I want to learn about my religion
"Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him." (Qur'an, Surah Ikhlas)
Aslaam Alikum, I would like some advise on what to do, I was born as a muslim but never new a lot about my religion, I knew the basics and always feared Allah and though a lot of my religon even though I didn´t have much knowledge, I always feared Allah before doing anything until the age of 16, 17, from this age onward I commited so many sins, I fell in love with this world, until I grew up.
fallen
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Assalamu alaykum Fallen.
You should turn to Allah for repentance first. Your heart is already turning in that direction. So convert it in to action by doing ghusl, praying salaat and asking Allah forgiveness and guidance in religion.
I believe insha Allah you know how to pray. If not, you may check on youtube.
It is the begininning of your studies. So being a student myself, I advise you to stay away from "debates" of sects widely available on internet, where each person is trying to show how wrong the other one is. So abstain from looking at those debates.
The truth revealed from Allah is the Qur'an. Study it with meanings. With translation. Keep studying the Qur'an only first and not any other thing side by side. Understand the Qur'an by the Qur'an itself. First you may feel it is difficult, but with time it will ease. Insha Allah.
The knowledge of Qur'an is undending for us as new things come up each time you read.
Next to Qur'an comes the Sunnah, the application of Qur'an in life. The Sunnah is preserved in the form of hadith literature collected by Imams of ahadith from lacs of hadiths. Yet the material is huge and takes time to digest.
Once you are firm with the Qur'an only then proceed to hadith, because unlike Qur'an, the hadith has disputed material and scholars themselves differ to the authencity of many hadith, because a hadith Sahih on one scholar's condition may not satisfy the condition of other. Also, Muslims have been divided in to many sects because of each sect having it's own hadith on which it bases it's belief system and ingorning the Qur'an.
You have to take up the Qur'an and take whatever you think is necessary from the Sunnah to live the Qur'an. Only when you know the Qur'an firmly, you will quickly be able to note if any hadith is related falsely against the Prophet.
Being in Islam, we should not have so much conflicts. And one would be tempted to ask, if Allah revealed the Qur'an, complete and perfect, why did He promise to Protect the Qur'an and not the hadith.
Well the Qur'an was meant to be for that purpose and so Allah revealed it and protected it. Hadith is sayings, actions, which may not well fit in to the text of the Qur'an, could take away it's rhythm and may not fulfil the objective of a "Divine Scripture".
Begin a balanced study. Be firm on the Qur'an first, then take up hadith, else you may never know the truth from falsehood and go on learning what is taught from centuries without questioning the truthfulness.
Thorought investigation is a duty upon every Muslim before believing and propogating anything. Hence, prepare yourself for the religion of Allah.
Read the Qur'an and try to understand by yourself.
Begin this journey with the Qur'an and Insha Allah, Allah will guide your course.
Salaam,
Your brother.
Brother Munib, if you want to argue points of Islam based on your understanding, that's one thing. But when someone comes on this website asking to learn about Islam, you cannot give them your skewed perspective of the Sunnah. The official stance of this website is that we believe and follow the Quran and the saheeh Sunnah, just as it was believed by the Sahabah, the Tabi'een, and the classical scholars.
To claim to follow the Quran only and to reject the Sunnah is deeply flawed. In fact it displays a lack of understanding of the Quran itself, which has told us over and over to obey the Messenger, take what he gives us, and take him as an example. The scholars have held that the saheeh Sunnah is in fact protected by Allah, because how could Allah command us to follow the Sunnah, without protecting and preserving it?
It's not up to you and me to decide if a hadith is weak. I know that I do not have the training for that, and I am sure you do not either. That is the job of scholars who are highly educated and have dedicated their lives to studying Islam.
***
Back to the original question:
fallen, my advice to you is as follows:
1. Begin reading the Quran every day.
2. Go to your local masjid. See if they have some good basic books on Islam, like "Islam in Focus" or others. An excellent book of hadith is Riyadh As-Saliheen, which is a collection of only authentic hadith from Saheeh Buhkhari and Saheeh Muslim.
3. If you do not know how to pray, then ask someone at the masjid to teach you.
4. Make sincere tawbah (repentance) for the sins you have committed, and make a plan never to get involved in such things again.
5. Separate yourself from people who are bad influences and may pull you back into sin.
Islam is a lifelong commitment, and there's no better time to begin than today, Insha'Allah.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
It is indeed very unfortunate that one of the trials that we are facing in our time is the birth of the group who call themselves Quranists or Quranites, and they reject the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) outright, or accept only the hadiths that fit their skewed interpretation of the Holy Quran.
In fact, several websites have been opened up to proliferate this theory of "Quran Only", which actually is a theory of manifest error.
