Here are verses of the Quran that are difficult for the Hadithists where Hadithist Sunni Muslims or Paul fail to address.
I am not against hadith per se but only the eclipsing of the Quran as the only primary source as the Quran and the only source that can be trusted to be preserved and without error as the Quran itself testifies clearly, emphatically, repeatedly,
Hadith can be useful as a secondary source but not to judge Islam as Paul does.
Paul, you have authority to talk about Christian early history and about different views on Jesus as you studied material by scholars on all sides extensively.
Paul, you have not studies works on hadith by scholars who point out the severe problems with taking hadith as a primary source for Islam.
Thus, you should not judge Islam when you did not study that material by all sides extensively as you have done regarding Christology and Christian dogma.
Please note there are several separate conclusions below
Can the Hadith be Used as Islamic Law?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad can be used as Islamic law. However, God says in the Quran that following any law besides the Quran is forbidden.
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا
Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail? … (6:114 part)
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ
These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement (hadith) after Allah and His verses will they believe? (45:6)
فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then in what statement after it (the Qur’an) will they believe? (77:50)
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? Or do you have a book / scripture in which you learn that indeed for you in it is whatever you choose? (68:36–38)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the only source by which to judge according to Islam is the Quran and nothing else. God even specifically questions why people would believe in any hadith after the Quran has been revealed.
The best hadith is God’s hadith
Many Muslims believe this hadith or that hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is the best hadith. However, God says in the Quran that God’s own hadith (the Quran) is the best.
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ …
Allah has sent down the best statement (ahsan hadith): a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. … (39:23 part)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran, which is the word (statement / saying) of God, is the best hadith that is consistent and without contradiction. As such, why would anyone choose to follow an inferior saying (hadith) such as the hadith compiled by Bukhari, Muslim, and others, many of which contain contradictions?
Is the Quran incomplete such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to complete the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is complete (6:115, 6:38).
وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled / completed in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (6:115)
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ
And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Book (Quran) a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered. (6:38)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the Quran is complete. God even specifically says that He did not neglect anything from the Quran. To argue that the Quran isn’t complete because, for example, it doesn’t detail how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. (Below, it will be proven that the details of prayer were given to Abraham and passed down thru the generations . Praying did not begin with Muhammad). Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is complete. Furthermore, since God is Perfect, it would make no sense to believe that the Quran is incomplete as if God was too busy to finish authoring it.
Is the Quran not fully detailed such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to provide details that are missing from the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is fully detailed of all things.
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا
Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail? … (6:114 part)
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur’an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe. (12:111)
كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, (41:3)
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ
Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detailfrom [one who is] Wise and Acquainted. (11:1)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the Quran is detailed. God even specifically says that it is “a detailed explanation of all things.” To argue that the Quran isn’t detailed because, for example, it doesn’t detail how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is detailed.
Is the Quran unclear such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to clarify certain topics in the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran clear.
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves. And We will bring you, [O Muhammad], as a witness over your nation. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims. (16:89)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran itself is clear. God even specifically says that it is a “clarification for all things.” To argue that the Quran isn’t clear because, for example, it doesn’t clarify how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is clear.
Is the Quran its best tafsir (explanation) or do we need the hadith to explain it?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to help support the tafsir (explanation) of certain topics in the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is the best tafsir (explanation) of itself.
وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا
And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation (ahsan tafsir). (25:33)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran is the best tafsir (explanation) of itself. Many Muslims try to explain verses of the Quran using other sources which may or may not be accurate. To explain the Quran, this verse indicates that one should use the Quran to explain itself. Since the Quran itself provides the best tafsir (explanation) of itself, then Muslims should not rely on explanations that are based on sources outside of the Quran such as the hadith.
Is the Quran and/or the hadith the criterion between right and wrong?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to help serve as a criterion for right and wrong. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is the criterion between right and wrong.
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا
Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner — (25:1)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran contains the criterion for judging between right and wrong. Note that nowhere in this verse, nor anywhere else in the Quran, does God say that one must use the Quran along with other sources, such as the hadith, to judge.
Are you a “kafir” if you judge by the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad can be used as Islamic law.
However, God says in the Quran that whoever judges by other than the Quran is a kafir (disbeliever).
… وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
… And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed — then it is they who are the disbelievers (kafirun). (5:44 part)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that Muslims are not allowed to judge by anything besides the Quran. The seriousness of this statement is made absolutely clear by the fact that God says that if anyone were to judge by other than the Quran, then they are considered disbelievers (kafir). Therefore, if anyone were to judge by the hadith, then according to this verse, they have become disbelievers (kafir).
Are Muslims allowed to pick some hadith and ignore other hadith?
Many Muslims realize that some sahih hadith are questionable and therefore only follow the hadith that they feel are okay to follow. However, with respect to Islamic guidance, Muslims are not allowed to pick and choose which statements or laws they like and ignore ones they don’t like. God even says so in verse 68:36–38.
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? Or do you have a book / scripture in which you learn that indeed for you in it is whatever you choose? (68:36–38)
Conclusion
The verse above makes it very clear that Muslims are not allowed to follow a book, such as the hadith, where they can pick and choose which statements or laws they want to follow.
Frivolous hadith to lead astray
Everyone, including Muslims, will agree that some hadith are just outright ridiculous and non-sensical, including some that are rated “sahih”. Muslim scholars themselves do not all agree on which hadith should be followed. Logically, religion would be must simpler if the hadith did not exist and everyone just followed the Quran. However, according to verses 6:112–113, God allowed the hadith to exist as a test for people who disbelieve in the Hereafter and for people who do not solely believe in the Quran for matters of religion.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ وَلِتَصْغَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَفْئِدَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُوا مَا هُم مُّقْتَرِفُونَ
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy — devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in deception. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent. And [it is] so the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will incline toward it and that they will be satisfied with it and that they will commit that which they are committing. (6:112–113)
Verse 31:6 should make it very clear that whoever follows these frivolous hadith are unknowingly misleading people. As such, they will have a humiliating punishment.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And of the people is he who buys the idle / frivolous tales (lahw al-hadith) to mislead [others] from the way of God without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (31:6)
The word “buys” here obviously doesn’t mean “purchase with money” but rather “believes in and follows”.
Notice how the verse indicates that these people are unknowingly misleading people.
That sounds a lot like what many Muslims do today who insist on believing in and following the hadith without first understanding the Quran. Consequently, their belief in the hadith misleads people and they will be punished.
God has already made it clear in many verses throughout the Quran, e.g. verse 45:6, that only the Quran is to be followed, and that we are not allowed to follow what we don’t understand (17:36), and that we must understand and think deeply about the Quran (47:24).
Therefore, if people choose to ignore these and many other statements in the Quran, then it’s their fault for unknowingly misleading others by believing in and following the hadith. And for that, they will be punished.
You haven’t paid close attention in reading the Quran at all.
You cannot adhere to the Quran without adhering to the authentic hadith of the Prophet (AS)
It is an obligation to obey the Prophet’s Sunnah as stipulated in the Quran and as expressed in the authentic hadiths. Confirmation of what he brought requires obedience to him because this is part of what he brought as outlined in the Sunnah Hadith and commanded to follow in the Quran
It is an obligation to follow him and obey his Sunnah in the Hadith and follow his guidance,
Allah says, “Say: if you love Allah, follow me and He will love you and forgive you your wrong actions.” [Al-Qur’an 3:31]
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him, perhaps you will be guided.” [Al-Qur’an 7:157]
“No, by your Lord, they will not believe until they ask you to judge between them in what they disagree about and then they shall find in themselves no impediment touching your verdict, but shall surrender in full submission.” [Al-Qur’an 4:64] i.e. obey your judgement.
Allah also says, “You have a good model in the Messenger of Allah for one who hopes for Allah and the Last Day.” [Al-Qur’an 33:21]
Muhammad ibn ‘Ali at-Tirmidhi said, “To take the Messenger as a model means to emulate him, follow his sunnah and abandon opposition to him in either word or action.”
Allah says, “O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger … ” [Al-Qur’an 8:20]
“Say: obey Allah and obey the Messenger … ” [Al-Qur’an 24:54]
He says, “Obey Allah and the Messenger and perhaps you will be shown mercy.” [Al-Qur’an 3:132] “If you obey him, you will be guided … ” [Al-Qur’an 24:54]
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah … ” [Al-Qur’an 4:79]
“That what the Messenger brings you and leave what he forbids you … ” [Al-Qur’an 59:7]
“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger is with those whom Allah has blessed.” [Al-Qur’an 4:68]
“We did not send any Messenger but for him to be obeyed by the permission of Allah.” [Al-Qur’an 4:63]
Every one of those verses has presuppositions that you are imposing on God’s words.
Brother Omar, please don’t feel insulted by the following….I am not referring necessarily to you…I don’t know you….I am just using the assumptions that has been inculcated in you in people who are stubborn and not willing to reconsider their underlying presuppositions….remember that—underlying presuppositions.
So I am speaking to the misguided hadithist who takes hadith to the level of the Quran.
I am not a Quranist….I think Quranists can be as misguided as Hadithists in dismissing any possible interpretation of the Prophet….
The interpretation of the Prophet is more important than your or mine or anyone else.
But to assume that we can be so sure that what wsa alleged by oral narrations across multiple generations to be the exact advice that the Prophet would give us in our particular context and that we can let it over ride the Qur’an is far fetched.
I don’t have time to go on and on with you Omar and your response to this….
Me: Where does it precisely say “follow” means to follow books of hadith centuries after the Prophet attributing statements to him.
Brother, imagine a simple situation.
You have a very specific defined goal of helping cure a disease. You are a doctor and people there is controversy of some medicine for the disease.
The doctor says “follow what I am telling you and it may save your life.”
Do you think that centuries later, it makes sense to say that the doctor meant to take all the oral narrations that claim the doctor said such and such to his wife about certain sweets and his and friend about how to wear shoes, etc?
Hadithist: “Or course not.”
Me: “When that verse was revealed, do you think there were two camps of people….one camp saying we will not follow the personal teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and another camp saying we will follow his teachings?”
Hadithist “Of course not.”
Me: “Thanks brother. There what were the groups?”
Hadithist “Well, there were two camps …there was people believing he was narrating God’s revelation (the Qur’an) to them and there were people who did not believe that.
Ok, now that you have understood what was the context of that verse. Don’t take it out of context. Understood?
Hadithist: “Yes”
Me : “Good, proceed and make good use of your time and don’t waste other people’s time that is based on your presumptions.”
Or you will be punished by God Almighty. Understood?
Hadithist: “Yes”
Me: Good brother. You have begun to not blindly follow presumptions of others….you are starting to understand.
Me: Brother, don’t misunderstand me as some ideologue sectarians do that I am a Quranist or I am against hadith.
It is just that Islam is not measured by hadith….
There is no verse in the Qur’an saying….that oh, you don’t believe in the Qur’an ….why don’t you check out this hadith or that hadith or this hadith or that hadith….
No, the Qur’an always claims truth of Islam to be based on the Qur’an……period.
The Qur’an claims that only the Qur’an is preserved.
In fact the Qur’an states in 2(282) that you cannot put faith in a statement that does not have two witnesses on selling a bushel of dates, let alone claiming some law that will impact billions of people for centuries .
And 2:282 is talking about an isnad of 1 level, not 5 or 6 levels that cross centuries! LOL!
Having said everything hadith are important. Quranists are misguided in dismissing hadith altogether.
Do you understand the difference, now brother?
Hadithist: Yes.
Me: Brother, you are developing a deeper understanding.
Therefore Ihsan, if people choose to ignore these and many other statements in the Quran and Hadith, then it’s their fault for unknowingly misleading others by believing in and following the Quran only. And for that, they will be punished.
Brother Paul Williams, great video btw. Just a question on this, regarding Paul and Mathew, fast forwarding to the current we are obviously aware mainstream Christianity is the religion of Paul, however is there a current branch in Christianity that adheres to the religion of Mathew? Were there any denominations or Christian figureheads throughout the history of Christianity that continued the teachings of Mathew? Thank you in advance.
or have you read the books of Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl who has the highest degrees in Islamic Studies from Al Azhar, the top seminary of Islamic world and he has PhD in Islamic Studies
His latest book is entitled, Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age (Rowman and Littlefield, 2014), considered to be his magnum opus and intellectual autobiography. His other books include: The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists; Speaking in God’s Name: Islamic Law, Authority and Women; Rebellion and Violence in Islamic Law; And God Knows the Soldiers: The Authoritative and Authoritarian in Islamic Discourses; Islam and the Challenge of Democracy; The Place of Tolerance in Islam; and The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books. His book, The Great Theft, was the first work to delineate the key differences between moderate and extremist Muslims and was named one of the Top 100 Books of the year by Canada’s Globe and Mail (Canada’s leading national newspaper). His book, The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books, is a landmark work in modern Muslim literature.
