Philosophy Now Forum

Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Wed Apr 02, 2025 4:37 am Here are list of arguments [not from Quranic Verses] on why the Ahadiths are not from a Divine Source and as such should not be relied upon to enact Islamic Laws:

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Here is an exhaustive list of practical reasons why Quran-Alone believers reject hadiths as being from God or part of divine command.
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1. Time Gap Between the Prophet and Hadith Compilation
• The earliest hadith collections were written more than 200 years after the Prophet's death (632 CE).
• No hadiths were compiled during the Prophet’s lifetime or immediately after his death.
• Key dates of major hadith collections:
o Imam Malik (Muwatta) – ~150 years after the Prophet
o Al-Bukhari (Sahih) – ~230 years
o Muslim (Sahih) – ~250 years
o Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah – ~250–270 years
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2. Number of Hadiths Collected vs. Accepted
• Hadith compilers collected hundreds of thousands of narrations, but only accepted a small fraction as "authentic."
• This raises concerns about massive fabrication and uncertainty.
Compiler Collected Hadiths Accepted as Authentic
Imam Malik 100,000+ ~1,720
Al-Bukhari 600,000+ ~7,563 (incl. repetitions) or ~2,600 (unique)
Muslim 300,000+ ~4,000 (unique)
Abu Dawood 500,000+ ~4,800
Tirmidhi 300,000+ ~4,000
Nasai 200,000+ ~5,700
Ibn Majah 400,000+ ~4,300
• If the vast majority of hadiths were fabrications, how can even the accepted ones be trusted?
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3. Hadith Contradictions Within Itself
• Different hadiths contradict each other on major rulings and teachings. Examples:
o Age of Aisha's marriage: One hadith says 6 years old (Bukhari), but others suggest much older.
o Number of daily prayers: Some hadiths suggest original commands were for 50 prayers, reduced to 5, contradicting Quran 17:78.
o Prophet was illiterate or not? Some hadiths say he was, others say he could read and write.
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4. Hadith Contradictions with the Quran
• Quran: Only 4 sacred months (9:36) → Hadith: 12 sacred months (Bukhari).
• Quran: No compulsion in religion (2:256) → Hadith: Execute apostates (Bukhari 6922).
• Quran: Only God is the lawgiver (6:114) → Hadith: Prophet legislates beyond Quran.
• Quran: No intermediaries in worship (39:3) → Hadith: Prophet will intercede.
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5. Political Influence on Hadith Compilation
• Hadiths were compiled under political rulers, like the Abbasids, who had vested interests in religious authority.
• Fabrication was widespread to justify rulers’ actions (e.g., obeying tyrants, wars, taxation).
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6. Hadiths Were Not Preserved Like the Quran
• Quran was memorized and written down immediately, but hadiths were not preserved similarly.
• No divine promise of preservation (Quran 15:9 promises Quran’s protection, but not hadiths).
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7. The Role of Hadith in Sectarian Divisions
• Different sects accept different hadith collections, leading to contradictory beliefs (Sunni vs. Shia).
• If hadiths were divine, why would they create division instead of unity?
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8. The Prophet Himself Condemned Writing Hadiths
• Sahih Muslim 3004 – Prophet: "Do not write from me anything except the Quran."
• Hadiths contradict this by encouraging hadith preservation!
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9. Logical Fallacies in Hadith Interpretation
• Circular reasoning: Hadiths claim they are necessary because hadiths say so.
• Selective acceptance: Scholars pick hadiths that fit their views while rejecting others.
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10. If Hadiths Were Necessary, God Would Have Preserved Them
• Quran: "Nothing has been omitted from the Book" (6:38).
• If hadiths were crucial, they would have been preserved alongside the Quran.
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Conclusion
These reasons demonstrate that hadiths are not from God and should not be considered part of divine law. The Quran alone is complete, detailed, and preserved as the only source of guidance.
Would you like any refinements or additional details?
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