Have you ever wondered why the term “Qur’anists” قرآنيون is used as an accusation? Why haven’t critics of “Qur’anists” coined the term “Hadithists” حديثيون to criticise those who authenticate vast numbers of ḥadīths that contradict the Qur’an, history, and reason?
In this podcast, we dive into one of the most thorny issues in Islam to discuss the ongoing debate surrounding the rejection of ḥadīths. We explore the historical roots of this movement, which may surprise you to know that it dates back as far as the era of the Companions.
Key themes of this episode:
- Hidden history: Is the rejection of Hadith a modern phenomenon, or do its roots stretch back to the first century?
- Indications of the accusation: What does the criticism and labelling of some Muslims as “Qur’anists” reveal about the accusers themselves?
- The missing label: Why was the term “Hadithists” never coined and used to criticise the opposing side?
- Stark contradiction: How did adhering to the Qur’an alone come to be seen as a flaw, while the expansion of Ḥadīth is viewed as a virtue?
- Shifting the foundations: How did prioritising Hadiths over the Qur’an become a “Sunna” for Muslim scholars?
- Confusing different concepts: Why is there a conflation between the concepts of “Prophetic Sunna” and “Hadith”?
This is an invitation to rethink established norms that have distorted the sources and beliefs of Islam.
