Light On the Muhammadan Sunnah Or Defence of the Hadith

Introduction of the Second Edition 13

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

“This is God’s guidance guideth He with it, whomsoever of His servants He pleaseth; and if they were to associate others (with Him) certainly would be vain for them what they were doing. These are they whom gave We the Book and the authority and the apostleship; so if these (people) disbelieve in it, indeed have We (already) entrusted it unto a people who are not disbelievers in it. These are they whom God hath guideth, therefore follow their guidance.” (6: 89-91)

While introducing the second edition of my book Adwa’ ‘ala al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah, or Difa‘ ‘an al-hadith, I find myself obliged to present an express comment on its first edition, and how was the reaction and response toward it on the part of people with their different strata and inclinations.

Concerning the eminent scholars and leading thinkers in our homeland and other countries, this book – thanks to God for His favour and help – has gained their pleasure and appreciation with much applause, may Allah reward them the best, on my behalf and that of knowledge. In regard of those who dislike investigation in research, strival (ijtihad) in comprehension, and free thinking, seeing knowledge to lie only in whatever they have learned

through dictation from their chiefs and shaykhs … these people reacted to it – as was expected – with severe protest, making widespread campaign against it here and there, and even authoring books to this end. My reaction or stance toward such people was turning away from them, never facing them with the same stance and practices.

But, through any of these books – despite their voluminousness and abundance – I have never come across even one study of worth or a subjective criticism based on a modern scientific style that showing a truth or rectifying an error, or modifying a viewpoint, with their value being only disclosing the actual morals and nature of their authors with the level of their knowledge. And if such type of criticism was justifiable for some people in the past, it has verily become nowadays so detested, with no one resorting to it but only the ignorant who know nothing of the principles of criticism.

This is due to the fact that the proper criticism in the present time verily rests upon established principles of full perfect knowledge, sagacious intellect and sound logic, beside the critic’s being of chaste tongue and polite style as a prime condition. Through these conditions alone, criticism can undertake its mission best so as to be approved and accepted by people, with having the required effect and impression upon hearts and minds altogether.

The fact of which man may never perish out of wonder, being that all those who blasted and opposed my book have in fact neither managed to recognize its real purpose and objective, nor been able to be aware of its aims. The reason behind this might be traced back to its being beyond their cognizance and perception, and its theme being strange and unknown to them. Beside its research being based on modern scientific methodology which they fail and be short of attaining and recognizing, as when they were faced with it were frightened entailing to their denial and opposition to it for fearing from its implications for them.

I wish that they, on failing to comprehend and realize my words, would have chosen to keep silent, causing no bother to people (out of their opposition), heeding to the counsel of the wise poet who said:

I wish that who having no knowledge,

Had kept us immune from evil of his knowledge!

After all this, I announce with full confidence and self-assurance that verily no harm is there to inflict my book because of such a feeble baseless criticism, which only added to its value, and sublimated its position.

13. I have deleted from this introduction more than seventeen pages, in which I stated the standpoint of those who attacked me and my book. Because I preferred to deal mildly and respond to evil with good and kindness, the fact led me to neglect whatever they said and spoke against me. I invoke Allah to forgive all those who vexed and slammed me, and to guide them toward the straightforward path.