I myself have fought Quranists in many forums, bulletin boards, and in facebook. Unfortunately, their number seems to be growing. I believe the time has come for our scholars to stand up and take a clear stance about this fitan of Quran Only, and make people aware about it.
I do not want to fall into the fitnah of takhfir, but rejecting the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) can be a very dangerous thing.
Why we are seeing the rise of Muslims who are rejecting the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? The only reason that I can fathom is to interpret the Quran in way they want. I can now quote a Quranist website, where they have proved from the Quran that drinking alcohol is allowed and halal. Nauthubillah.
For anyone who questions the veracity of the hadiths by questioning the integrity of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and of other great scholars who have sacrificed their lives to collect them, should fear Allah. In fact, many verses can be quoted from the Holy Quran where stern warning has been given for failing to follow the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and Allah would not have asked us to follow His Messenger (ﷺ) so many times had He not willed to divinely protect the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ).
Assalamu alaykum Brother Wael,
I want to tell clearly, I am not a Qur'anist or Qur'an only. I reject them.
I am always wanting to follow the ways of the Prophet and Sahabas in Islam in their "practice" of Qur'an in daily life. I do not wish to make any slightest effort to alter the religion established then. I seek refuge in Allah.
I fear Allah and the Punishment of the Fire. I fear altering the Deen for anyone. So I say things carefully always about Qur'an and Sunnah. I do not utter any vain thought coming to mind.
My view is based on my understanding. The purpose of "divine revelation" was not to tell people should they wash in between their fingers when doing wudu, or raise finger in tashahud, and raise to the left or to the right or up and down and how much should be distance between two feet and where to keep hands and how much to raise when saying Allahu Akbar etc.
This is what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did. I was a lover of the Salafi way until last year and was always on the look out of the salafi approach and I still like many points. But when I started to read hadith books, they did disturb me a lot due to huge contradictions within themselves and the Qur'an. I had to keep them aside and concentrate on the Qur'an.
The Qur'an mentions adhaan, but how it is, we know from the Prophet's way and that of His companions. The Qur'an mentions salaat, but we know from them how it was performed, the Qur'an does mention salaat in congregation, it does mention takbir, it does mention ruku, sujood and praising Allah but the form is what we know from the Prophet's and sahabas and the later genetations practice.
But what is there to note is we have not limited the Sunnah to practing the Qur'an and living in it life. Salafi scholars have gone to the extent of saying that a Sunnah can abrogate even a verse of the Qur'an. Thats the extent to which they have raised the Sunnah in their approach to the Qur'an.
I lost someone very close to me due to my approach and pointing out "clear" errors in the hadith books. But I do not care brother. I care for Allah and the truth, I am sorry to say this.
Have you wondered the reason why we have so many sects today? You say there is hadtih about it, not only that of 73, but the Qur'an has warned several times against forming sects and its punishment.
You would not be surprised to note that the word by which we call ourselves sunni and form majority of Muslims, there is no word of "Sunnah of the Propeht" in the Qur'an. My approach to matters is that of a truth seeker.
I never say to any person reject a hadith or accept it. I only say read the Qur'an, read the hadith of what you in it helpful in living the Qur'an take it, what you find against the Qur'an note it down and give to some scholar to provide an explanation for.
Almost all sects are formed due to hadith, just have a look around, even the transgressors " Ahle Qur'an" following the fool Rashad Khalifa, have gone astray because of not following the Qur'an but following Jewish scriptures and mixing it with Qur'an to prove their point.
I always ask Allah for guidance in these matters. My brother, you are not my enemy, nor is anyone who believes in Allah or the last day my enemy.
Only Allah knows who is guided and who is astray from his path.
In my search for truth, I have lost someone so dear to me, that I have sacrificed it for the sake of Allah and the truth, I shall never obey anything which is against the Qur'an and mind you, following the Qur'an and Sunnah is said by every Muslim. Yet they differ so widely.
The Sunnah should have been limited to actions, yet matters of aqeedah are decided on the basis of ahad reports.
Does any of the scholar have an authority from Allah to alter the religion for people?
A new convert would feel lost, as even I being a Muslim at times feel lost, as whom to follow, who is right, who is wrong, why so many hadiths, why lacs of hadiths? Why only after knowing these lacs of hadiths do I understand Islam?
These questions need to be answered.
Does a Muslim need to know Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Bayhaqi, Ibn Khuzaima, Ibn Marduya, Muatta, Musnad of Ibn Hanbal and many other hadith books?
Does a Muslim need to know them all, these lacs of hadiths and then only it can be said that he has knowledge of Islam? Would Allah make religion so hard for a Muslim?
