A way forward to dealing with "the Sunnah"
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Peace all
Something PrinceZ?D said during a the discussion on stoning adulterers started me thinking. To precis - his postion was that whipping adulterers was Quranic, and therefore obligatory, but stoning was not obligatory - it was part of "the sunnah".
Now, I'm sure you're thinking - well so what? That's just a statement of facts. But it opens up an interesting space for dealing with those Muslims who might choose to follow "the Sunnah" but who accept the supremacy of Gods law.
I know most Sunni/Shia's pay lip service to this but in reality are essentially in Shirk. However - cast your minds back to recent discussions on the hijib. A number of us felt that although it was not a quranic requirement, if a woman wanted to express her 'islamic identity' through wearing hijib that ok - so long as she didnt assert that The God had told her to do so.
So - not quranic, not obligatory - but acceptable.
So heres a question I'd like some views on. If a muslim came to you and said -
"I follow the sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as laid out in the hadith - I wash like him, cut my nails like him, use his favourite kind of toothbrush - the works. Of course I accept that none of this has anything to do with the Din of Islam and I am extremely careful NEVER TO JUDGE by anything other than what Allah has sent down. But I've a lot of respect for Muhammad, and though I do not elevate him, or believe he will intercess for me, or believe his is any better or worse than any of the other prophets - well,I'd rather dress like one of God's prophets that someone like Bill Gates or Jay-Z."
Do you, as a Muslim who does not follow hadith, maybe even terms themselves a God Alone muslim, do you have any problems with this persons position?
AS LONG AS THEY ACCEPT THAT THE SUNNAH IS NOT PART OF GOD'S DIN - DOES THAT MAKE IT ALL OK??
I know the "reality on the ground" might make this seem like a dumb thing to raise (ie not a lot of Muslims fit the above description) but rather than addressing the attitudes of entrenched Sunni's you might have had dealings with please address yourself to the principle being raised.
Many thanks
salaam alaykum
asdfjk