One wonders why it is so that when it was introduced, Islam reformed the Arab society into being a model for generations to come. And generations later, we have somehow failed to keep up with our past standards, while busy imitating western ideas to modernize and compete for global recognition once again like our ancestors. Why is it that Islam seems to be leading us away from our goal?
One argument put forward is that the earlier Muslims had the Holy Prophet amongst them as a Guide to Islam. We too, are following the same Islam but the only change that seems to have taken place is that we have the Prophet’s Sunnah in the form of Ahadith to complement our learning from the Quran. These traditions have been subjected to criticisms and changes and their current form may be the one thing that’s been hampering our progress all these years. However, Ahadith aren’t the only thing that’s been added to our library of religious consultations. Ijtihad, Qiyas, and the vast number of Ulemas with their differing views are all potential discrepancies that may alter our actions from what they were supposed to be, resulting in the opposite of what was aimed for.
All these resources are essentially aids to finding an explanation for new problems, not witnessed by the Prophet himself. Ahadith too are an aid, not only for problems, but also to learn what we can’t interpret about Islam, particularly from the Quran.
Ahadith were collected starting at around the end of the 2nd century, and narrations were criticized and checked upon. There were flaws and still, weak narrators aside, one can’t be absolutely sure of someone’s flawlessness in narration.
Similar can be said about the Sunnah of the prophet; what we know is what we have been told by generations of our ancestors who descend from the companions. How do we make sure that the information passed along down the line is free from subjective facts and personal judgments? .A counter argument is that the Quran gives evidence about the character of the Prophet, and his Sunnah would not be contradicting any such information.
To try to adapt to succeed in the modern world, by inducting western ideas instead of what we have seen to work with our ancestors shows mistrust in our own history. Modernizing seems to be pushing us back to the path of unaltered Islam, which is if we choose not to separate our secular and religious lives and ultimately make it all about the material world. Strong faith will lead us to do all the right things. If we are submissive with Ikhlas and willing to gain Iman, God has promised to guide such people on the right path and there forth to success.
Dr.Kassim Ahmed- Hadith- A Re-Evaluation