Both the hadith and the Holy Quran are primary sources of information in Islam. Both of them provide a framework for the Muslim community and ensure that the lives of the Muslims please Allah till their last breath.
When one embarks on a journey to study both of these scriptures in detail and sees that almost all the actions Muslims perform are already stated in the Quran, the most common question that arises is, ‘Is the hadith as important as the Quran?’ Keeping this question in mind, this blog will explain in detail the true importance of hadith and why they are crucial for understanding the Shariah.
The Importance of Hadith
When the Prophet PBUH passed away, his mission was complete. Therefore, preserving the Quran wasn’t the only goal, but safeguarding its meaning was the top priority. And that meaning was explained in great detail in the hadith. Since the Quran is a short and concise book, many of its verses convey a general meaning until they are studied in detail.
For example, it is an established and verified practice that praying five times a day is obligatory for every Muslim of sound mind. The Quran clearly states:
Therefore, O Muhammad, bear with what they say and hymn the praise of thy Lord before the rising and before the setting of the sun (i.e., the Fajr, Zuhr, and ‘Asr prayers).
However, it only states that it is mandatory to offer prayers but doesn’t explain anything else. For example, the Quran doesn’t state the number of Rakats in the zuhr prayer or what the threshold is at which zakat becomes obligatory. These are the two fundamental questions without knowing the answer to which no Muslim can perform prayers. But the answer to both of these questions is found in the hadith. Therefore, in the words of Imam al-Awzaa‘i RA:
The Holy Quran needs the Sunnah more than the Sunnah needs the Holy Quran.
Prophet PBUH And The Quran
Another importance of hadith is clearly highlighted in many verses of the Quran, where Allah states that Muslims should accept what the Prophet PBUH instructs and refrain from what the Prophet PBUH forbids. Such as:
“And whatsoever the messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal.”
“Say: Obey Allah and obey the messenger. But if ye turn away, then (it is) for him (to do) only that wherewith he hath been charged, and for you (to do) only that wherewith ye have been charged. If ye obey him, ye will go aright. But the messenger has no other charge than to convey (the message) plainly.”
“O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if you have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if you are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.”
Detailed Explanation
The Prophet PBUH stated that the hadith is like the Quran, as it is from Allah SWT and constitutes proof. He further provided an example that highlighted something labeled as haram by the Sunnah, but it isn’t labeled as such in the Quran.
Al-Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Be cautious! I have been given the Qur’an and an equivalent to it. Soon, a man comfortably lying on his couch will say: ‘Stick to the Qur’an; whatever it permits, consider permissible, and whatever it prohibits, consider forbidden.’ Beware! Animals like the donkey, predatory beasts with fangs, and certain possessions belonging to a group—unless the owner does not wish to retain them—are not lawful for you.
The Three Categories
The hadith gives context to the Quranic verses. It explains what is mentioned in general terms, restricts what is mentioned in broad terms, expands on what is stated in brief, and abrogates certain rulings while introducing new ones. Taking this into account, Ibn al-Qayyim RA said,
What each Muslim must believe is that nothing is mentioned in the saheeh Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH, not a single Sunnah that poses a contradiction to the word of Allah. Rather, the Sunnah, in relation to the Quran, is categorized in the following ways:
- That which it agrees with and states the same as is stated in the Quran.
- That which explains what is in the Quran.
- That which states a new ruling not mentioned in the Quran.
It is not permitted to reject any of these categories, and there is no fourth category except for these. And whoever says that the sunnah may overrule the Quran, Imam Ahmed objected to them and stated that the sunnah provides an explanation for the Quran.