Erroneous Understanding Of Words Of Hadith: Whatever The Muslims View As Good Is Good In The Sight Of Allah.

[MuhammedAli]

Introduction:

While carrying out research to see what the opponents fo Islam have stated on Hadith, whatever Muslims collectively view as good/evil it is also good/evil in judgment of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).A knowledgeable brother suggested an article be dedicated to possible misunderstanding which may arise due to the text of Hadith. He said the foolish opponents of Islam will attempt to discredit the authenticity. Brother stated they might attempt to reason that Muslims now days consider it acceptable to view TV programs in which ghayr-mehram women/men dress in provocative clothing. Is this now also acceptable in sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). And ofcourse the implications would be that it would not be acceptable hence the Hadith cannot be authentic. Or they may argue that Hadith is valid proof for Shar’ri matters but may argue; just as view of people does not change the reality of something even if the people view it as good/evil, the innovations do not become good in Islam even if the people view them to be good nor they will become good in sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). This was a very good point raised by my dear brother and it should be addressed.

Hadith Of What Muslims View As Good/Evil:

“Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud said, “Verily, Allah looked at the hearts of the servants and He found that the heart of Muhammad, was the best among them, so He choose him for Himself and He sent him with His message. Then He looked at the hearts of His servants after Muhammad, and He found that the hearts of his companions were the best among them. Thus He made them into the ministers of His Prophet, fighting for the sake of His religion. And whatever the Muslims view as good is good in the sight of Allah, and whatever they view as evil is evil in the sight of Allah. And the Companions unanimously chose to take Abû Bakr – Allâh be pleased with him – as the successor (to lead the Muslims after the Prophet).” [Ref: Musnad Ahmad, Mukthireen, Ibn Mas’ud, H3589]

The Prophetic Guidance With Regards To Rejected Innovations:

It is recorded in Sahih of Imam Bukhari (rahimullah): “Narrated Aisha: “Allah's Messenger said: "One who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it, will have it rejected.” [Ref: Bukhari, B49, H861] Same is reported in another Hadith: “Aisha reported the Messenger of Allah as saying: If any one introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.” Hadith continues: “Ibn `Isa said: The Prophet said: If anyone practices any action in a way other than our practice, it is rejected.” [Ref: Abu Dawood, B41, H4589] In another Hadith it is stated: “All of them could be combined in one house; and then said: 'A'isha informed me that Allah's Messenger said: He who acted any action not from our affair that is rejected.” [Ref: Muslim, B18, H4267] Rejection is due to the fact that they are not good innovations rather they would be evil innovations: “And the most evil affairs are the [erroneous] innovations; and every [erroneous] innovation is misguidance." [Ref: Muslim, B4, H1885] These erroneous innovations are which do not please Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam): "And whoever introduces an erroneous Biddah with which Allah is not pleased nor His Messenger then he shall receive sins similar to whoever acts upon it without that diminishing anything from the sins of the people.” [Ref: Tirmadhi, B29, H2677] An erroneous innovative action/belief will be rejected because it did not conform to prophetic guidance. And the blame of sin of adhering to erroneous innovations/precedents is upon the individual who initiated the sinful innovation/precedent in Islam and its actor: “And he who introduces a evil precedent (i.e. Sunnah) in Islam there is upon him the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acted upon it subsequently, without any deduction from their burden.” [Ref: Muslim, B34, H6466]

The Judgment Regarding Issue:

One who deems the propheticly and Quranicly prohibited to be good, he has innovated something rejected into matter of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and RasoolAllah (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam). And has deemed something to be good which was not good in religion of Islam. Such a person engages in a action which is not established from prophetic guidance and therefore his conception of good and his action both are rejected. The blame of sin is upon him and anyone who follows the erroneous innovation/precedent. Hence those who consider the viewing of ghayr-mehram women on TV as good have blameworthy ideal and egnage in blameworthy action. If a foolish person innovates something, composed of Islamicly prohibited and permitted, and deems it to be good than such person has introduced an sinful precedent/innovation and upon him and those who act on it will incur equal sin. For something to be good from perspective of Shari’ah it must be composed of all that which is good and permitted according to prophetic teaching.

Scholars Are Intended By The Hadith Not Laymen:

The Hadith in discussion does not count the judgment of laymen as valid judgment. Rather the Hadith is about scholars of Islam. Meaning whatever the Muslim scholars collectively deem to be good/evil is also good/evil in judgment of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). With regards to understanding of scholars Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam) is reported to have said: “Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that,"Two are better than one, and three better than two; so stick to the Jama'ah for verily Allah, Most Great and Glorious, will only unite my nation on guidance." [Ref: M.I.Ahmad, Al-Ansar, Abu Zar Al Ghaffari, H20776] Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam) will only command the Muslims to hold to which is better and Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam) instructed the Muslims to, stick to the Jammah. The Hadith conveys meaning; Jammah is composed of majority and Jammah is not composed of every single Muslims, which would be inclusive of heretics. And similar meaning is conveyed in the following Hadith: “Anas bin Malik said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘My nation will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing,  follow the great majority.’” [Ref: Ibn Majah, B36, H3950] Alhasil, the understanding of majority of scholars on a issue is authorative and correct guidance. Be that disagreement amongst scholars regarding prophetic Sunnahs or views regarding innovated precedents/innovations. In this context of collective understanding of Muslim scholars Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam) is reported to have said: “And whatever the [scholars of] Muslims view as good is good in the sight of Allah, and whatever they view as evil is evil in the sight of Allah.” [Ref: Musnad Ahmad, Mukthireen, Ibn Mas’ud, H3589]

Conclusion:

The judgment of foolish folk regarding what is good and what is evil according to religion of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and RasoolAllah (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi was’sallam) is void. The judgments of scholars and to be precise majority of scholars, the Jammah of scholars of Islam is valid proof. Whatever the majority deems good/evil it is also good/evil in judgment of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

Wama alayna ilal balaghul mubeen.
Muhammed Ali Razavi.

[MuhammedAli]

Bump.