These are just some of many other Islamic Studies professors who have written books and articles in the top journals in how you are so wrong in the way you identify of hadith as a primary source of Islamic law.
Hi Paul,
You have addressed these issues many times over the last 10 years or so at your blogs.
In this video, you pulled a “bait and switch”.
Because at first, you said “the gospel of Paul (the apostle)” vs. the gospels or vs. the gospel writers and then later vs. the earliest gospels.
But both Mark and Matthew have the teaching about faith in the atonement – ransom- death of Christ.
Mark 9:12
Mark 10:45
Mark 14:24 – this is the blood of the new covenant shed for you, etc. (also in Luke 22:20 and Matthew 26:28)
Matthew 20:28
The point about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, is that one must become a true sheep – the sheep do the good works because they first become a sheep (become a disciple of Jesus – one of His brothers and sisters – which means accepting the good news of the kingdom of God – Matthew 24:14) You must accept Jesus as your King / Messiah – repent and submit to Him; recognize who He really was and is. worthy of worship – Lord – Matthew 2:1-12; 14:33 – they worshipped Him and said “You are truly the Son of God”.
The good works are the results of being a true believer, not the conditions for earning one’s salvation.
You keep on repeating your misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 30:11 – 17 – but see also 31:16, 31:29; Joshua 24:19 – “you will not be able to serve the Lord, because He is a holy God. . . ” = you are not able to obey the law perfectly.
Deut. 30:11-17 is not saying “it is easy to obey the law” – he is saying “don’t say is it out of reach or far away or I cannot understand it or I am not accountable or I did not know.
don’t say it is in heaven or across the sea” -verses 12-13 – don’t make excuses.
You mentioned “keeping Sabbath” (the seventh day of the week = Saturday) – do you keep Sabbath day rules?
You like kosher laws, it seems, or used to, because they are similar to Islam, but they are different in some respects.
Don’t you realize that your struggle with Muslims and Islam is the arrogance and pride in the human heart (Mark 7:20-23) that causes them to have that “us vs. them” tribalism – the ones who made you stumble – they look down on others (their attitude is “we are better, we are the clean and holy ones, and the Kuffar are dirty”) – that the root of pride in the heart is what the Law and the gospels is trying to show that is the root problem of mankind and that you cannot be clean or holy or obey the law perfectly without the ONLY ONE who can obey and give you the power to obey and live right? (Jesus the Messiah, the righteous one, the Holy One)
Matthew 25 is saying that one has to be a sheep. Good works are the result of being changed into a sheep, a true disciple of Jesus.
That only comes through the grace of being in the new covenant – the blood of Christ shed on the cross – faith in His ransom atonement and resurrection from the dead.
All the gospels along with the apostle Paul’s letters are fully in harmony with one another. There is no contradiction.
Ken, hold on….let Paul answers questions on areas Muslims have difference with him although he speaks as if he knows all of Sunni Islam and then acts as of major medieval Sunni scholars speak for all of Islam
He has already uses 80% of his work from Pauline Christians so let us hear what percentage of works did he read from non hadith centric scholars.
Interesting….
Here are verses of the Quran that are difficult for the Hadithists where Hadithist Sunni Muslims or Paul fail to address.
I am not against hadith per se but only the eclipsing of the Quran as the only primary source as the Quran and the only source that can be trusted to be preserved and without error as the Quran itself testifies clearly, emphatically, repeatedly,
Hadith can be useful as a secondary source but not to judge Islam as Paul does.
Paul, you have authority to talk about Christian early history and about different views on Jesus as you studied material by scholars on all sides extensively.
Paul, you have not studies works on hadith by scholars who point out the severe problems with taking hadith as a primary source for Islam.
Thus, you should not judge Islam when you did not study that material by all sides extensively as you have done regarding Christology and Christian dogma.
Please note there are several separate conclusions below
taken from
https://medium.com/uncorrupted-islam/quranic-verses-against-the-hadith-eb82e2da564d
Quranic verses against the hadith
David
Sep 15, 2018 · 9 min read
Can the Hadith be Used as Islamic Law?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad can be used as Islamic law. However, God says in the Quran that following any law besides the Quran is forbidden.