Or would a Muslim always rely on scholar, life long, to know what Allah wants him to do and how it should be done?
Was Islam for man's connection with Allah or for going through channels?
If the "Sahih Sunnah" which is the latest term among us, is so sahih.
If the Sunnah is so well protected, why do Muslims differ?
One major example is salaat of Rasullaah, something which we do five times a day daily.
Did not the Prophet pray salaat for 22 long years? Did not anyone see him how he prayed? 22 Years is a big time to see a man pray again and again and learn his way of praying. There should be no difference between his followers on how he prayed. Why so many differences?
Why different ways of praying Witr? The Hanafi say their way is Sahih, Hanbali say their way of Witr is Sahih. Whom should a normal Muslim follow?
If both ways are Sahih, why does not a Hanbali pray sometimes like Hanafi and vice versa?
Why do they differ in number of rakah in Eid salaat?
Who do you think can be called a Muslim?
A Salafi or a Hanafi or a Maliki?
Whose understanding of Islam do you call perfect?
Brother, I am deeply troubled by the anguish I am facing. I like the salafi approach, but it is very degrading towards people whenever anyone questions something.
I am also feeling sorry for myself at times. That I was a good Muslim, I did not know who Abu Hanifa was or Shafi'i was. I was just going to my local masjid, reading Qur'an and praying salat and leading a normal life. Why did i get so enthusiastic for daw'ah, why did I take so much interest in Islam and hadith books that now I feel that there are 100 doors and each one calling and saying we are right join us.
Then I say to myself. By Allah who created me, I shall not compromise with the Truth. I shall study the Qur'an for now and continue my Islamic life, try to gain as much knowledge as I can. Insha Allah I and people like me who seek the truth and are open to learning are the people this Ummah needs to lessen the burden put on their shoulders. To free them from "haraam and halaal" which is not Islamic. To make them turn to Allah as the Prophet and Sahabas did.
And I also think, if my beloved Muhammad (salalaahu alayhi wasallam) , the last Prophet , even after his establishing the Deen, Muslims became in to sects one by one, what can a poor guy like me, poor in knowledge, poor in power can do. Let their case be to Allah.
I only ask Allah Muslims to stop diving. Turn to Qur'an, not engage in debates of sects. Learn of the Sunnah which is in accordance with the Qur'an. That is the best approach which I think a Muslim can have without going astray from the Revelations of Allah.
I am sorry to say, this Ummaah has raised the Sunnah to such a level that is has caused divisions and further divisions in them and has made them ignore Qur'an's teachings to a large extent.
In the enthusiasm of Sunnah, people forgot the Straight Path. They forgot that to stand with wide feet or close feet is not Siraat Al Mustaqeem, sirat al Mustaqeem is to believe in the revelations of Allah, to worship Him alone and not associate partners in Deen.
Brother Wael,
My Brother, with all my love and sadness, I think I should stop writing on this website. You won't like my approach and I won't be able to bear falsehood in the name of Islam.
I want to support my brothers and sisters, but I know people will yell at me, will frown upon me, get angry at times and Insha Allah, in future I will face lot of oppostion. But this is what the Prophets faced when they asked people to make religion pure for Allah. The revelations of Allah are my guidance to life and I hope in the course of life, Allah will keep me on His path, make me worship Him like Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) worshipped Him and will help me establish Islam away from innovations and inventions of later times.
You all are lovely people, Sister Maria, You, Sister Sara, Sister Z, Brother Muhammad and other brothers and sisters who supported me on this wesbite.
But I am a Muslim. I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and I shall not keep quite when His revelations are ignored and any falsehood is imposed. May be one day Insha Allah, Allah will show you things as I see now and then you will realize that yes, he was not wrong, He was only calling us to Allah and His Book.
The Day that the wrong-doer will bite at his hands, he will say, "Oh! would that I had taken a path with the Messenger!
"Ah! woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend!
"He did lead me astray from the Message (of Allah) after it had come to me! Ah! the Satan is but a traitor to man!"
Then the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense." ( Surah Furqaan verse 27-30).
The Path of the Messenger, not taking for friend one who turns away from it and turns others away from it, he leads astray after the Message of Allah (the Qur'an) has reached a believer and then will run away from helping on the Day of Qiyamah, and Muhammad (salallaahu alayhi wasallam) will say to Allah: My people took this Qur'an (the Glorious Qur'an, The Reminder, The Tremendous Book, The Light, The Critertion) for foolish Non sense.
My own people are who but the people of the Ummah who after recieving the Qur'an turn away from it and try to refute it with falsehood.
But Allah says further to the above verses, in verse 31, Surah Furqaan:
And thus have We made for every prophet an enemy from among the sinners and sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and a Helper.
