Friday, March 13, 2009

Allama Niyaz Fatehpuri and his Faith - 18


IS RELIGION FROM GOD OR MAN-MADE?

Books and Documents 03 Mar 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

The War Within Islam: Niyaz Fatehpuri’s Struggle Against The Fundamentalists by JUHI SHAHIN

Excerpts from a newly published book in Pakistan: The War Within Islam: Niyaz Fatehpuri’s Struggle Against The Fundamentalists

URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1221

Late. Allama Niyaz Fatehpuri [1884-1966]

Fatehpuri believed that the changes in Islam were brought about by the medium of the hadith (plural – ahadith, sayings of the Prophet). He claimed that many of the ahadith were simply fabricated to suit the ruler of the day. The reason why he could simply state such a conclusion, taking it for granted that people would agree with him, was that almost all the modernists – Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Shibli Nu’mani and even his contemporaries like Muhammad Iqbal, the philosopher- poet – were to a greater or lesser degree all doubtful of the ahadith in their entirety and were urging Muslims to be cautious in relying on them. Sayyid Ahmad disapproved of classical hadith criticism since it was based on the characters of the people relating the hadith, and not on rational criticism of the actual text. [See: Zaman, Ulama in Contemporary Islam, 12. Aziz Ahmad, Islamic Modernism in India and Pakista@n: 1857-1964 (London; Bombay; Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1967), 49-50., Murad, Intellectual Modernism of Shibli Nu’mani, 186-245. From: Shibli Nu’mani, Sirat al-Nu’man (Lahore: Kutub Kha@nah-i Azi@ziyah, 195?), 170-245. Ibid., Smith, Modern Islam in India, 117]

====================================

Dear Sultan Sahab,

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TOPIC OF NIYAZ FATEHPURI:

These Hadith rejectors give argument that several Hadiths are balsphemous regarding Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]'s Honour and they also say that Hadith is basically in Clash with Science



All the Prophets [PBUT] were human [Humans but blessed amongst Human Men - Afzalul Bashar]. People object on several Hadiths [SOME CONSIDER THESE HADITHS BLASPHEMIC] related with human feelings in the Prophets [PBUT].


As a human being it was natural for the Prophets [PBUT] to have human feelings like e.g. Anger-Wrath [a must to fight battle against disbelievers and when someone amongst Muslims show something against the Shariah] Lust [a natural thing for a married man for his wife to produce children, can any human being [PROPHETS - PBUT are included] produce children without lust?], Hunger, Thirst, Sadness [Can any human being cry without being sad], Joy [can anyone laugh or smile without the feelings of joy]. Human being also get injured and get sick and they also die and all the things happened with the Prophets [PBUT], Human being also forget things, list goes on and on.......

Prophets [Peace be upon them] were humans not Angels.



1- We sent not before thee (any messengers) save men whom We inspired from among the folk of the townships - Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? And verily the abode of the Hereafter, for those who ward off (evil), is best. Have ye then no sense? – [YUSUF (JOSEPH) Chapter 12 Verse 109]

2- Their messengers said: Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calleth you that He may forgive you your sins and reprieve you unto an appointed term. They said: Ye are but mortals like us, who would fain turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring some clear warrant. Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers put their trust! [IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM) Chapter 14 Verse 10 and 11]

3- Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord. [AL-KAHF (THE CAVE) Chapter 18 Verse 110]

Death of the Prophets [PBUT] [natural for a human being to die]

We appointed immortality for no mortal before thee. What! if thou diest, can they be immortal! [AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS) Chapter 21 - Verse 34]

Lo! thou wilt die, and lo! they will die; [AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS)Chapter 39 - Verse 30]

Allah says:

And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal. [AL-HASHR (EXILE, BANISHMENT) Chapter 59 - Verse 7]

People who felt Islam as a burden on their shoulders or suffered from inferiority complex started joining them, in Pakistan alone you would find many showbiz personalities dancing about and saying 'I get my inspirations from the Qur'an'. Their basic Ideology is that Ahaadeeth should be left aside and the Qur'an alone should be practiced, to prove their ideology they made various criticisms on hadeeth.

For each criticism on Hadith, adequate response from the Qur'an is given:


1 - Any Hadith that go against nature or natural sciences is fabricated.

We said: O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham, [AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS) Chapter 21 - Verse 69]

What are we to say about fires which are meant to bring coolness? If we are to reject Ahaadeeth on this principal then the same can be said for this ayah as well, but the Ahl-e-Quran would never raise this point when discussing Ayahs; why this prejudice against hadeeth only? An explanation has never been given.


2 - Hadith suggests that Allah has a throne and the sun prostrates Allah.

Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind [AL-HAJJ (THE PILGRIMAGE) Chapter 22 - Verse 18]

Not only the sun but other things as well prostrate Allah.

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise. Lo! He is ever Clement, Forgiving. [AL-ISRA (ISRA', THE NIGHT JOURNEY, CHILDREN OF ISRAEL) Chapter 17 - Verse 44]

We can't understand their worship but we have to acknowledge their worship whether it is mentioned in Qur'an or Ahaadeeth, why reject one and acknowledge the other?