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا
Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail? … (6:114 part)
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ
These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement (hadith) after Allah and His verses will they believe? (45:6)
فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَهُ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then in what statement after it (the Qur’an) will they believe? (77:50)
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? Or do you have a book / scripture in which you learn that indeed for you in it is whatever you choose? (68:36–38)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the only source by which to judge according to Islam is the Quran and nothing else. God even specifically questions why people would believe in any hadith after the Quran has been revealed.
The best hadith is God’s hadith
Many Muslims believe this hadith or that hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is the best hadith. However, God says in the Quran that God’s own hadith (the Quran) is the best.
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ …
Allah has sent down the best statement (ahsan hadith): a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. … (39:23 part)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran, which is the word (statement / saying) of God, is the best hadith that is consistent and without contradiction. As such, why would anyone choose to follow an inferior saying (hadith) such as the hadith compiled by Bukhari, Muslim, and others, many of which contain contradictions?
Is the Quran incomplete such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to complete the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is complete (6:115, 6:38).
وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled / completed in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (6:115)
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ
And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Book (Quran) a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered. (6:38)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the Quran is complete. God even specifically says that He did not neglect anything from the Quran. To argue that the Quran isn’t complete because, for example, it doesn’t detail how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. (Below, it will be proven that the details of prayer were given to Abraham and passed down thru the generations . Praying did not begin with Muhammad). Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is complete. Furthermore, since God is Perfect, it would make no sense to believe that the Quran is incomplete as if God was too busy to finish authoring it.
Is the Quran not fully detailed such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to provide details that are missing from the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is fully detailed of all things.
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا
Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail? … (6:114 part)
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur’an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe. (12:111)
كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, (41:3)
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أُحْكِمَتْ آيَاتُهُ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ
Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detailfrom [one who is] Wise and Acquainted. (11:1)
Conclusion
These verses make it very clear that the Quran is detailed. God even specifically says that it is “a detailed explanation of all things.” To argue that the Quran isn’t detailed because, for example, it doesn’t detail how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is detailed.
Is the Quran unclear such that we need the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to clarify certain topics in the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran clear.
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves. And We will bring you, [O Muhammad], as a witness over your nation. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims. (16:89)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran itself is clear. God even specifically says that it is a “clarification for all things.” To argue that the Quran isn’t clear because, for example, it doesn’t clarify how to pray the way Muslims currently pray is no different than saying that Muslims don’t believe everything that God says in the Quran. Since Muslims must believe everything in the Quran, Muslims therefore must genuinely believe and accept the fact that the Quran is clear.
Is the Quran its best tafsir (explanation) or do we need the hadith to explain it?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to help support the tafsir (explanation) of certain topics in the Quran. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is the best tafsir (explanation) of itself.
وَلَا يَأْتُونَكَ بِمَثَلٍ إِلَّا جِئْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَحْسَنَ تَفْسِيرًا
And they do not come to you with an argument except that We bring you the truth and the best explanation (ahsan tafsir). (25:33)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran is the best tafsir (explanation) of itself. Many Muslims try to explain verses of the Quran using other sources which may or may not be accurate. To explain the Quran, this verse indicates that one should use the Quran to explain itself. Since the Quran itself provides the best tafsir (explanation) of itself, then Muslims should not rely on explanations that are based on sources outside of the Quran such as the hadith.
Is the Quran and/or the hadith the criterion between right and wrong?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad is necessary to help serve as a criterion for right and wrong. However, God says in the Quran that the Quran is the criterion between right and wrong.
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا
Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner — (25:1)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that the Quran contains the criterion for judging between right and wrong. Note that nowhere in this verse, nor anywhere else in the Quran, does God say that one must use the Quran along with other sources, such as the hadith, to judge.
Are you a “kafir” if you judge by the hadith?
Many Muslims believe that the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad can be used as Islamic law.
However, God says in the Quran that whoever judges by other than the Quran is a kafir (disbeliever).
… وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
… And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed — then it is they who are the disbelievers (kafirun). (5:44 part)
Conclusion
This verse makes it very clear that Muslims are not allowed to judge by anything besides the Quran. The seriousness of this statement is made absolutely clear by the fact that God says that if anyone were to judge by other than the Quran, then they are considered disbelievers (kafir). Therefore, if anyone were to judge by the hadith, then according to this verse, they have become disbelievers (kafir).
Are Muslims allowed to pick some hadith and ignore other hadith?
Many Muslims realize that some sahih hadith are questionable and therefore only follow the hadith that they feel are okay to follow. However, with respect to Islamic guidance, Muslims are not allowed to pick and choose which statements or laws they like and ignore ones they don’t like. God even says so in verse 68:36–38.
