From: zeeshan@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Zeeshan Hasan)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Importance of HADEETH in muslim societies
Date: 14 Apr 92 05:19:54 GMT
	<9204041051.AA27720@girtab.usc.edu>
Organization: Oberlin College Computer Science

In article <9204041051.AA27720@girtab.usc.edu> jodar%girtab.usc.edu@usc.edu (Nicholas Jodar) writes:

  > My opinion is that what is most important in the Hadith is the WISDOM
  > and PIETY of the Prophet (SAW) which can be drawn from them.  In
  > the Qur'an, it says 'do this' or 'do that,' but it does not say
  > HOW to do 'this' or 'that.'  The Hadith give us numerous examples
  > of how to accomplish the duties which are placed upon us by Allah
  > (SWT).  

  > Does this mean that if the Prophet (SAW) didn't play raquetball that 
  > I shouldn't?  No!  Does it mean that if the Prophet (SAW) slept on a 
  > leather mattress on a dirt floor that I should?  No!  The Prophet 
  > (SAW) forgave the man who murdered his pregnant daughter because it 
  > was Ramadhan.  The important point is not that I should forgive a
  > person who kills my pregnant daughter if I catch him during
  > Ramadhan, but that Ramadhan is the month of forgiving!

  > WHY?

  > Because to live the Qur'an requires a certain CHARACTER.  THIS is
  > the quality of the Prophets, peace be upon them all, that made
  > them an example!  THIS is what we strive to imitate, not simply
  > their actions!

	I agree.  This is one of the reasons that I see the Hadith as
given entirely too much weight in traditional Muslim scholarship.

  > The words and deeds of the Muhammed (SAW) are those of a man.  A
  > man who made mistakes, a man who was imperfect, made so by his
  > Creator.  While I will be the first to defend the claim that he
  > never sinned, being perfectly Guided by Allah (SWT), I will also 
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
  > be the first to pronounce his humanity.  There is no such thing 
  > as perfect human.  Perfection is as the angels, who have no Free
  > Will.  They cannot do anything which is against Allah (SWT)'s
  > Will.  Humanity can.  It's called 'screwing up.'  

	Guidance from the divine may not imply total sinlessness.  In
fact, as you say, it is impossible for a person to never sin, as often
one will have to make a choice between committing the lesser of two
sins.  
	For example, the Quran states that one should not marry more
than once if he can not treat his wives equally, and it also states
that men will not be able to treat them equally.  The implication is
that Islam is fundamentally a monogamous religion, but polygamy is
permitted when the alternatives (in the Quran, the sufferings of
abandoned orphans and widows) are worse than the inevitable unfair
treatment of one's wives.  So sometimes a sin may be necessary to
prevent a worse one.
	In fact, there is no reason to believe that the prophet was
sinless; only that he was a perfect transmitter of the Quran, and that
he tried his best to avoid sin, and as such was a role model for
humanity.

farwell--
--
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   Zeeshan Hasan			OCMR box 1529, Oberlin College
   zeeshan@occs.cs.oberlin.edu		Oberlin, Ohio 44074
   skh7063@oberlin.bitnet		(216) 775-5423
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