Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Chapter 2:
The False Faith of the Fanatics

Our Prophet (pbuh) is the most perfect implementer of the Qur’an. He lived his whole life in compliance with the Qur’an and is the finest role model for Muslims. All his words and actions are without doubt fully compatible with the Qur’an, and some of those words and actions have come down to the present. Some of these sayings of his, known as hadiths, clearly belong to our Prophet (pbuh) and are completely trustworthy since they reflect the true practices of the Qur’an. Many hadiths referring to the End Times in particular have remained completely unchanged and foretell extraordinary things that would take place in the future. These hadiths have all come true, one after the other, in our time. The hadiths foretold, 1,400 years ago, events that would only occur once in human history, such as the coming of the double-tailed comet Lulin, the occupation of Afghanistan, the Iraq War and 9/11 attacks (For detailed information see The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) Will Come This Century, Harun Yahya, Global Publishing). Therefore, the things foretold by our Prophet (pbuh) are exceedingly valuable to us, and we need to regard trustworthy hadiths as glad tidings and blessings, and must not disregard them all.

However, it is also a fact that there are books of hadiths that contain things that were added at a later time and have nothing to do with the true sayings and practices of our Prophet (pbuh). The distinguishing feature between these and the trustworthy hadiths is that they are completely incompatible with the Qur’an. It is impossible for words or practices that clash with the Qur’an to belong to our Prophet (pbuh).

Therefore, in looking at the religion of the fanatics, a completely different faith from Islam, we need to know some facts about these hadiths because the religion of the fanatics has no place in the Qur’an, the only true scripture of Islam. So where is it?

The religion of the fanatics lies in traditions and superstition spread by word of mouth, but mainly in fabricated hadiths, which have been invented but presented as the words of our Prophet (pbuh).

In the centuries that followed the revelation of the Qur’an, various practices and sayings of our Prophet (pbuh) began to be collected together as hadiths. The hadiths are believed to have begun being written down as of the Second Century Hijri. Some of the hadiths in question have been preserved; others, however, have been incorrectly transmitted, distorted or else completely fabricated.

As we have already seen, we need to look to the Qur’an to see whether a hadith really represents the words or actions of our Prophet (pbuh). If a hadith is in agreement with the Qur’an, then it is true. If a hadith that refers to the future has already come about, then it is also true. If, however, the hadith in question conflicts with the Qur’an, then there is no room for doubt; that hadith cannot be regarded as true.

Are the hadiths necessary for a Muslim? The only “indispensible” reference for a Muslim is the Qur’an, and the Qur’an is, by itself, quite sufficient for a Muslim. As our Almighty Lord reveals, every Muslim will be questioned solely with regard to the Qur’an. However, it is of course a great blessing to know about the practices or miracles of our Prophet (pbuh) based on the Qur’an. It is not obligatory for a Muslim to abide by the hadiths, but the words and actions of our Prophet (pbuh), and what he foretold for the future, are all important guides. For that reason, it is very important to be able to differentiate between what is true and what is false.

For some Islamic communities, however, the problem is that they have abandoned the Qur’an and adopted fabricated hadiths as their guides instead. We shall be looking at these hadiths under the heading of “fabricated hadiths:”