Question:
Respected Mufti Sahab,
I would like to know if the 'Quran only Muslims' (i.e. those Muslims who believe that it is only binding to follow the Quran and reject the hadiths and the Sunna) are considered Muslims, disbelievers or heretics.
Thank you very much.
Answer:
Wa'alaykum as Salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,
1) By disbelieving in Ḥadīth, a person leaves the fold of Islām. There are numerous verses of the Qurān which has to be denied before one can refute the noble Aḥādīth of Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم. Consider the following:
"And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought." (16:44)
"And We have not revealed to you the Book, [O Muhammad], except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe." (16:64)
"It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah . But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding." (3:7)
All these verses exemplify that the primary object of Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم was to expound on the Qurān. Hence, we find that many actions which have been mentioned vaguely in the Qurān have been elucidated in the noble Aḥādīth. Amongst other actions is the method of ṣalāh, the niṣāb of zakāh, the procedure of Ḥaj, the amount of jizyah and many other actions which are all explicated in the Sunnah. An incident is narrated in Sunan al-Bayhaqi where the great Sahābi, 'Imrān bin Ḥuṣain (May Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him) became enraged on the person who demanded an explicit verse of the Qurān after the former cited a Ḥadīth.
One of the primary objectives of Nabi's صلي الله عليه وسلم mission was to expound on the Quran. Allah Ta'āla says,
وأنزلنا إليك الذكر لتبين للناس ما نزل إليهم ولعلهم يتفكرون (44)
"We have revealed to you the remembrance (the Qurān) so that you can explain to people what is revealed to them in order that they can ponder."
Hence, we find that many actions which have been mentioned vaguely in the Qurān have been elucidated in the noble Ahādīth. Amongst other actions is the method of salāh, the nisāb of zakāh, the procedure of haj, the amount of jizyah and many other actions which are all explicated in the Sunnah. An incident is narrated in Sunan al-Bayhaqi where the great Sahābi, 'Imrān bin Husain (May Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him) became enraged on the person who demanded an explicit verse of the Qurān after the former cited a hadith.
Furthermore, there are numerous verses in the Qurān which exhorts us to obey Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم. For example, consider the following:
1)يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول
2) وأطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول واحذروا
3) قل أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول فإن تولوا فإنما عليه ما حمل وعليكم ما حملتم
4) وأطيعوا الرسول لعلكم ترحمون
5) يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول ولا تبطلوا أعمالكم
6) وأطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول فإن توليتم فإنما على رسولنا البلاغ المبين
These verses exemplify the compulsion of following Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم. Of course, this can only be done by following the Sunnah. In fact, this proves yet another prophecy of Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم.
In an authentic narration of Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم expressed remorse at a time to come by saying,
عن المقدام بن معد يكرب قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ألا هل عسى رجل يبلغه الحديث عني وهو متكئ على أريكته فيقول بيننا وبينكم كتاب الله فما وجدنا فيه حلالا استحللناه وما وجدنا فيه حراما حرمناه وإن ماحرم رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كما حرم الله أخرجه التردذي وقال هذا حديث حسن غريب من هذا الوجه
"Oh, soon a time will come when a narration of mines will reach a person while he is relaxing on his couch. He will say, 'We have the word of Allah (Qurān) to judge between us; what we find as permissible in there, we will regard that as permissible and we would regard as impermissible what we find prohibited in the Qurān.' (Then Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم said), 'Verily the prohibition of the messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم is same like the prohibition of Allah." (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 5/38)
In another narration of Sahīh al-Bukhāri and Sahīh Muslim Nabi صلي الله عليه وسلم said,
إذا نهيتكم عن شيء فاجتنبوه وإذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتم
"When I prohibit you from an action then avoid it, and when I order you (to do something), do as much of it as you can." (Sahīh al-Bukhāri 6/2658 and Muslim 4/102)
Allah Ta'āla has also given great warning on the one who disobeys His messenger صلي الله عليه وسلم by saying,
فليحذر الذين يخالفون عن أمره أن تصيبهم فتنة أو يصيبهم عذاب أليم
"Those who disobey his command should fear turmoil afflicting them or an excruciating punishment."
In light of all the above our illustrious scholars have ruled that one who does not belief in the noble Hadith and merely relies on the Qurān, he would be out of the fold of Islām. Allāmah as-Suyuti (May Allah Ta'ala have mercy on him) said,
اعلموا رحمكم الله أن من أنكر أن كون حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قولا كان أو فعلا بشرطه المعروف في الأصول حجة كفر وخرج عن دائرة الإسلام وحشر مع اليهود والنصارى ، أو مع من شاء الله من فرق الكفرة
"Know -may Allah bless you- whoever denies the narrations of the Prophet صلي الله عليه وسلم either in word or deed (with the conditions that they are known) as a hujjah (proof), then he is an infidel, out of the Islamic faith and will be raised with Jews and Christians or people who Allah wants from the infidels." (Miftāh al-Jannah, 8)
Thus, the 'Quran only Muslims' would be regarded as disbelievers.
هذا ما بدا لي
إن كان صواباً فمن الله وإن كان خطأ فمن نفسي والشيطان والله ورسول منه بريئان
والله أعلم بالصواب
And Allāh Ta'ālā knows best
Wassalām,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)
Iftaa Department,
Euro-Sunni & Islamic Research & Welfare Academy
http://www.fatwaa.com/Authority-of-Sunnah/Ruling-on-those-who-reject-Ahadith.html
See also:
The Authority Of Sunnah (Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani) - http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/asunnah1.htm
The Authority Of Sunnah And Hadith, In The Light Of The Holy Quran (Mufti Muhammad Yusuf Danka) - http://www.muftisays.com/forums/books/6636/the-authority-of-sunnah-and-hadith%2C-in-the-light-of-the-holy-quran.html
The Authority and Importance of the Sunnah, Shaykh Jamaaluddeen Zarabozo - http://www.kalamullah.com/importance-of-the-sunnah.html