Now does Allah have a throne?

and His Throne was upon the water [HUD (HUD) Chapter 11 - Verse 7]

3 - Any hadith will be considered fabricated which suggests that the tree cried.

And we subdued the hills and the birds to hymn (His) praise along with David. We were the doers (thereof). [AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS) Chapter 21 - Verse 79]

What are we to say about mountains which praise Allah, not only that some rocks fear Allah.

And indeed there are rocks which fall down for the fear of Allah.[AL-BAQARA (THE COW) Chapter 2 - Verse 74]

So Shibli, Sir Syed, Pervez, Fatehpuri or even Imam Abu Hanifah [May Allah have mercy on his soul] first reject these Verses then criticize Hadiths; if not and certainly not then why not believe in Hadith which carry a similar meaning and are also revealed by Allah?

4 - Hadith grants paradise to people if they say the kalima only.

Well, some get paradise by saying our lord is Allah.

Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but hear good tidings of the paradise which ye are promised. [FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) Chapter 41 - Verse 30]

The hadith is just like the above verse, where after saying 'Our lord Allah' they have to remain firm in their belief.

5 - Hadith forgives people 's sins if they perform small acts such as ablution.

Ablution is a very commendable act, it is done for salah but the Quran grants forgiveness just by saying a word and prostrating.

enter the gate prostrate, and say: "Repentance. " We will forgive you your sins and will increase (reward) for the right-doers. [AL-BAQARA (THE COW) Chapter 2 - Verse 58]

6 - Why do Hadith have conflicting reports regarding one matter? This alone proves their fabrication.

What are you to say when there is an Verse which doesn't tell a precise event but rather shows some ambiguity.

And We sent him to a hundred thousand (folk) or more [AS-SAAFFAT (THOSE WHO SET THE RANKS,DRAWN UP IN RANKS) Chapter 37 - Verse 147]

7 - Hadith insults Prophet Abraham (PBUH) by suggesting he lied three times.

They said: Is it thou who hast done this to our gods, O Abraham? He said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they can speak. [AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS) Chapter 21 - Verse 62 and 63]

Now what are we to call this? Whatever the reason it would be termed a lie. This is one of the three events the hadith refers to, so criticize Quran first.

The word used in hadith is 'Kazib', which usually means 'lie', but it also means 'mistake, an arrow not hitting the target or something said which has dual meaning etc'. The appropriate meaning of kazib in this hadeeth would be 'something said which has dual meaning'.

8 - Is spit of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi Wasallam) meant to be a cure?

Yes, it is meant to be a cure. If a breathe of a Prophet can bring things to life then the saliva of another prophet can be cure.

And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers. [AL-E-IMRAN (THE FAMILY OF 'IMRAN, THE HOUSE OF 'IMRAN) Chapter 3 - Verse 49]

Allah shows miracles through his Prophets [PBUT]

9 - Any hadith which suggest that the throne of Allah shacked on someone's death, such hadith is definitely fabricated.

And the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved. [AD-DUKHAN (SMOKE) Chapter 44 - Verse 29]

What are you to say about the sky and earth not weeping on someone 's death, so this means it does weep on someone 's death. If you are to say that it is only a figure of speech then the same can be said about the hadith, why reject one and accept the other?

10 - Hadith were collected and compiled by humans, they could have made mistakes. While for Qur'an Allah has promised its protection.


Who do you think collected and protected the Quran? Angels?

About the promise to protect the Qur'an, there is no such verse which suggests that Allah will protect the Quran only.

Lo! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian. [AL-HIJR (AL-HIJR, STONELAND, ROCK CITY) Chapter 15 - Verse 9]

The word used in the Arabic text is 'Zikr' which can be applied to both Qur'an and Ahaadeeth.


11 - It is in an hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) used to have intercourse with his wife while he was fasting.

There is no such hadith which suggests that, the word 'mubasharat' in the Arabic text has confused the people. Imam Shoukani says mubasharat means 'the touching of two bodies' (Nail-ul-Autar, Chapter taqbeel-saim) So the hadith only means that you can touch your wife or kiss her, during the process your body can touch her.


12 - It is in hadith that there are verses which were later abrogated.

Were the Verses abrogated in the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH)?

If so, then what is wrong with that if the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) told us this is Quran and later if he himself tells us these ayahs are abrogated, why are we not to believe him?

And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal. [AL-HASHR (EXILE, BANISHMENT) Chapter 59 - Verse 7]

If you object on the Hadiths which show Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]'s anger then how would you define this Quranic Verse? Please check the name of the Chapter [Surah]


He frowned and turned away Because the blind man came unto him. [ABASA (HE FROWNED) Chapter 80 - Verse 1 and 2]

Just two mionr questions

1- Who is the person which is being discussed in the Verse below? Would you like to define it through Quran without the help of Hadith

“(The prophet) frowned and turned away because there came to him a blind man” (80:1-2)

2- Who was the second person in the Cave? Would you like to define it through Quran without Hadith?

“Being the second of the two, they two were in cave and he said to his companion, ‘Have no fear, for Allah is with us”. (9:40)

"UNQUOTE"

Courtesy: Lecture by Late Muhammad Ismail Salafi - Bahawalpur - Punjab - Pakistan, which he gave in the late 50s.

No comments:

Post a Comment