Misconception about Hadith

In Islam, there are two misconceptions among Muslims about sunnah of Prophet Mohamed (sw):

Misconception #1: "Following the sunnah is not obligatory but following the Quran is obligatory"--- This is wrong because God orders us to follow Prophet Mohamed in the Quran. In Islam, an obligatory action (fard) is something that God directly orders you to do in the Quran. For example, God says to pray in the Quran. Following Prophet Mohamed is an obligatory action (fard) in Islam.

Misconception #2: "Unlike the Quran, hadiths are word of men & that's why the authenticity of hadiths can't be trusted"--- this is wrong too. Muslims follow only those hadiths that are classified as sahih (authentic). For example, Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim. A hadith must has an unbroken chain of narration & each narrator in that chain has to be credible in terms of his/her biography & scholarship. Islamic hadiths are more authentic than Christian Bible because we even don't even know the name of bible writers, let alone their biographies or information about their scholarships. For example, Christians don't know the last of name of Bible writer Mr. John, let alone is biography. A book's credibility is judged by the author's scholarship. Verbal testimony is considered valid in courts in even today's society. There's no rational logic behind not accepting a hadith that is based on verbal testimonies of credible Islamic scholars who passed down that hadith in writing from generation to generation. The real reason why some so called "Muslims" reject hadiths is not because hadiths are not authentic but they go against their worldview.

Is Muhammad the Savior of mankind?

Uneducated Islamophobes badmouth Mohamed but islamophobes don't realize that bad mouthing Mohamed will not reduce his greatness even by an inch just like the sea level doesn't change if a cup of water is removed from it. Mohamed is the most common & the most popular name in the history of mankind. The names Jesus, Buddha, & Rama are not even close to compete with Mohamed's glorious name. Gospel of Barnabas says: "Jesus answered: 'The name of the Messiah is admirable...Mohammed is his blessed name.' Then the crowd lifted up their voices, saying: 'O God, send us thy messenger: O Mohammed, come quickly for the salvation of the world!" (Ch 97). The God says in the Quran: "[O Muhammad], We have not sent you as a mercy to the worlds".

World renowned scholars praised Mohamed & called him the greatest human being ever. NOT a single world renowned scholar badmouthed Mohamed. I challenge pathetic Islamophobes out there to prove otherwise.

"He (Muhammad) must be called the savior of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness..."  [Sir George Bernard Shaw, 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936]

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?" [Alphonse de Lamartine, French poet and statesman, History of Turkey]

"....I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for  Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission."  [Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Indian thinker, statesman, and nationalist leader, Young India (periodical), 1928, Volume X]

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level." [Michael H. Hart, Professor of astronomy, physics and the history of science, The 100: A Ranking of The Most Influential Persons In History, New York, 1978, p. 33]

Muhammad: The Most Loved Man in Human History

Mohamed's companions used to make human shields around him by linking their arms together in the battlefields to protect him from flying arrows & spears. On the other hand, the Gospel of Mark says: “All the disciples of Jesus forsook him in the hands of his enemies and fled” (14:50). And Quran says Jews said to Moses: “Go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting right here” (5:24). 

I have gone to both mosques & churches. I have never seen a Christian to shed a single drop of tear for Jesus. I have gone to mosque and I found all eyes moist around me when the stories of Mohamed were told. I ask all of you - Is there any other person in the history of mankind for whom people cry for like they do for Mohamed? The people who will cry for you right after your death are your family members. And no one will cry for you including your family members a couple of weeks after your death. Mohamed's followers' love for Mohamed is something truly amazing. How can you love someone so much whom you have never seen and never met?

Silly Arguments against Niqab

Anne: It would be people's best interest if face veil is not banned. Look up "burqa bandits". Face veil is used by robbers to hide their identity, it is no different to wearing a ski mask. They get away with it because no one can identify them.

Hu: A face veil hides a Muslim lady’s identity ONLY IF she denies to remove her face veil for identification purposes. Muslim ladies always unveil their faces in places like banks & airports for identification purposes. The “concealment of identity” is an artificial/manufactured issue created by Islamophobes to oppress Muslim ladies. There is absolutely no “concealment of identity” because Muslim ladies always unveil their faces, whenever necessary for identification purposes. Moreover, if security personnel in banks & airports fail to check for guns and the identity of a robber wearing face veil before allowing that robber entry to banks & airports, then it is a fault of security personnel, but not a fault of Muslim ladies.

Furthermore, just because sometimes robbers use face veil doesn’t mean we have to ban face veil. Guns play a way bigger role in robbery than masks or face veils. Robbed people comply with robbers because robbers use guns to threaten the lives of robbed people. Robbed people don’t comply with robbers because of the masks or face veils of robbers. Will any idiot claim that gun should be banned because guns are used in robbery? No idiot will say that because it’s not the mask or gun that is to blame but the action of robbery. Masks and guns are lifeless things you can either use for good or bad purposes. And that’s why it is legal for you to carry a licensed gun with you in public and private places.

Also, you need to understand the difference between rights & privileges. Privileges are conditional and can be taken away, for example, citizenship, driver’s license, etc. Rights are unconditional and cannot be taken away no matter what, for example, the right to life, the right to freedom of speech, etc. Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights says religious people has the right (NOT: privilege) to manifest their religious beliefs in public and private places. Not allowing Muslim ladies to wear religious face veil is a clear violation of Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If any Western country under influence of right wing Islamophobes wants to violate United Nations’ Charter of Human Rights, then I will invite that Western country to give up their UN membership first.

