Clarification that the Prophetic hadiths have chains of narration, unlike the Torah and the Gospel, for the people of those books have no chains of narration, even if they are fabricated.
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The Shaykh : And yet, we say: Suppose that the hadith was not collected at all during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him); what harm is there in the collection being delayed by a year and a half, as long as that year and a half serves as a medium containing only one Companion, two from the generation of the Tabi'un, and the third from the generation after the Tabi'un? These narrators have the most distinguished and clearest history that can be found for the followers of a prophet who passed away in previous centuries; there is no parallel to these people ever. And that is sufficient for you as a difference, as the poet said:
"And suffice it for you this difference between us *** And every vessel is filled with what it contains"
That you know the difference between the hadith and the Qur'an; between the hadith of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the Torah and the Gospel. They do not have any chain of narration, even if fabricated or forged, that connects the world to the Gospel and the Torah to the one upon whom the Gospel was revealed and the one upon whom the Torah was revealed. The Gospel was written after the ascension of 'Isa (peace be upon him) by a hundred years or more; I do not remember exactly now. This is known and acknowledged by them. Therefore, what multiplied? The Gospels to more than seventy or close to eighty. And they even held a council there in Constantinople long ago and chose these four Gospels to reduce the intensity of the disagreement existing between these Gospels, which are their sacred book. Our hadith is narrated with authentic chains of narration from the authors whose biographies are trusted and known. We know the biography of al-Bukhari and Muslim in a way that the Jews and Christians do not know the biography of 'Isa and Musa, let alone the other prophets and messengers. And all of this is a verification of the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[Al-Hijr 15:9].
But the questioner I referred to earlier mentioned this verse and found it difficult to accept that the hadith is preserved. I answered that the hadith is preserved in the aggregate of the Ummah, just as the Qur'an, whose meaning is intended, is preserved in the aggregate of the Ummah. It is not necessary that every one of those present now understands like the verse: What does it mean? If this meaning is missed by you, it does not mean it is missed by the entire Ummah. Likewise, if you do not know whether a hadith is authentic or weak, it does not mean that the hadith is lost to the entire Ummah. And even more so, it does not mean that the hadith that is difficult for you is difficult for the entire Ummah. Rather, it is due to your lack of concern for seeking religious knowledge and your absence from the gatherings of knowledge. Therefore, merely hearing a hadith that is difficult for you, which may not be authentic, means you do not know the authentic from the weak. And even if it were authentic, you would not be able to understand its correct meaning.
In conclusion, I say: there is no problem with the Sunnah, for it is—praise be to Allah—preserved. It is sufficient that there are known books, some of which collected the authentic, some of which collected the authentic, good, and weak, and some of which collected the weak and fabricated specifically. All of this is to facilitate for the Ummah that they be on clear evidence regarding their religion.
And perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
...
... (Glorified and Exalted is He) is worse than the one who rattles and moves his tongue with dhikr, rattling it like poetry. This person may be rewarded, or he may not be rewarded, depending on the type of dhikr he uses with his words; if it is in accordance with the Sunnah of his Prophet, or if it is contrary to it. And the greatest dhikr is for the Muslim to remember his Lord in His commands and His prohibitions, as we have said. And among His commands, as you have heard:
This is a reminder before the lesson, and the reminder benefits the believers.
"And suffice it for you this difference between us *** And every vessel is filled with what it contains"
That you know the difference between the hadith and the Qur'an; between the hadith of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the Torah and the Gospel. They do not have any chain of narration, even if fabricated or forged, that connects the world to the Gospel and the Torah to the one upon whom the Gospel was revealed and the one upon whom the Torah was revealed. The Gospel was written after the ascension of 'Isa (peace be upon him) by a hundred years or more; I do not remember exactly now. This is known and acknowledged by them. Therefore, what multiplied? The Gospels to more than seventy or close to eighty. And they even held a council there in Constantinople long ago and chose these four Gospels to reduce the intensity of the disagreement existing between these Gospels, which are their sacred book. Our hadith is narrated with authentic chains of narration from the authors whose biographies are trusted and known. We know the biography of al-Bukhari and Muslim in a way that the Jews and Christians do not know the biography of 'Isa and Musa, let alone the other prophets and messengers. And all of this is a verification of the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَBut the questioner I referred to earlier mentioned this verse and found it difficult to accept that the hadith is preserved. I answered that the hadith is preserved in the aggregate of the Ummah, just as the Qur'an, whose meaning is intended, is preserved in the aggregate of the Ummah. It is not necessary that every one of those present now understands like the verse:
Two dark (clouds)
مُدْهَامَّتَانِIn conclusion, I say: there is no problem with the Sunnah, for it is—praise be to Allah—preserved. It is sufficient that there are known books, some of which collected the authentic, some of which collected the authentic, good, and weak, and some of which collected the weak and fabricated specifically. All of this is to facilitate for the Ummah that they be on clear evidence regarding their religion.
And perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
...
... (Glorified and Exalted is He) is worse than the one who rattles and moves his tongue with dhikr, rattling it like poetry. This person may be rewarded, or he may not be rewarded, depending on the type of dhikr he uses with his words; if it is in accordance with the Sunnah of his Prophet, or if it is contrary to it. And the greatest dhikr is for the Muslim to remember his Lord in His commands and His prohibitions, as we have said. And among His commands, as you have heard:
When one of you prays, let him draw close to his sutrah, lest Shaytan cut off his prayer.
إذا صلَّى أحدكم فليَدْنُ إلى سترته لا يقطع الشيطان عليه صلاةThis is a reminder before the lesson, and the reminder benefits the believers.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.