Every Prophet faced this.
I am a normal slave of Allah, a lowly human being, but Allah is sufficient as a Guide and a Helper.
Insha Allah, with this ayaat, I keep my belief and hope Allah will always Guide and Help me to proclaim His message to whomsoever I can and will protect me from those who oppose it or try to refute it.
Brothers and sisters, I have no grudges against anyone I met on this wesbite.
I do not want to make things uneasy for the editors. May Allah guide you all and give you success and ajr for working hard for the needy.
I tried my best in last one month, with my little knowldge and experience, giving hours for my brothers and sisters, but may be Allah's wish is I remain quite for now and wait for the days of victory when Truth will stand clear from Falsehood for all to see, Insha Allah.
A brother made a point that Ahle Qur'an are increasing day by day. Yes they are. we should be worrying about it, because they have chosen a new Messenger, a fool called Rashad Khalifa.
But you should think why more people are turning to Qur'an, because they are fed up, like me, fed up of sects, debates, this and that all the time hateful approach and no room for questioning and imposing hadiths and making it compulsory to follow each. Where as in Deen there is no compulsion. Salafi approach, in my opinion, is good at times, but at times in their responses and their websites one finds artciles full of of hate, agression and disrespect for anyone who "questions" their practices and preachings.
By hook or by crook they want everyone to become a salafi and say " yes, now I am a true Muslim, aha, sorry, Salafi". I think they have started to promote this term so much on internet that they may forget calling themselves Muslims.
May Allah help us.
We are Muslims, who surrender to Allah, worship Him alone, we should obey Allah, by obeying His Messenger with the Message of the Qur'an which he proclaimed and practiced in his own life.
Insha Allah with time, Allah will give knowledge, strength and a clear way of approach.
Khair, Allah is our Lord and will decide on the Day of Qiyamah where in we differ.
Salaam ,
Your brother.
Also, nowhere in the Qur'an Allah says follow the " Sunnah of the Messenger". Do you find this ayat?
If Sunnah is the term by which we formed a whole majority of Muslim group, it should appear in the Qur'an. " like Obey the Sunnah of the Messenger and cling on to the Sunnah of the Messenger ?
Of course the believers have to Obey Allah and His Messenger.
How can we know if we are obeying Allah's order or not? Does Allah speak to us directly? No.
We know it by the Message which He has delivered to His Messenger. So we have to obey Allah and thus the ayat says: Whosoever has obeyed the Messenger has indeed Obeyed Allah.
Obeying Allah followed by obeying the Messenger means to "obey" the Message He has sent down - The Qur'an.
Obeying does not mean believe in the "lacs" of hadith in the name of the Prophet, many of which he may not have said at all.
Thats childish, immature and unhealthy approach to the verses of the Qur'an.
Also, is any hadith book authenticated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself?
Allah promised to protect the Qur'an, which He fulfilled.
The Sunnah is different for different sects and Imams. There is not one "Single Sunnah Book" for the whole Ummah.
The Imams authenticated these books and not the Prophet in whose name things were said.
It was all done in a well planned manner. To turn Muslims away from the Book of Allah. And after the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu alayhi wasallam) passed away and the Sahabas passed away.
Had anyone written any Sunnah book in their life?
If the Sunnah was so important, why did the Prophet not get a Kitab Al Sunnah be written so that we may all follow it just as we follow the Qur'an?
If a hadith says Prophet predicted 73 sects and another says in Abu Dawood, soon a time will come when a person will lay on his couch and say, between us and you is the Book of Allah, whatever it says haraam we take it as haraam and whatever it says halaal we take it as halaal, but beware, etc and that one should also keep halaal and haraam told by the Messenger (peace be upon him). So if people ascribe so many future predictions to him, did he not know that Muslims would fight over Sunnah?
Why did he not get a book composed called Kitab Al Sunnah having adhan, number of rakat, timings, etc.
Why was this work left for "imams" to call something sahih and daeef and the consequences? Many imams, many ways for the believers and none sure who is 100% on the way of Rasullaah - the Sunnah?
These questions need to be answered.
It is easy to say someone is such and such, and accuse, but we should go in to the details of why someone is questioning something.
Allah commands : Say : Produce your proof if you are truthful.
Answer above questions, Insha Allah, if they are true and satisfactory, I have no problem in changing my view and accepting the better one.
I love to follow the Sunnah, a Muslim can have it as a best gift, the way of his Prophet of 1400 years back, still he doing ibadaah of Allah the same way. I loved it, love it and Insha Allah will love to try be like the Prophet in ways I can from ibadaah to Allah , his ways of worshipping Allah to devotion to Him.
But answers are definitely needed to the above questions.
Salaam,
Your brother.