Light On the Muhammadan Sunnah Or Defence of the Hadith
A General Word:
As soon as becoming aware of all these facts and other than them stated in my book, and uncovering the truth of the Muhammadan hadith in a clear-cut pure shape like a polished mirror, I became well-acquainted with all the traditions ascribed to the Messenger, taking whatever I take with consent and discarding that which I discard with confidence, fearing no blame or guilt in this or that.
It is not to be fancied that I be a heretic in this respect, as the Ummah scholars11 have never approved of every hadith reported in the Sunnah books, so let them have capacity for whatever I encompassed, after it was demonstrated to them. This verily being a common fact known for men of discernment with no disagreement between even two scholars, except for the Hashwiyyah who believe in all the traditions narrated to them whether being correct or incorrect, as long as their chain (sanad) be established in their viewpoint. Ibn Abi Layla said: “Any man can never comprehend the hadith till he takes some and rejects some”. Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi said too: “No one can be a leader (imam) in hadith, when following up the eccentric and odd traditions, or telling of whatever he hearing, or reporting from whosoever (with no verification)”. Many examples proving this can be found in their proper places of this book.
No one has paid due attention to this subject – as previously stated – in the past, while studying it was extremely necessary before going into the books of hadith, tafsir (exegesis), fiqh, usul, history and grammar (nahw), with alike topics relevant to religion of Islam. It was supposed that a separate book be authored about it a thousand years ago, when the well-known hadith
books came to scene after spread of fiqhi schools of thought among Muslims, so as these books occupy their proper places of religion, and truth of the traditions reported in them be revealed for people so as to be well-acquainted with them. Had I come across, throughout the expansive Arabic Library, only one book covering this weighty and sensitive subject – of which every Muslim should be aware – I would have been relieved of this heavy burden,12 which I shouldered for the sake of research and exploration into hundreds of books and asanid to which I referred, and from which I quoted and reported. After spending protracted years in rushing into and treading this tedious road that was never paved before, nor had a beacon to guide the misled, I at last managed to find those abundant materials that enabled me to prepare and compile this all-inclusive book. Also I could publish this book – which is verily considered the first and unique in type – making it available for all people so as to be well-acquainted with the Muhammadan hadith, and be able to study it scientifically and comprehend it with logic and reason, far from bigotry.
And due to the fact that this research – as said before – being delicate and novel, with the probability of being opposed and disputed by some of the Hashwiyyah (Marginalists) and short-sighted people, so I have cited in it a large number of decisive indisputable proofs, and invulnerable evidences.
Through the book’s chapters, some of these proofs and evidences might have been repeated here and there due to a necessitating exigency or a compelling reason, or an unresolved interrelation with the course of speech in a way that meaning be incomplete unless they be there, and antecedent and following statements be badly lacking them. Besides, my intention being to evade and abstain from criticism and analysis in this book, though they being the principles upon which every proper scientific authorship is based and established in the contemporary time.
I found myself obliged to so doing, since our people have just recently been acquainted with such kind of research. Nevertheless my only hope is to see the end of the epoch in which only hypocrisy in knowledge and riya’
(dissimulation) in religion be prevalent, with the absence of good morals that deserve the pleasure of those who allege to be among the traditionists or scholars. I hope too to see people living in a time where only uttering and disclosing the truth is established, and nothing is set up but only the good deeds, with only the useful and beneficial knowledge be remaining on earth.
After managing in tearing down the veils and disclosing the truth regarding the Muhammadan traditions, which they (Sunnites) considered to be the second source for the legal proofs after the practical Sunnah (Prophet’s acts), taking them as asanid (documents) for supporting the Islamic sects and communities (firaq), and evidences for their superstitions and fancies, which they claimed to be relevant to religion. Also after succeeding in divulging to people the hidden facts about hadith, demonstrating a pristine and truthful profile of its history, I sincerely hope that I have succeeded in hitting the mark and attaining the prime purpose for which I exerted a great deal of effort and toiling, and spent that much of my life: being to defend the wordily Sunnah (of the Prophet) and protect it against any blemish, so as the Messenger’s speech be immune and invulnerable against any foisted words composed by the liars, or be spoiled by the intrigues of the hypocrites and enemies of religion. My aim was also to keep noble essence far from being described with epithets unfitting and improper for its sublime status and glorious worth, as he (S) – having the highest peak of knowledge, wisdom and rhetoric – was more honourable than to produce anything out of ignorance, or utter anything of his own desire.
If it is for this book to change – undoubtedly – the opinions of many Muslims in regard of the beliefs they inherited (from ancestors), and the rules they learned, it will, God-willing, make them acquainted with numerous realities increasing in their perception and knowledge in religion. It will further give solutions for the miscellaneous problems of which their bossoms are annoyed, with repelling and eliminating suspicions misused by the Muslims’ opponents and religion restrainers. In this way the consideration will be concentrated upon recognizing the principles of religion (usul al-Din),
and all viewpoints of Muslims and non-Muslims shall be straightened apprehending its purposes.
This book will, God-willing, remain a lofty light stand guiding toward the earmarks of the Muhammadan hadith biography throughout all stages of history, as long as this hadith be read or taught to people on earth.
I introduce my work – after Allah the Glorified and Exalted – to the learned among Muslims in particular, and to those concerned with Islamic studies in general, as it is these and those who are well-aware of its value and realize its worth. I implore Allah to help them all to find in it that which can satisfy their eagerness, and please knowledge and truth altogether.
I beseech Him the Glorified, to render my work sincerely devoted for His pleasure, prescribing for it a success and succour from His Own, so as to attain the aim I intended from it, that is to serve religion and demonstrate the truth, for the benefit of all people. He is the One Who responds to supplication.
From Jizat al-Fustat, Saturday 5 Jumada al-Ula, 1377 H. December 7, 1957 Mahmud Abu Riyyah
Abu Umar and other eminent ulama' said: There is unanimous concurrence among people that the imitator can never be counted among men of knwoledge, and that knowledge can only be realized through an evidence (dalil). Commenting on this saying, Ibn al-Qayyim said: "These two unanimities included dropping the bigot to desire and blind imitators from among the elite of ulama', as those who being superior to them acquired the qualifications to be inheritors of the prophets. The ancestors used to use the word jahil (illiterate, ignorant) for the imitator, since they believed that the 'alim should be indepenent in comprehending the knolwedge, and inferring evidences for his comprehension. They used to say: The parable of man who imitates (others) is like an animal that is guided by others.
This being the way with which Dr. Taha Husayn described my work, in his valuable foreward, with which I initiated this edition of the book.