The Cape Muslim Dialogue: quranist

Showing posts with label quranist. Show all posts

Thursday, 15 May 2025

The Line in the sand - Part 6

Extremism, dogmatism, modernism, moderate are some of the many terms that can be applied to Muslims. There so many labels, all of which we will not necessarily explain, but we do need some clarity to avoid confusion and division.

This blog was always about bringing awareness that you may reflect. Seek knowledge from credible scholars. Today, we find everybody claims to follow Quran and Sunnah. That is the best news. Your teacher too will tell you to follow Quran and Sunnah, and that is what he teaches. However, what does it mean? Is it Quran and Sunnah in everything? What does sunnah mean? Ah yes, here we are interjected by Quranists who claim that they follow only Quran. Part of the infiltration of the enemies of Islam, orientalists have planted the seed for people, claiming to be Muslim to reject hadith. Therefore, learning about the history of Islam and the evolution of the legal system, even at a basic level, is important. As part of this point, the revelation of Quran and its preservation, as well as the preservation of hadith, will debunk any thought that that either or both can be rejected.

This note is not extensive, but merely to highlight certain issues like the misunderstanding of the Quranists on the subject of hadith. We merely touched on preservation, but there is much more to hadith than just the matter of preservation. The study of hadith is actually a science. Admittedly, this is what stumps many people who do not have any grounding in hadith. The matter is not helped by the ulama who are sometimes careless in the use of hadith. This attitude to hadith helps Quranists to dismiss hadith. Many-a-time, you hear the phrase “stay in your lane”. While I find this problematic generally, if applied here, then it is better for most people not to quote hadith. One reason is that it may indeed be a fabricated hadith and to quote that is to effectively lie against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. No Muslim will want to do that. Did I just open the door for the Quranist? That is not a concern because fault-finding and twisting the religion are the tools of the enemies of Islam. Of course, people must attend classes and educate themselves. Through that, you may be in a better position to quote hadith because you have some understanding of a particular hadith. The ulama, in turn, must themselves, advise the people from which hadith source or compilation he has taken the hadith. Then also mention its grading. The many victories from this include your attachment to hadith and refuting Quranists, and secondly, showing love for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by narrating his hadith.

Already, in pursuing this path, there is upliftment through this knowledge. The yearning to learn more will burn stronger in the sincere person. In quoting correctly from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and implementing this knowledge, then it shows love for him ﷺ. The honour that his words have reached you and that you can convey the message is humbling. So, the main sources of knowledge is Quran and sunnah. On this path, you are following the straight line drawn in the sand.

See next: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-line-in-sand-part-7.html

See previous : : https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-line-if-sand-part-5.html

Tuesday, 28 January 2025

Blind Following of Misguidance - Part 4

It takes time to ponder, yet time, at least in our lives, are limited and rushed. This is evident in the modern era where the words of man have superceded the word of Allah for few take time to reflect upon Quran, the word of Allah. It is easier for most to listen to the speech of man, devoid of substance, being Quran and Sunnah, as if the last chapter of Quran has meaning in this instance.

Aqeedah/Belief is key to eemaan/faith for incorrect beliefs can nullify eemaan. Eemaan is believing in Allah and rejecting falsehood/false deities - taghut. The focus in the first period of prophethood of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was on strengthening belief. This note is a challenge to you to study the beliefs of Muslims through authentic sources. How did the early Muslims believe. Sometimes so much focus is given to the views and opinions of people that lived long after, that the true meanings are missed. What are the authentic sources that Ahlus-sunnah wa-l-jama’ah follow. If you know this and stick to this, then know that any opinion outside of that, is mere speech and has little, if any value, unless it is in total conformity. Conformity must have yardsticks and benchmarks. Yet today we are overwhelmed by beautiful words and speeches devoid of any proofs from authentic sources and people gobble these up. You have Quranists who reject hadith because they don’t understand Quran yet claiming to follow Quran. On the other hand, to support their deviancy, there are people who use weak and, at times, fabricated hadith to support their misguided viewpoints. The masses are gullible largely because they are ignorant while they may accept things in good faith. This is the dilemma for most. The one point that cannot be missed is that people largely follow modern-day personalities, those with good voices, orators, charisma. Attaching yourself to these personalities can result in idol worship or cult worship. Simply put, when the words of these men are favoured above the words of Allah and His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ, then your beliefs become questionable. And with that, your eemaan. The test can be simple in terms of who is right and who is wrong: Is what you are doing in conformance with Quran and Sunnah -strictly, or is it subject to interpretation? Is what another is doing, perhaps he is doing less than you, but can he be faulted in terms of Quran and Sunnah? If, in your opinion, he is blameworthy because he is not conforming to your standard, or he is missing out, then what proofs do you have from authentic sources?

The yardstick for following someone cannot be that he has acquired (some) knowledge, but rather, it must be, firstly, that he is strict upon Quran and Sunnah and fears deviating from it such that when a truth comes to him and is a correction on a previous action or understanding, he inclines to the correction. Secondly, see how much a speaker quotes from Quran and hadith versus how much they quote from secondary and other sources.

In conclusion for this topic, for the time being: As part of your beliefs, aqeedah, to affirm your eemaan is to have a solid understanding of taghut for rejecting taghut is necessary for your eemaan.

See previous : part 3: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/blind-following-of-misguidance-part-3.html

See next : part 5: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/blind-following-of-misguidance-part-5.html

Do read, share and comment on these links below:

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/ego.html

https://medium.com/@saleem.gamza/early-hours-part-3-068721466908

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/10/where-are-you-running-to.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/things-to-consider.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/they-dont-know-what-we-know.html

https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/who-do-you-emulate.html

Saturday, 25 January 2025

Blind following of Misguidance - Part 3

I was once asked how is it that intelligent people reject Islam/truth. The simple answer is about guidance. Allah guides whom He wills. Certainly, the sincere will be guided, for Allah is not unjust and He is all-aware, All-knowing.

Pride is something where you consider yourself better than another. This is a recipe for failure and humiliation. Over the centuries, Islam has experienced its own share of egomaniacs. Being on the right path is a mercy from Allah. One of the ways to spot these people, is when they make statements relating to religion, they do so without proofs or by using contrived proofs. A group (eventually split in 2) were declared outside the fold of Islam because of falsities, contradicting Quran and Hadith, regarding Prophet Eesa (Yeshu) pbuh. There are more commonly known and Qadianis and Ahmadis. Now, there is a new claim by a certain individual who claims that Prophet Eesa (pbuh) died on the cross. This is total blasphemy. However, this individual wants to spin it such that he died for a second or millisecond, that he asserts this position while the Quran clearly says that Prophet Eesa pbuh was neither crucified nor killed. This is a major deviation to believe differently for now you are challenging the Quran.

Another error is that Orthodox Christians are believers. This is easily repudiated and there are plenty of examples in Quran. Thus, this statement is contrary to the Quran. So, by now you know the answer to this. In short, none are believers if they do not accept Muhammad ﷺ as a Prophet of Allah.

As for the Shi’a and having prayers with them, then you have aqeedah (belief) issues. This is related to eemaan (faith). Any person claiming to be a person of knowledge, have opened to the doors to deviation and misguidance. Only those with pride will remain stubborn upon this misguidance. The Shia issue is lengthy, and I don’t intend to cover that in more detail here, but I am happy to take that offline. Simple reason is that there is enough good information available and credible scholars to which this subject can be referred.

There are other deviants and some of those practices need to be highlighted (in further posts). The main issue is that of aqeedah. Unless you learn and understand aqeedah from authentic sources (with clear unadulterated proofs), then you will open yourself up to following misguidance. Added to this is that you must be principled. Religion is not something with which you play and be whimsical about. Your sincerity is important. Ego and pride are damaging traits and will lead to failure and humiliation. Humility and submission to His will and guidance is key to success and eventually paradise.

Those who ask, cannot claim ignorance. Those who hide lest they be exposed to the truth, have pride. Humility is from the means of acceptance of truth and gaining affection of the believers.