Response to a comment regarding existence of Sunnah

Question:
The originalist approach is really the only acceptable approach.

I would be interested if you could: -

1: Provide Qur'anic evidence that any literature encompassing hadith with the sub group of sunnah (They are NOT separate), contains original Islamic information.
2: Provide Qur'anic evidence that there is ANY other Islamic source of information other than the Qur'an.
3: Provide this evidence without first assuming the validity of the hadith and/or 'sunnah' tradition.
4: Finally, that you allow me to respond to the evidence presented.

Muslims practice shirk and will continue to do so until they stop following the words and traditions of arab and persian fabricators in partnership with and instead of the words of Allah.

“Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book, which is recited to them? Most surely there is a mercy in this and a reminder for a people who believe” (29:51)

“Shall I then seek a Ruler other than Allah? When He it is Who has revealed to you the Book (which is) distinctly elucidated;” (6:114)

“And the Messenger will say: O my Lord! Surely my people have neglected this Qur’an.” (25:30)

Response:
There are two reasons why sunnah (and not hadith) has to be accepted as an independent source of Islamic law: i) The Qur’an clearly alludes to this fact and ii) The fact that the entire Muslim ummah unanimously follows a set of religious practices which are not clearly mentioned in the Qur’an can only be explained by thefact that the prophet, alaihissalam, himself gave such practices to the entire ummah. Hadith literature was compiled, by and large, in the third century hijrah. Of course, these practices predate the compilation of hadith literature.

If one objectively reads the Qur’an, there is a mention of prayers, Jumu’ah prayers, Zakat, Hajj, Umrah, Fasting etc. but there is no clarification given as to what is really meant by them. The reason why their practical description was not given was that they were already taking place when the Qur’an was being revealed. A reference of then therefore sufficed. The Qur’an, for instance, mentions salatul Fajr and Salatul Isha in a manner as if they were two known prayers at them time when this verse was revealed.

We, therefore, cannot properly understand the Qur’an without acknowledging the sunnah, which is different from hadith. The verses that require Muslims to follow the book of Allah therefore include the need to follow the sunnah as well.

[This is Dr. Khalid Zaheer's response to a blog comment.]

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