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One thing that I hear repeated over and over when I talk about Islam and mention a Hadith is that people tell me it is not in the Quran or you must read the Quran etc.
Let me clarify this for everyone: Islam =/= Quranism. I don't have a very short version. you can just go look up Quranism on wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quranism
Long version:
What is mainstream Islam, its major denominations, and its texts and sources?
Mainstream or traditional Islam, believed by almost all Muslims is the Usuli or literalistic form of Islam. It has been that way since the birth of Islam.
Its main beliefs are that Quran is the literal, perfect words of God, and Sunnah (all verbally transmitted records of the teachings, deeds and sayings of prophet Muhammad, mainly found in Hadith and Sira) compliment and complete it.
1) Mainstream Islam has two major denominations:
- Sunni Islam: 87–90% of Muslims.
- Shia Islam: came out of Sunni Islam, 10–13% of Muslims.
"Is the difference between Shia and Sunni Islam a fundamental theological/spiritual difference?"
No. It is a political dispute. There are some other differences in areas of Fiqh as well, but if only for them, they would make them two schools of the same denomination.
2) Islamic texts and sources:
Quran and Sunnah (mainly) consist of:
1. Quran
2. Hadith
3. Sira
"What is the Quran in traditional Islam?"
Quran is entirely "Wahi." Wahi means Revelation of God. In traditional or mainstream Islam Quran is considered actual, "literal", words of God. That means the words of Quran, as they are, just the way anyone can read them, are "perfect." There cannot be anything above them, there will "never" be words as perfect as the "literal" words of Quran.
Allah himself (or itself) has this to say about Quran, his own holy words:
Say: "If the mankind and the jinns were together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another." (Qur'an 17:88)
"And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (Qur'an) to Our servant, then produce a surah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful." (Qur'an 2:23)
Which is called the challenge of Quran. And Zakariya al Razi (discoverer of alcohol), the great agnostic Persian polymath, physician, alchemist, and philosopher had this to say about Allah's challenge:
"What is the Hadith?"
Hadith are reports describing the words, actions, or habits of the Islam's prophet Muhammad.
"Why? for what?"
Inspiration and imitation.
"How important Hadith are?"
Hadith are only second to Quran in terms of importance and authority.
They have as much role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) and the Islamic law known as "Sharia Law", as Quran. That means, when you talk about "Sharia Law", if you don't know or understand Hadith, you do not know what you are talking about. Plus, Hadith are used by all major denominations as a tool to understand Quran itself. That makes it even more central than Quran in many ways.
For example, the command that Muslims must pray "5 times" a day is taken from hadith. How they must pray and what they should do, is in the Hadith. In the Quran, prayer is mentioned to be 3 times a day, not 5 times. Some even say 2 times a day. And there are no details as to what to do and how to exactly perform it. All of them are found in the Hadith.
Or the Shahada. The second part of Shahada " Muḥammadur-rasulu-llah" does not exist in the Quran. It is driven from a Hadith. The Shia Shahada even has a third part "wa ʿaliyyun waliyyu-llah". Which exists nowhere in the Quran again. And Shahada is considered one of the five pillars of Islam. When you see Muslims pray 5 times a day (or if you are a Muslim who prays) and when they say Shahada, they (or you) are following the Hadith first, Quran second.
"What is Sira?"
The prophetic biography. It is used as an addition to Quran and Hadith. It is the history of the life of Muhammad that sheds light to different Islamic events, from Muhammad's military campaigns and wars, to events that different Surahs came into prophet Muhammad's mind, etc. It is a very important addition.
Now, what is Quranism?
Quranism is a "branch" of Islam, which has always been a tiny minority, and a belief mostly held by "individual" Muslims rather than organized groups. It is so small that it is pointless to even mention Quranists or Quranism when talking about Islam.
Though their organized groups are increasing in recent years. Also, in major Islamic denominations: Quranism - is - heresy. You could be prosecuted for Quranism in many Muslim countries if your beliefs were made public.
Some good videos about Quranists by traditionalist Muslims:
And two instances in Quran that Allah recommends to Muslims to follow Muhammad's words and deeds:
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, (O Muhammad), judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission. (Quran 4:65)
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (Quran 33:21)
And that is it.
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Does Islam have or did it ever had non-literalistic denominations?
Yes, there once existed the Mu'tazilites and Baṭeniyyah. The Baṭeniyyah simply sought to understand the esoteric meaning of the words of Allah and Islamic texts. Mu'tazilites were a "rationalist" movement within Islam who stressed on using human reason. And they were a tiny minority even when they existed. I don't go into details. Because this is already longer than I wanted to be.
Just that, today the word "Mu'tazilite" is used mainly by sectarians to denounce their enemies. That means ISIS Jihadis may call you Mu'tazilite before they behead you.
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Last words
So, when I, or anyone else, use a Hadith, know that in mainstream Islam Hadith are almost as important as Quran.
When I use this Hadith for example:
Narrated Anas: "Some people from the tribe of 'Ukl came to the Prophet and embraced Islam. The climate of Medina did not suit them, so the Prophet ordered them to go to the (herd of milch) camels of charity and to drink, their milk and urine." - Sahih Bukhari 8:82:794
This is in Islam. It is not just an old custom in the Arab culture, it is in the religion of Islam.
When I use this:
This is Islam.
Whether you like it, dislike it, embarrassed by it, triggered by it, it is Islam. That is a fact. If you are a Muslim and embarrassed by it, maybe it is time for you to embrace reformist Muslims' views. And if you generally don't like facts, that is just your problem.
Anyway. I think that is enough. Goodbye.
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