Sunan Tirmizi#3788 – Holding Quran And Ahl-e-Bait To Avoid Misguidance
There are three different versions of this “hadith” reported in the hadith books: 1. Quran & Sunnah: I have left two matters with you. As long as you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They are the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet.” Muwatta Malik ( Book 46, Hadith 1628) 2. Quran & Prophet’s Family: I leave with you Quran and Ahl al-bayt , Muslim 44/4, Nu2408; ibn hanbal 4/366; darimi 23/1, nu 3319. 3. Quran Alone: I have left behind you something which, if you adhere to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah. (Ibn Majah 3074, Muslim 1218). Both the major sects of Muslims (sunnis and shias) have picked one out of these three as per their wishes and sectarian beliefs, and what suits their doctrines most. All three versions are mutually exclusive , meaning that if you uphold any one of these, the other two would be rendered incorrect, since all three lead to entirely different belief systems. Therefore, only one of them can be correct at the most. Which one of these three versions is correct and closest to the Truth? Since now there is a controversy and difference of opinion has arisen in the wake of these competing claims, we must deploy Quran as the Criterion ( 2:185, 3:4, 25:1) and Benchmark ( 42:17, 57:25) to distinguish the truth from falsehood. Because we are well-aware that: 1. All matters are required to be judged through Quran ( 4:105, 5:44, 5:48, 5:49). 2. All controversies and disputes in faith and religion are to be settled through Quran ( 2:213, 16:64). Therefore, we refer to Quran and ask Quran to tell us what have the Prophet left for us, and what is the truth in this matter. Quran tells us the following: 1. The only thing God instructed the Prophet to preach, warn, and remind through is Quran. For evidence, see 6:19, 6:92, 7:2, 16:44, 21:24, 27:91-92, 32:3, 42:7, 50:45 . Did God instruct the Prophet to preach anything else? The answer is a flat No. There is no evidence in Quran that Prophet has left for us Sunnah or Ahlul Bait as a source of religion. 2. The only thing God instructed the Prophet to recite and convey to the people is Quran. For evidence, see 13:30, 17:106, 18:27, 27:92, 29:45, 98:2 . Is there any evidence that God instructed the Prophet to convey anything other than Quran, whether it is Sunnat, importance of Ahlul Bait, or anything else? No, not even a shred of evidence exists. 3. God directed the honorable Prophet to deliver only one thing: i.e. Quran , and nothing else. For evidence, see 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 . Is there evidence in Quran that God directed the Prophet to “issue” Sunnat? Non-existent and nowhere to be found. Did Prophet issue things other than Quran on his own without God’s approval? No, he could not (69:43-46). 4. Prophet was responsible and accountable for delivering only one thing: Quran. For evidence, see 5:67, 24:54. Was he given responsibility to deliver anything else, or was he accountable for delivering or issuing Sunnat? These verses make it clear that that is not the case. 5. God directed the Believers to acknowledge Quran ( 2:121, 2:136, 4:136, 17:107, 47:2), and nowhere ordered the Believers to acknowledge Sunnat or Ahlul Bait. These are in fact false gods and later fabrications. 6. God directed the Believers to follow Quran ( 6:155, 7:3, 7:157, 39:55), and never commanded them to follow Sunnat and Ahlul Bait. 7. The Prophet and his nation, both will be questioned on the Day of Judgement only about the Quran ( 7:6, 43:44), and not whether we followed Sunnat and Ahlul Bait or not. 8. Quran is complete and sufficient: a complete, full and final package (29:51) requiring no other sources to add to or supplement it ( 7:185, 45:6, 68:37, 77:50). 29:51 Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Book that is being recited to them? In that is a mercy and a reminder for people who believe. This is a rhetorical question, and the sectarian Muslims try to dodge it by claiming that it is only directed at polytheists of Makkah and not directed at them. For the Believers who trust God and trust His Message, Quran is obviously enough. But the rejectors of Quran and those who associate partners with God and take laws from their scholars instead of God (9:31), they label Quran as deficient and not enough. Hence, they insist on adding Sunnat and Ahlul Bait to it, intentionally and willfully ignoring that Quran is a Scripture that is already complete, sufficient and fully detailed (6:114-115, 12:111, 16:89). 9. The Prophet will complain to God Almighty against his people on the DoJ for abandoning Quran ( 25:30). This clearly shows that it was the only thing he had left for us. He would not be concerned about Sunnat or Ahlul Bait. Given the irrefutable evidence cited above, it is clear that only the third version (Quran Alone) of this hadith is plausibly correct because it conforms to Quran. The first two versions of this hadith that mention Sunnat and Ahlul Bait as sources of religion are in stark violation of Quran, therefore, are false and fabricated. They come from devil, as we are already warned by Quran: 6:112 We have permitted the enemies of every prophet, human and Jinn devils, to inspire in each other fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications. 6:113 That is so the hearts of those who do not acknowledge the Hereafter will listen to it, and they will accept it, and they will take of it what they will.