The Correct Manner of Approaching Hadith Literature

"O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the Prophet’s, do not raise your voice when speaking to him as you do to one another, or your [good] deeds may be cancelled out without you knowing." [1]

From the inception of Islam, the Muslims have received knowledge mainly through 2 primary sources and those are Quran and Hadith/Sunnah. This knowledge has been given to us for learning and practicing, however there are certain guidelines that Quran, Prophetic example and the example of the Companions teaches us when dealing and handling such knowledge. In this age of technology where information lies on our fingertips we also come across many ahadith and the apparent wording of their text makes us doubtful and we ask questions like "why does this hadith seemingly contradicts the Quran?" or "why do we feel this hadith is not right?" The hadith that seemingly contradict the Quran or appear incorrect to some minds is not due to the errors that it carries, but due to the lack of understanding that the minds carry.

One of the salaf (earliest Muslim generation) named Ibn Uyayna (r.a) said something extremely wise about hadith literature: “Hadith are a source of misguidance to those who do not take them from its people (muhadditheen)” Muhadditheen are scholars and experts who study and carry expertise in the ilm al hadith (sciences of prophetic traditions). This means that if individual minds were to study hadith without necessary knowledge and guidance from scholars, they might very well be misguided due to the apparent wording of the text even though its supposed to guide them. Just as if a Quranic verse about a particular subject were to be taken in isolation and all other verses related to that same subject were ignored, we can make grave errors in understanding the subject. Same applies towards understanding hadith that are recorded in several books. If we pick one and try to understand in isolation then there is a great chance of us misunderstanding the lesson being given, as we did not consult other books of tradition that might carry part of that same lesson.

Additionally, each prophetic hadith has a background just as each verse of the Quran has a background of its revelation. In most cases the backgrounds need to be kept in mind when understanding any particular hadith. To prevent these sort of mistakes is why Allah ﷻ has advised the Muslims to consult the people of knowledge: "...So ask the people of remembrance (i.e. learned), if you do not know..." - "….If they referred it (i.e the knowledge) to the Messenger and those in authority among them (i.e. the scholars), those seeking its meaning would have found it out from them. If it were not for God’s bounty and mercy towards you, you would almost all have followed Satan."[2]

References:

[1] Al Quran 49:02

[2] Al Quran 16:43 - Al Quran 4:83

[Courtesy of Zaid Shah | Rizqan Kareem | Most Excellent Sustenance]