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ
What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge? Or do you have a book / scripture in which you learn that indeed for you in it is whatever you choose? (68:36–38)
Conclusion
The verse above makes it very clear that Muslims are not allowed to follow a book, such as the hadith, where they can pick and choose which statements or laws they want to follow.
Frivolous hadith to lead astray
Everyone, including Muslims, will agree that some hadith are just outright ridiculous and non-sensical, including some that are rated “sahih”. Muslim scholars themselves do not all agree on which hadith should be followed. Logically, religion would be must simpler if the hadith did not exist and everyone just followed the Quran. However, according to verses 6:112–113, God allowed the hadith to exist as a test for people who disbelieve in the Hereafter and for people who do not solely believe in the Quran for matters of religion.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ وَلِتَصْغَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَفْئِدَةُ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُوا مَا هُم مُّقْتَرِفُونَ
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy — devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in deception. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent. And [it is] so the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will incline toward it and that they will be satisfied with it and that they will commit that which they are committing. (6:112–113)
Verse 31:6 should make it very clear that whoever follows these frivolous hadith are unknowingly misleading people. As such, they will have a humiliating punishment.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And of the people is he who buys the idle / frivolous tales (lahw al-hadith) to mislead [others] from the way of God without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (31:6)
The word “buys” here obviously doesn’t mean “purchase with money” but rather “believes in and follows”.
Notice how the verse indicates that these people are unknowingly misleading people.
That sounds a lot like what many Muslims do today who insist on believing in and following the hadith without first understanding the Quran. Consequently, their belief in the hadith misleads people and they will be punished.
God has already made it clear in many verses throughout the Quran, e.g. verse 45:6, that only the Quran is to be followed, and that we are not allowed to follow what we don’t understand (17:36), and that we must understand and think deeply about the Quran (47:24).
Therefore, if people choose to ignore these and many other statements in the Quran, then it’s their fault for unknowingly misleading others by believing in and following the hadith. And for that, they will be punished.
Absolute nonsense Ihsan! you are misinformed.
You haven’t paid close attention in reading the Quran at all.
You cannot adhere to the Quran without adhering to the authentic hadith of the Prophet (AS)
It is an obligation to obey the Prophet’s Sunnah as stipulated in the Quran and as expressed in the authentic hadiths. Confirmation of what he brought requires obedience to him because this is part of what he brought as outlined in the Sunnah Hadith and commanded to follow in the Quran
It is an obligation to follow him and obey his Sunnah in the Hadith and follow his guidance,
Allah says, “Say: if you love Allah, follow me and He will love you and forgive you your wrong actions.” [Al-Qur’an 3:31]
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him, perhaps you will be guided.” [Al-Qur’an 7:157]
“No, by your Lord, they will not believe until they ask you to judge between them in what they disagree about and then they shall find in themselves no impediment touching your verdict, but shall surrender in full submission.” [Al-Qur’an 4:64] i.e. obey your judgement.
Allah also says, “You have a good model in the Messenger of Allah for one who hopes for Allah and the Last Day.” [Al-Qur’an 33:21]
Muhammad ibn ‘Ali at-Tirmidhi said, “To take the Messenger as a model means to emulate him, follow his sunnah and abandon opposition to him in either word or action.”
Allah says, “O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger … ” [Al-Qur’an 8:20]
“Say: obey Allah and obey the Messenger … ” [Al-Qur’an 24:54]
He says, “Obey Allah and the Messenger and perhaps you will be shown mercy.” [Al-Qur’an 3:132] “If you obey him, you will be guided … ” [Al-Qur’an 24:54]
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah … ” [Al-Qur’an 4:79]
“That what the Messenger brings you and leave what he forbids you … ” [Al-Qur’an 59:7]
“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger is with those whom Allah has blessed.” [Al-Qur’an 4:68]
“We did not send any Messenger but for him to be obeyed by the permission of Allah.” [Al-Qur’an 4:63]
https://sunnahonline.com/library/beliefs-and-methodology/185-obligation-to-believe-in-the-messenger-obey-him-and-follow-his-sunnah-the
Every one of those verses has presuppositions that you are imposing on God’s words.
Brother Omar, please don’t feel insulted by the following….I am not referring necessarily to you…I don’t know you….I am just using the assumptions that has been inculcated in you in people who are stubborn and not willing to reconsider their underlying presuppositions….remember that—underlying presuppositions.