Anne: You may not know but there are banks and other institutions where you are not allowed to carry guns in. A ski mask wearer and motorcyclists remove their helmets and ski masks before entering banks not just for identification purposes but for some other reasons too. For example, someone may feel uncomfortable or scared seeing a man or woman in a ski mask or motorcycle helmet. The same rules should apply to Muslim women as apply to all other citizens. Muslim women should not be treated differently. They would have to remove their veil before entering banks. I am simply asking for all people to be treated the same, is that ok?

Hu: Firstly, I do know there are some institutions where you cannot carry guns in because of security reasons. Because unlike face veils, guns can be used to physically harm others. Trying to put guns and face veil into same category is simply idiotic because guns and knives are weapons but a face veil is not. Moreover, it is not only some institutions where Islamophobes want to ban face veils in. Islamophobes want to ban face veils everywhere including all public and private places. For example, it is a discrimination against Muslim ladies in France because they are not allowed to wear face veil in public places but all other people are allowed who cover their faces for non-religious purposes. Riot police, doctors, anonymous activities, wrestlers, & ordinary people on special days such as Halloween day & New Year’s Eve are allowed to wear masks but poor Muslim ladies are not. Islamophobes are hypocrites and use double standards to oppress Muslim ladies.

Secondly, if someone’s identification is verified at the entrance of a venue, then there is no point of not letting that person not to wear a face veil in that venue. Because the main reason Islamophobes say they want to ban religious face veil is the “concealment of identity”. Once you provide your identification to security personnel in banks & airports, the issue of “concealment of identity” is resolved.

Thirdly, as for your claim that my religious face veil making others uncomfortable, who gives a damn if people who have different cultures and religions from me are uncomfortable by my culture and religion? Why do I have to change my culture and religion for people suffering from xenophobia? Will those xenophobes change their cultures and religions if I claim I’m uncomfortable by their cultures and religions? No, they won’t. It doesn’t matter if my religion and culture make others uneasy. As long as I don’t harm others, I’m free to practice my religion and culture. If you don’t like freedom we westerners as a whole stand for, then go live in North Korea or Iran or France. No one is forcing you to live in the West. As for your claim that my religious face veil making others scared in a bank, why should a person get scared by my face veil if that person has trust in security personnel of that bank who have already checked me for guns and verified my identification? It’s not my religious face veil that make Islamophobes uncomfortable but their lack of trust in the security personnel of that bank. A person who doesn’t have trust in the security personnel of bank should close his/her bank account with that bank and find another bank.

Fourthly, comparing motorcycle helmet and ski mask with religious face veil is idiotic. People’s religious beliefs, such as wearing face veil as an essential part of their lives. People are sensitive to their religious right to wear face veil in a bank but not the privilege to wear a motorcycle helmet in a bank. It is considered a “right” by UN’s Charter of Rights to be able to wear religious clothing in public and private places. On the other hand, it is considered a “privilege” to be able to wear helmets & ski mask in public and private places. As I mentioned earlier, a “right” can’t be taken away but a “privilege” can be.

Anne: Shiks came to the UK in the 70s and rode motorbikes with a turban on they're heads and said, I DON'T NEED TO WEAR A HELMET, ITS AGAINST MY RELIGION. They now all abide by our laws. Don't you see how ridiculous your argument is? The law is the law and you need to accept it Hu.


Hu: The law NEVER ordered Sikhs to take off their turbans. The law ordered a helmet to be worn (over a turban). That’s all. Sikhs wear turbans in military instead of designated military hats because the law is not supposed to violate the fundamental freedoms our western civilization is built upon.The purpose of wearing a turban in Sikhism is to protect hair from dust as Sikhism considers hair a holy thing. There are 4 major types of Sikh turbans. You CAN wear a helmet over Patka & Keski turbans. The law didn’t take away the religious freedom of Sikhs. Neither did it diminish the purpose of wearing a turban by obligating a helmet to be worn over a turban. 

Anne: These women are forced to wear these second class uniforms either directly (by husbands/fathers/uncles) or indirectly (religious/social pressure) or their own perceived chastity/piety. This is a suppression of woman rights.

Hu: As for your claim that Muslim ladies being indirectly forced to wear face veil by their own perceived chastity, let me ask you something- What is wrong with forcing yourself to do good deeds and preventing yourself from falling into the temptation to commit evil deeds? Will anyone disagree that Muslim ladies dress more modesty and decently than Non-Muslim ladies? No one will disagree with that. But let me tell you how Western cultural ladies are indirectly being forced to wear indecent and dangerous outfits and footwear by their own perceived beauty. We all know how indecent tight pants are that Western cultural ladies wear. Each and every guy in the street can see the shape and size of their buttocks in their tight pants. Moreover, the high heel Western cultural ladies wear are very dangerous for them. Have you ever seen a Western cultural lady walking on high heels? They literally torture themselves to look tall and often accident happens when they lose control or balance of their body.

As for your claim that Muslim ladies being directly forced to wear face veil by their household males, let me ensure you that they are not forced to wear face veil in Europe. They are forced in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. But let’s say they are forced to wear veil in Europe for the sake of argument since your tiny brain with limited capacity thinks so. Both a government forcing them not to wear veil & household males forcing them to wear it result in violation of women's right to choose. Women should not be forced by anyone on what to wear or not to wear. Because women are not less than men as the greatest western scholars Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle thought. I stand by people's right & freedom especially for the minority living under a government that desperately tries to take away rights & freedom of the minority to please the majority. Why don't you go live in Saudi Arabia or Iran if you don't like human rights and love seeing people being stripped away from their human rights? I bet you would love living in Saudi Arabia or Iran because you have no respect for human rights. Our founding fathers built our Western civilization upon four fundamental principles: (i) freedom of speech (ii) freedom of religion (iii) freedom of assembly (iv) freedom of association. The left (Liberals) want to defend these freedoms but the right (Fascists) want to attack them.

References:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”(Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights)