Quranists reject the religious authority of Hadīth (Prophetic traditions), as they consider it inconsistent with the Quran. This in contrast to the ‘Aqīdah (Creed) of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah (People of the Prophetic Way and the Majority of Scholars) who consider hadīth essential for the Islamic faith.
Quranist: Why do you follow Sunnah/Hadeeth? Quran is enough for us and we don’t need Sunnah/Hadeeth.
Me: Before we continue, have you read the Qur’ān? Do you know Arabic?
Quranist: Yes, I have read the Quran twice in English translation; it was translated by someone who also doesn’t believe in Hadeeth/Sunnah.
Me: Your contention is that, “Quran is enough for us and we don’t need Sunnah or Hadeeth.” Although, it’s quite amusing to see you using the two terms – Sunnah and Hadīth – interchangeably, when technically they’re not the same.
You have only read the Qur’ān twice, in English interpretation (and not “translation” as you like to call it) when the Qur’ān was revealed in Arabic, yet you trust someone else’s interpretation for it; and that someone doesn’t believe in Hadīth or Sunnah like you.
Firstly, there is no such thing as Quranic interpretation, without the use of Sunnah or Hadīth. Qur’ān wasn’t compiled in a mushaf during the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but the compilation took place after He ﷺ had passed away. Qur’ān was memorised by thousands of companions (May Allah be pleased with them all), just like they also memorised the words and actions of the Prophet ﷺ. But you see no problem in taking the Qur’ān from them but you don’t accept when they narrate about what they heard and saw from Him ﷺ.
Secondly, even the Qur’ān tells us to follow the Prophet ﷺ, but you Quranists are too arrogant to follow “just another man”.
“And We revealed to you (O Muhammad ﷺ) the Dhikr that you may explain to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.”
[Sūrah Nahl 16, verse 44]
This explanation is nothing other than the Sunnah, which teaches us how to pray, give Zakāh, fast the month of Ramadhān, perform Hajj, etc. The rules of the Qur’ān are general: It asks repeatedly to perform Salāh, give Zakāh, perform Hajj, but it never specified the number of Rak’ahs for prayers, or the amount for Zakah or how to perform Hajj, etc. If this is unknown, it’d imply that the religion is incomplete, which actually goes against the Qur’ān itself and therefore a heresy; Quranists shouldn’t align themselves with orthodox Islām.
Thirdly, you claim that Qur’ān is clear without one having to resort to Hadīth or the Sunnah, but the Qur’ān itself says, interpretation of which states:
“It is He who sent down to you, [O Muhammad ﷺ], the Book, in it are verses [that are] precise – they are the foundation of the Book – and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allāh. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.” And no one will be reminded except those of understanding.”
[Sūrah Āli-‘Imrān 3, verse 7]
So the Qur’ān itself is refuting your false notion. Some verses in the Qur’ān are not clear except for the people of knowledge. And who are those people of knowledge? Well, they have to be those to whom it was explained (The Sahābah, may Allāh be pleased with them all). Who explained it to them?! It had to be the Prophet ﷺ. Proof for that can be found in the Qur’ān itself:
“And We revealed to you (O Muhammad) the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.”
[Sūrah Nahl 16, verse 44]
The Prophet ﷺ explained it to His companions, who explained it to those who followed them, and those followers explained it to those who followed them…with a sound chain which exists till now and will continue InshāAllāh.
“And even if We had sent down to you, [O Muhammad], a written scripture on a page and they touched it with their hands, the disbelievers would say, “This is not but obvious magic.””
[Sūrah al-An’ām 6, verse 7]
Fourthly, you asked me to name you ten Sunnahs that we must follow. Well, you don’t believe in Sunnah or Hadīth, so you please tell me from the Qur’ān;
– How to pray and what exactly to recite therein?
– Is the Ādhān mentioned in the Qur’ān?
– How people should get married and what exactly are the conditions for it and the – rights for men and women?
– How do we perform Hajj?
– How much of our wealth is to be given in Zakāh and what exactly is included in the wealth?
Just answer these for now, I’ll be grateful J
Quranist: AND I will say that I’m MUSLIM, submitter to GOD all day long, go live in Mecca, I don’t know why you people live here to be honest.
Me: How do you submit to Allāh? He commands us to “Obey Allāh and Obey His Messenger”, but you Quranists do the exact opposite; you follow your desires and logical fallacies and put the Sunnah of Muhammad ﷺ aside. He commands us to pray, but you don’t know how to because it is not even mentioned in the Qur’ān. This can go on and on but I think I have made my point here.
To conclude, I see nothing but incoherence, ignorance, arrogance and inconsistencies in the version of Islam you propagate, or I simply don’t understand you; more likely to be the first.
By the way, as for me not living here and living in Mecca, do you have proof from the Qur’ān for that? 🙂
May Allāh guide us all to the Haqq.
Was-Salām
