Understanding Islam — Page 52
51 Quran and its being put into actual tangible practice. … The third means of guidance is the ḥ ad ī th, 5 because many points in regard to history, ethics, jurisprudence are to be found explained fully in it; and the great utility of the ḥ ad ī th lies in the fact that it is a servant of the Quran and the Sunnah. [In summary]. . . the Holy Book is the Word of God, while the Sunnah is the act of the Holy Prophet sa , the ḥ ad ī th being a supporting witness for the Sunnah. 6 He further says: You should adhere to the ḥ ad ī th to such an extent that no action of yours, no pause, no performance, and no failure to perform any work, should be without basis in ḥ ad ī th. But if there is a ḥ ad ī th which stands in contradiction of what has been stated in the Quran, you should exercise your mind to reconcile the interpretation: but where no such reconciliation is possible, the ḥ ad ī th should be rejected and thrown aside, since it cannot be taken to have come from the Holy Prophet sa. But if there is a weak ḥ ad ī th, which stands, nevertheless, in accord with the Holy Quran, it is to be accepted, for the Quran has confirmed it. 7