ulum-al-quran
ulum-al-quran
ulum-al-quran
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The ahadith from or about the Prophet Muhammad are:<br />
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The words or actions of a human being, and not the speech of God as the Qur'an is.<br />
Not necessarily reported in their precise wording, as the Qur'an is.<br />
Not necessarily transmitted by tawatur, except in some instances.<br />
Hadith Qudsi<br />
[For an introduction to the subject and select sample texts, see e.g. Ibrahim Izzuddin and Denis Johnson-Davies: Forty<br />
Hadith Qudsi, Beirut, Damascus, 1980.]<br />
Qudsi means holy, or pure. There are some reports from the Prophet Muhammad where he relates to the people what<br />
God has said (says) or did (does), but this information is not part of the Qur'an. Such a report is c<strong>al</strong>led hadith qudsi, e.g.:<br />
Abu Hurairah reported that Allah's messenger said:<br />
'Allah, Mighty and Ex<strong>al</strong>ted is He, said: If My servant likes to meet me, I like to meet him, and if he<br />
dislikes to meet Me, I dislike to meet him.' [Forty Hadith Qudsi, Beirut, Damascus, 1980, No. 30.]<br />
While the common factor between hadith qudsi and the Qur'an is that both contain words from Allah which have been<br />
reve<strong>al</strong>ed to Muhammad, the main points of difference between Qur'an and hadith qudsi are as follows:<br />
In the Qur'an the precise wording is from Allah, while in the hadith qudsi the wording is given by the Prophet<br />
Muhammad.<br />
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The Qur'an has been brought to Muhammad only by the Angel Gabriel, while hadith qudsi may <strong>al</strong>so have<br />
been inspired otherwise, such as e.g. in a dream.<br />
The Qur'an is inimitable and unique, but not so the hadith qudsi.<br />
The Qur'an has been transmitted by numerous persons, (tawatur) but the hadith and hadith qudsi often<br />
only by a few or even one individu<strong>al</strong>. There are hadith qudsi which are sahth, but <strong>al</strong>so others hasan, or<br />
even da'if, while there is no doubt at <strong>al</strong>l about any aya from the Qur'an.<br />
Another point is that a hadith qudsi cannot be recited in prayer.<br />
Distinctive Features of the Qur'an<br />
The most important distinction between the Qur'an and <strong>al</strong>l other words or writings therefore is that the Qur'an is the<br />
speech from Allah, reve<strong>al</strong>ed in its precise meaning and wording through the Angel Gabriel, transmitted by many,<br />
inimitable, unique and protected by Allah Himself against any corruption.<br />
REVELATION AND HOW IT CAME TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD<br />
God guides His Creation God guides His Creation<br />
Allah the Creator has not only brought about the creation, but continues to sustain and direct it, in the way that He has<br />
created us and <strong>al</strong>l that is around us. He has provided many forms of guidance, indeed, a system of guiding principles, of<br />
which the laws of 'nature' are a part.<br />
But Allah has <strong>al</strong>so granted a speci<strong>al</strong> form of guidance for mankind from the outset of its occupancy of the earth. He<br />
promised to Adam and his descendants: 'Get ye down <strong>al</strong>l from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you<br />
guidance from Me, whosoever follows guidance, on them sh<strong>al</strong>l be no fear, nor sh<strong>al</strong>l they grieve' (2: 38).'<br />
[The word here used for guidance is hudan.] This guidance comes through the prophets, whom Allah continuously sent to<br />
mankind, until the last messenger, Muhammad received His fin<strong>al</strong> guidance.<br />
Guidance through Revelation<br />
We c<strong>al</strong>l a man to whom God in his own way communicates His guidance, a prophet or messenger (nabi, rasul). Prophets<br />
receive the word of God through revelation and then communicate it to their fellow human beings: