How Can The Hadith Be Separate From The Sunnah?
The edifice of Sunnah is essentially built on conjecture (ظن), ie. You think a certain action was performed by the Prophet but you don’t have a conclusive evidence whether its true or not. These are non-falsifiable claims with a degree of probability attached to each one of them regarding their truthfulness. On the other hand, Quran’s claims about its infallibility are falsifiable/testable. For instance, consider Quran’s assertion that it cannot be produced by anyone other than God, and if you claim otherwise then try to produce something like it. No one has been able to meet the challenge. There are also other assertions such as being free from contradictions and internally consistent (4:82, 39:23), hence a proof of its divine origins. The verses of Quran are also referred to as بصائر , i.e physical evidences. But there is another issue, which is more serious. Sunnah lacks any epistemic basis and is not acknowledged by Quran as a valid source of religious guidance. In simple words, there is no proof in the Quran that Prophet ever issued or delivered any everlasting religious commandments in addition to Quran, other than the administrative and community matters. Rather the contrary is true. When we read Quran, we get the following information about what God and His Prophet have given us: 1. The only thing the Prophet was asked by God to deliver was Quran (3:20, 5:67, 5:92, 5:99, 13:40, 16:35, 16:82, 24:54, 29:18, 42:48, 64:12, 72:23, 72:28). 2. The only thing for which Prophet was accountable and responsible for delivering was Quran (5:67, 24:54). 4. The only thing the Prophet confirmed having received from God was Quran (6:19, 42:15) 5. The only thing God instructed the Prophet to follow was Quran (6:106, 10:109, 33:2, 75:18). 6. The only thing the Prophet himself announced that he followed was Quran (6:50, 7:158, 7:203, 10:15, 46:9). In the presence of these irrefutable evidences, the onus is on Sunnah followers to furnish evidence for the legitimacy and validity of their purported source for being مستقل بالذات. But no such proof exists. In addition to the above, the following features of Quran leave no room for admissibility of any other source besides it: 1. It is Complete, Perfect, and Fully Detailed (6:114, 10:37, 12:111, 16:89, 41:3). And sufficient (29:51), requiring no other hadith or book to supplement it (45:6, 68:37). 2. It is free from all doubts and lies (2:2, 10:37, 32:2) and free from any distortion and deviousness (39:28), while no such claims can be made for Sunnah. 3. Quran is free from inspiration of fancy words by enemies of Prophet among Humans and Jinns (6:112-113), while Sunnah is not. 3. Quran is documented and preserved (52:2-3) and divinely protected (15:9, 22:52, 41:42, 56:78, 72:9), while no such claim can be made for Sunnah. 4. Quran is a physical and visible evidence in itself (Basa’ir) (6:104, 7:203, 45:20). 5. Quran is endorsed by testimony from God (and angels) (4:166, 6:19, 11:17), while Sunnah is not. 6. The Prophet will complain against his people on the DoJ for abandoning Quran (25:30), and not for not following Sunnah. 7. We will be questioned about Quran on the DoJ (7:6), not whether we followed Sunnah or not. To answer your question, whether we can trust Sunnah, no, neither can we trust nor are we required to trust something which is based on conjecture and hearsay. However, if you wish to follow any practice that Sunnah followers (Sunnis) categorize as Sunnah, you can voluntarily do so, as long as it does not violate Quran. (Many Sunnahs actually do violate Quran). But knowing and acknowledging that it is purely voluntary. If you call it divine or mandatory, this would amount to setting up associates with God, as you will be upholding something for which God has sent down no authority (ما انزل اللہ بہا من سلطان). 10:36 Most of them only follow conjecture. While conjecture does not avail against the truth in anything. God is knower of what they do. 10:37 This Quran could not have been produced without God, but it is to authenticate what is already present, and to provide detail to the book in which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.