Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 288
288 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the Holy Prophet sa took particular care in preserving the Holy Quran, but did not undertake any effort to compile his own sayings, nor did he instruct anyone to write the Hadith in his presence. Can any Muslim be ready to accept that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, failed in discharging his responsibilities of prophethood? No Muslim can accept such an idea. In fact, only a truly irreligious person and a heretic could entertain such a notion. Reflect once again, did the Holy Prophet sa have the Hadith compiled in his lifetime or was it the Holy Quran? It is obvious that the Holy Prophet sa left behind the Holy Quran, because the teaching was the Quran. It is true, of course, that the Holy Prophet sa presented his own practice (Sunnah) along with the Quran, but the fact is that all Prophets bring two primary sources of guidance: the scripture and their practice. The Hadith is distinct from both, and the former two do not depend on the Hadith. Nevertheless, I do agree that one should even act upon a Hadith which is seemingly less significant, even if the scholars of Hadith consider it to be a fabrication, provided that it does not contradict the Quran and Sunnah. This is the extent to which I honour the Hadith, but I cannot allow for the Hadith to sit as a judge and arbiter over the Quran. The Holy Prophet sa did not say that I am leaving behind the Hadith; in fact, he said that he was leaving behind the Book of Allah. Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, also said: ِ حَسْبُنَا کِتَاب ُ اہلل The book of Allah is sufficient for us. He did not say that the Hadith was sufficient. The Verdict of the Book of Allah Now open the Book of Allah and see, for it gives a verdict. Just read Surah Fatihah, the first chapter of the Holy Quran, without which even the formal Prayer remains incomplete, and study the teaching that is imparted therein. Allah the Exalted states: 1 َ ْن ی الضَّآلِّ ْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لَا ی ْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَ ی الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِ اِهْدِنَا Guide us in the right path—The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred 1 al-Fatihah, 1:6-7 p. 263