Title: Why should Hadith be considered as a part of Islam/ Shariah ? Question/Comments: Thus far, you explained in various responses that Hadith is not a primary source of Islam but it is a part of Islam and Shariah. Drawing an analogy with all the arguments you raised for not considering Hadith as a "primary source" of Islam/Shariah, the following questions are raised in considering Hadith as a part of Islam/Shariah: If Hadith because of its unreliability cannot become an independent source of Shariah , how can it become part of Islam or Shariah ? How could we accept Hadith , which is historical accounts that were compiled by men who were not authorized by the Prophet (pbuh) as a part of Islam? If a person believes only in Quran and established Sunnah and disregards all Hadiths as a part of Islam will he be a sinner according to Qur'an? Since Quran had ordered Muslims to emulate the best example set by Prophet (pbuh) and if Hadith is the source of this information, why did not the Prophet (pbuh) make any arrangements for it? If Sunnah can be determined by the complete consensus of the Muslims why the Uswahe-Hasanah (best example of the Prophet) cannot be determined by the same method? Regards, Ameen India Answer: My answers to your questions follow: When one accepts or rejects Hadith in the clear light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), there is then no danger of making any unauthorized additions or deletions from the basic corpus of Islam, which is entailed in the Qur'an and the Sunnah . Thus, by making the Qur'an and the Sunnah as the two primary and independent sources of the basic corpus of Islam, and then accepting narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) in the light of the information entailed in these two primary sources, we remove, to the possible extent, the vulnerability, which was inherent in the transmission of Hadith . As for whether or not a particular Hadith is a part of Islam or not, it depends entirely upon the content reported in that Hadith as well as upon whether or not that Hadith is accepted to be reliable by the individual, who is taking the decision. Hadith is not merely 'historical accounts' but is the historical account relating to the life and times of the Prophet of Islam. Thus, if considered reliable in the light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah , it can have an obvious impact upon one's interpretation and views regarding Islam. Hadith , for instance, entails information about the Prophet's interpretation and application of the directives of the Qur'an. Obviously, the interpretation and the application of the directives of the Qur'an are a 'part' of Islam, but this interpretation and application clearly has to be within the scope of the directive entailed in the Qur'an. As a result, the interpretation and the application of a Qur'anic directive ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) - even though it is a part of Islam - shall remain secondary and subordinate to the original directive of the Qur'an and shall be accepted as correctly ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) only after one is satisfied that the original directive entailed in the Qur'an accepts that interpretation/application, which is ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh). Whether or not such a person would be a sinner in the eyes of God would depend upon the reason for the person's ascribing to the said opinion. The Uswah-e-Hasanah of the Prophet (pbuh), by its very nature is an extension of the directives entailed in the Qur'an, the Sunnah or the human nature (morality). The Uswah-e-Hasanah does not entail any independent part of Islam. Therefore, it was not essential for the Prophet (pbuh) to make any special arrangements for the transmission of the 'Uswah-e-Hasanah' . As for the directive of the Qur'an relating to 'Uswah-e-Hasanah' , it has itself explained the particular aspect of the Prophet's life, which it has referred to as an 'Uswah' for the Muslims. The nature and the significance of the two - that is, the Sunnah and the Uswah-e-Hasanah of the Prophet (pbuh) - are poles apart. The former is an independent source of Islam, while the latter entails information about the Prophet's example of living a life according to the directives entailed in the Qur'an and the Sunnah . In view of the significance of the former, the Prophet (pbuh) made special arrangements for the accurate and unhindered transmission over time, which has resulted in the complete consensus of the Muslim community regarding almost all the elements of Sunnah . No such arrangement was deemed necessary for the transmission of the Uswah-e-Hasanah . I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad July 5, 2002