verses not explained by Bukhari? Not to mention, the Noble Quran is perfectly clear and complete and is not dependent on Bukhari nor any human narrations / writings for its explanation.
Secondly, the explanations put forward are absurd. For example, some incident or a story is narrated in hadith about an occurrence which – according to Bukhari – resulted in the particular Qur'anic verse being revealed. But in most cases that hadith incident or story narrated as an explanation is preposterous and one often gets the impression that the revelation of Verses was a haphazard affair, owing more to mere accident or whim, than to the Will of Allah. The following Qur'anic verses and their hadith 'explanation' illustrate this point.
"Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill-deeds. This is reminder for the mindful." (11:114) Surah Hud
Bukhari (ref: 6.209), narrated Ibn Masud:
A man kissed a woman and then came to Allah's Messenger and told him that. So this Divine Inspiration was revealed to the Prophet:
(11:114) And offer prayers perfectly at the two ends of the day, and in some hours of the night. Verily the good deeds remove the evil deeds (small sins). This is reminder for the mindful.
The man said, "Is this information for me only?" The Prophet said, "It is for all those of my followers who encounter a similar situation."
This hadith explanation has NOTHING to do with verse 11:114 of the Quran. This verse belongs to Surah Hud and there's no mention nor hint of any such incidents as narrated in the above hadith. The readers can check it themselves.
Bukhari (Ref: 6.203) Narrated Muhammad bin 'Abbad bin Ja'far that he heard Ibn 'Abbas reciting from the Qur'an:
(11:5) "No doubt! They fold up their breasts."
and asked him about its explanation. He said "Some people used to hide themselves while answering the call of nature in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, and also when they had sexual relations with their wives in an open space lest they be exposed to the sky, so the above revelation was sent down regarding them."
Verse 11:5 of the Noble Quran is so beautiful, and surely one can observe how Bukhari has spoilt it by writing such a wrong and ugly interpretation. The complete verse 11:5 is quoted below. I am also quoting a few verses that precede and follow verse 11:5 for a better understanding. Please read.
"1. Alif. Lam. Ra. (This is) a Scripture the revelations whereof are perfected and then expounded. (It cometh) from One Wise, Informed,
2. (Saying): Serve none but Allah. Lo! I am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings.
3. And (bidding you): Ask pardon of your Lord and turn to Him repentant. He will cause you to enjoy a fair estate until a time appointed. He giveth His bounty unto every bountiful one. But if ye turn away, lo! (then) I fear for you the retribution of an awful Day.
4. Unto Allah is your return, and He is Able to do all things.
5. Lo! now they fold up their breasts that they may hide (their thoughts) from Him. At the very moment when they cover themselves with their clothing, Allah knoweth that which they keep hidden and that which they proclaim. Lo! He is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men).
6. And there is not a beast in the earth but the sustenance thereof dependeth on Allah. He knoweth its habitation and its repository. All is in a clear Record."
(11:1-6) Surah Hud
Islam, from the very beginning directed people to cultivate science. The application of this precept brought with it the prodigious strides in science during the great era of Islamic civilisation, from which the West, too, benefited hugely – although its literature almost entirely ignores the fact. Today, thanks to scientific knowledge, great progress has been made in the interpretation of many previously misunderstood verses in the Qur'an. Verse 36:38 (Surah Ya-Sin) is a prime example.
The Qur'an gives an end to the sun's evolution and a destination place. Modern astronomy has been able to locate it exactly and has called it the Solar Apex. The verse translated by Dr Bucaille is as follows:
"The Sun runs its course to a settled place. This is the decree of the Almighty, the Full of Knowledge." (36:38)
Note that the words 'settled place' is the translation of the Arabic 'mustaqarr.'
And below is Pickthall's translation
"And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise."
(36:38)
Now contrast this with the supposedly reported interpretation of the verse by the Prophet as quoted by Bukhari.
Bukhari (ref: 4.421), narrated Abu Dhar:
The Prophet asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better."
He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course, but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the statement of Allah."
Clearly, such an interpretation is laughable given even a rudimentary knowledge of the movements of the sun and earth. Such unscientific assertions are nowhere to be found in the Qur'an. However, they liberally pepper the Hadith literature.
Edited slightly by elaborating certain points
Also please check the post DOES HADITH EXPLAIN THE QURAAN? for more information
Heba E. Husseyn:
Very correctly elucidated by the author. None of these ahadith have anything to do with explaining those Quranic verses. Actually this is a well known fact that the hadith institution has not been able to understand the Quran at all. There's another very bizarre one out of Bukhari's pen where he refers to 'Kausar' as a fount in Jannah. This is supposed to be Bukhari's interpretation of Surah Al-Kausar. I've read Surah Al-Kausar (Chapter 108 of the Quran) umpteens of times, trying to follow every word of it. I don't see how or why anyone should presume that "kausar" is meant to be a fount in Jannah. The word "kausar" refers to "abundance" in the Noble Quran. Surah Al-Kausar was revealed to the Prophet in reply to the taunts by the people of Qureysh, where Allah comforts the Prophet by saying that He has already bestowed a lot upon the Prophet and it's his insulters who are insignificant.
1. Lo! We have given thee Abundance;
2. So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice.
3. Lo! it is thy insulter (and not thou) who is without posterity.
(Surah Al-Kausar 1-3)
Actually, even the hadith adherents are very well aware that hadith does not explain correctly even a single verse of the Quran. It's just that they're too stubborn to admit it, which is a different matter.
Assalaam Alaikum and thanks zeynab. Great post!
Ruhi_Rose:
I think it's about time for the Muslim world to face it. That standard title worded "The interpretation of the Quran by Hadith" must be changed into "The misinterpretation of the Quran by Hadith."
Zainab_M:
Sister Heba, yes what you've quoted is yet another perfect example of Hadith misinterpretations of the Quraan.
And sis rose,, that comment was indeed most appropriate:)
AceOfHearts:
Sister Zeynab, thank you for posting this article.
Hadith has totally taken people away from the true interpretations of the Qur'an. A fact indeed.
Alhamdulillah. May Allah keep you going...It is people like yourselves who give me so much upliftment, just knowing that someone has understood like me the true nature of Allah's Qur'an gives me strength.
Allah keep you well my dear sister. Peace to you.
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