This article will be an ongoing sequel to my original article:
https://radioyaran.com/2014/12/18/muslims-should-critically-review-the-ahadith-part-i/
Below Hadith is part of the „Sahih“ of al Bukhari, so one could expect that it´s „Isnad“ and it´s „Matn“ are both 100% reliable:
„Narrated Sahl bin Sad: Allah’s Apostle said, „If at all there is bad omen, it is in the horse, the woman, and the house.““ (Sahih Bukhari,Book #62, Hadith #32).
Issues:
1. The „matn“ (content) is simply nonsense and insulting (to women particularly). Even if the Prophet really said this, he is a human being and not free from error as he has no divine knowledge. Claiming the contrary would constitute „shirk“ (giving God a partner). Such narrations do not specify whether the Prophet was sarcastic/making a joke or whether he was serious.
2. The Hadith contradicts another „Sahih“ Hadith, this time from the „Musnad“ of Ibn Hanbal (6/246):
„Abu-Hassan reports that two people came to Aishah and said to her that Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet used to say that bad luck is to be found only in women, horses and houses. At this Aishah replied: By the God who revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet ! The Prophet never said this; what he did say was that the People of the Jahilliyyah hold this opinion.“
3. There is a 3rd Hadith referring to horses: „Allah’s Apostle said, „Good will remain (as a permanent quality) in the foreheads of horses till the Day of Resurrection.“ “ (Bukhari; 4.102-104))
Conclusion: Aishah, believed to be a 100% reliable source apparently contradicts two other supposedly 100% reliable sources: Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah. So, here we have two Sahih Hadith where either one of the sources is exposed as unreliable or the content is exposed as nonsense.
Here is another case of Sahih Hadith (from Bukhari) contradicting eachother:
„You offer a prayer which I did not see being offered by Allah’s Apostle when we were in his company and he certainly had forbidden it (i.e. two Rakat after the Asr prayer). “ (Muawiya – 1.561 )
vs.
„Whenever the Prophet come to me after the ‚Asr prayer, he always prayed two Rakat. “ (Aishah – 1.567)
-> So, either one of the sources is not as reliable as al Bukhari wants us to believe or the matn is useless
This one is a Hadith that contradicts the Quran:
„„Abu Harb b. Abu al-Aswad reported on the authority of his father that Abu Musa al-Ash’ari sent for the reciters of Basra…he [Abu Musa] said:…We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it:“ If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.„…“
(Sahih Muslim, Book 5: The Book of Zakat (Kitab Al-Zakat), Book 005, Number 2286)
So, Abu Musa, one of the companions („Sahaba“) of the Prophet remembers a verse (Ayah) of the Quran which is highlighted above in Italic.
The Problem is: There is no such verse in the Quran and according to orthodox islamic understanding the Quran is „protected“ by Allah:
„We have, without doubt, sent down the Reminder [i.e., the Quran]; and We will assuredly guard it [from corruption].“ (Al-Hijr 15:9)
Or: „This is an honorable Quran. In a protected book. None can grasp it except the sincere. A revelation from the Lord of the universe.“ (Quran 56:77-80)
A „famous“ case of a so called Sahih Hadith contradicting the Quran refers to the „verse of stoning“ (ayat ul rajm):
„‚Umar said, „I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, „We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book,“ and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession.“ …“ (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 816)“
This allegedly authentic narration contradicts three quranic/islamic concepts:
a) That the Quran is protected (from manipulation), see above
b) That the Quran has not forgotten to mention anything of (religious) relevance: „…WE have left out nothing in the Book…“ (6:38)
c) There is already a clear punishment for adultery in the Quran and it is NOT stoning: „The adulteress and the adulterer – flog each one of them with a hundred stripes.“ (24:2)
What is puzzling and a sad proof that many Muslims consider the Ahadith equal to the Quran is their attempt to defend and justify the Hadith above by claiming that the quoted quranic punishment for adultery was later changed (in the Quran). This itself is an insult to Allah and another contradiction:
„And the word of your Lord has been completed with truth and justice; there is no changing His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower. “ (6:115)
Interestingly there is another Sahih Hadith, this time from Ibn Majah, that apparently confirms the Hadith above from al Bukhari:
„Reported ‚Aisha (RA): the verse of stoning and of suckling an adult ten times was revealed, and they were (written) on a paper and kept under my pillow. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) expired and we were occupied by his death, a goat entered and ate away the paper.“ (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1944)“
This Hadith is a clear insult to human reason and even basic knowledge of islamic history: It is safe to assume that the Prophet would announce such an important ruling verse in front of a big audience and not in his private chambers. The Quran was written down by several scripts, and even if Aishas paper was eaten by a goat one can expect that at least one other written document should exist. The Quran as a book was finalized and completed during the caliphate of Uthman which was AFTER the time of Caliph Umar. So by the time Umar and Aisha were apparently regretting the loss of the verse of stoning hundreds if not thousands of Muslim reciters should have been alive and available in Mecca and Medina to remember the verse and make sure it is taken into the final version of the Quran.