So I am speaking to the misguided hadithist who takes hadith to the level of the Quran.
I am not a Quranist….I think Quranists can be as misguided as Hadithists in dismissing any possible interpretation of the Prophet….
The interpretation of the Prophet is more important than your or mine or anyone else.
But to assume that we can be so sure that what wsa alleged by oral narrations across multiple generations to be the exact advice that the Prophet would give us in our particular context and that we can let it over ride the Qur’an is far fetched.
I don’t have time to go on and on with you Omar and your response to this….
Me: Where does it precisely say “follow” means to follow books of hadith centuries after the Prophet attributing statements to him.
Brother, imagine a simple situation.
You have a very specific defined goal of helping cure a disease. You are a doctor and people there is controversy of some medicine for the disease.
The doctor says “follow what I am telling you and it may save your life.”
Do you think that centuries later, it makes sense to say that the doctor meant to take all the oral narrations that claim the doctor said such and such to his wife about certain sweets and his and friend about how to wear shoes, etc?
Hadithist: “Or course not.”
Me: “When that verse was revealed, do you think there were two camps of people….one camp saying we will not follow the personal teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and another camp saying we will follow his teachings?”
Hadithist “Of course not.”
Me: “Thanks brother. There what were the groups?”
Hadithist “Well, there were two camps …there was people believing he was narrating God’s revelation (the Qur’an) to them and there were people who did not believe that.
Ok, now that you have understood what was the context of that verse. Don’t take it out of context. Understood?
Hadithist: “Yes”
Me : “Good, proceed and make good use of your time and don’t waste other people’s time that is based on your presumptions.”
Or you will be punished by God Almighty. Understood?
Hadithist: “Yes”
Me: Good brother. You have begun to not blindly follow presumptions of others….you are starting to understand.
Me: Brother, don’t misunderstand me as some ideologue sectarians do that I am a Quranist or I am against hadith.
It is just that Islam is not measured by hadith….
There is no verse in the Qur’an saying….that oh, you don’t believe in the Qur’an ….why don’t you check out this hadith or that hadith or this hadith or that hadith….
No, the Qur’an always claims truth of Islam to be based on the Qur’an……period.
The Qur’an claims that only the Qur’an is preserved.
In fact the Qur’an states in 2(282) that you cannot put faith in a statement that does not have two witnesses on selling a bushel of dates, let alone claiming some law that will impact billions of people for centuries .
And 2:282 is talking about an isnad of 1 level, not 5 or 6 levels that cross centuries! LOL!
Having said everything hadith are important. Quranists are misguided in dismissing hadith altogether.
Do you understand the difference, now brother?
Hadithist: Yes.
Me: Brother, you are developing a deeper understanding.
Therefore Ihsan, if people choose to ignore these and many other statements in the Quran and Hadith, then it’s their fault for unknowingly misleading others by believing in and following the Quran only. And for that, they will be punished.
Here is a useful video for the novice and the vast majority of Salafis and Traditional Muslims are novice to aspects of history of early Islam
Brother Paul Williams, great video btw. Just a question on this, regarding Paul and Mathew, fast forwarding to the current we are obviously aware mainstream Christianity is the religion of Paul, however is there a current branch in Christianity that adheres to the religion of Mathew? Were there any denominations or Christian figureheads throughout the history of Christianity that continued the teachings of Mathew? Thank you in advance.
I don’t think there are. The religion of Jesus as portrayed by Matthew no longer exists: the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
Today we have Rabbinic Judaism which is quite a different faith in many respects.
Hello,
Thank you for your thoughts.
But has the writer of this blog read works by Christian academic scholars who believe in Paul?
90% of the works I read on Paul are by Christians who ‘believe in Paul’.
There are also believing and practicing informed Muslims who disagree with you taking hadith as authoritative for Islam.
Have you also read 90% of works by non hadith centric Muslims or even 50% or even 5% when you say what is contrary to their view?
There are many scholars….Harvard trained scholars who are or have been professors, etc….
Have you for example read Dr. Aisha Musa
https://www.draymusa.com/
By the way Paul, Dr. Aisha Musa’s doctorate from Harvard is in Islamic Studies….
or have you read Islamic Studies Khaleel Mohammed
or have you read the works of Professor Fazlur Rahman who is considered the grandfather of Islamic studies that departs from orientalist Islam
or Professor Adis Duderija
here is one of his book for the prestigious Palgrave Series in Islamic Theology, Law, and History
https://books.google.com/books?id=71jeCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT122&lpg=PT122&dq=professor+hadithification&source=bl&ots=vEYZ1YDDfw&sig=ACfU3U3QAFZhFRwWNlXl9huvdCCzTxMYPA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPt6WezNftAhVNWs0KHQ7iAxkQ6AEwBnoECAYQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false
or have you read the books of Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl who has the highest degrees in Islamic Studies from Al Azhar, the top seminary of Islamic world and he has PhD in Islamic Studies
His latest book is entitled, Reasoning with God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age (Rowman and Littlefield, 2014), considered to be his magnum opus and intellectual autobiography. His other books include: The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists; Speaking in God’s Name: Islamic Law, Authority and Women; Rebellion and Violence in Islamic Law; And God Knows the Soldiers: The Authoritative and Authoritarian in Islamic Discourses; Islam and the Challenge of Democracy; The Place of Tolerance in Islam; and The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books. His book, The Great Theft, was the first work to delineate the key differences between moderate and extremist Muslims and was named one of the Top 100 Books of the year by Canada’s Globe and Mail (Canada’s leading national newspaper). His book, The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books, is a landmark work in modern Muslim literature.
These are just some of many other Islamic Studies professors who have written books and articles in the top journals in how you are so wrong in the way you identify of hadith as a primary source of Islamic law.
Hi Paul,
You have addressed these issues many times over the last 10 years or so at your blogs.
In this video, you pulled a “bait and switch”.
Because at first, you said “the gospel of Paul (the apostle)” vs. the gospels or vs. the gospel writers and then later vs. the earliest gospels.
But both Mark and Matthew have the teaching about faith in the atonement – ransom- death of Christ.
Mark 9:12
Mark 10:45
Mark 14:24 – this is the blood of the new covenant shed for you, etc. (also in Luke 22:20 and Matthew 26:28)
Matthew 20:28
The point about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, is that one must become a true sheep – the sheep do the good works because they first become a sheep (become a disciple of Jesus – one of His brothers and sisters – which means accepting the good news of the kingdom of God – Matthew 24:14) You must accept Jesus as your King / Messiah – repent and submit to Him; recognize who He really was and is. worthy of worship – Lord – Matthew 2:1-12; 14:33 – they worshipped Him and said “You are truly the Son of God”.
The good works are the results of being a true believer, not the conditions for earning one’s salvation.
You keep on repeating your misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 30:11 – 17 – but see also 31:16, 31:29; Joshua 24:19 – “you will not be able to serve the Lord, because He is a holy God. . . ” = you are not able to obey the law perfectly.
Deut. 30:11-17 is not saying “it is easy to obey the law” – he is saying “don’t say is it out of reach or far away or I cannot understand it or I am not accountable or I did not know.
don’t say it is in heaven or across the sea” -verses 12-13 – don’t make excuses.
You mentioned “keeping Sabbath” (the seventh day of the week = Saturday) – do you keep Sabbath day rules?
You like kosher laws, it seems, or used to, because they are similar to Islam, but they are different in some respects.
Don’t you realize that your struggle with Muslims and Islam is the arrogance and pride in the human heart (Mark 7:20-23) that causes them to have that “us vs. them” tribalism – the ones who made you stumble – they look down on others (their attitude is “we are better, we are the clean and holy ones, and the Kuffar are dirty”) – that the root of pride in the heart is what the Law and the gospels is trying to show that is the root problem of mankind and that you cannot be clean or holy or obey the law perfectly without the ONLY ONE who can obey and give you the power to obey and live right? (Jesus the Messiah, the righteous one, the Holy One)
Matthew 25 is saying that one has to be a sheep. Good works are the result of being changed into a sheep, a true disciple of Jesus.
That only comes through the grace of being in the new covenant – the blood of Christ shed on the cross – faith in His ransom atonement and resurrection from the dead.
All the gospels along with the apostle Paul’s letters are fully in harmony with one another. There is no contradiction.
Ken, hold on….let Paul answers questions on areas Muslims have difference with him although he speaks as if he knows all of Sunni Islam and then acts as of major medieval Sunni scholars speak for all of Islam
He has already uses 80% of his work from Pauline Christians so let us hear what percentage of works did he read from non hadith centric scholars.