Mauao Man

What would Islamic belief look like if Hadiths were removed entirely?

What practices would disappear?

If Hadiths (sayings and actions of Muhammad) were entirely removed from Islamic belief and practice, Islam would be fundamentally transformed. This is because Hadiths are the primary source for many essential beliefs, rituals, and legal rulings in Islam that are not explicitly detailed in the Quran.

1. Core Beliefs: Minimal Impact

Tawhid (Oneness of God): Remains intact because it is directly derived from the Quran.
Prophethood of Muhammad: Remains but is limited to his role as a messenger without detailed knowledge of his life or character.
Day of Judgment, Angels, Divine Books: Remain because they are mentioned in the Quran.

2. Worship Practices: Drastically Changed

Five Daily Prayers (Salah):
- The Quran commands prayer but does not specify the number of prayers, their times, or the exact method (standing, bowing, prostration).
- Without Hadith, Muslims would not know how to perform wudu (ablution), the recitations, or the direction of prayer (Qibla) beyond vague instructions.
Fasting in Ramadan (Sawm):
- The Quran commands fasting in Ramadan (Quran 2:183), but the detailed rules (start time, end time, exemptions) are from Hadith.
- Without Hadith, the rules of suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (breaking fast) would be unclear.
Zakat (Almsgiving):
- The Quran commands giving zakat but does not specify the rate (2.5% on wealth) or the categories of eligible recipients in detail.
Hajj (Pilgrimage):
- The Quran commands Hajj (Quran 22:27) but provides almost no details on the rituals (Tawaf, Sa’i, Arafat, Mina, stoning the pillars), all of which are based on Hadith.

3. Legal System: Almost Entirely Eliminated

Criminal Law (Hudud):
- Punishments for theft (amputation of the hand), adultery (stoning), and apostasy (death) are derived from Hadith, not the Quran.
- Without Hadith, Islamic criminal law would lack these penalties.
Marriage and Divorce:
- Polygamy (limit of four wives) is in the Quran (Quran 4:3), but the rules of marriage contracts, witnesses, dowry (Mahr), and divorce procedures (Talaq, Iddah) are all from Hadith.
Inheritance:
- Quran provides basic inheritance shares (Quran 4:11-12), but Hadith provides the method of calculation and exceptions.
Business Transactions:
- Prohibitions of Riba (usury), Gharar (excessive uncertainty), and other commercial rules are clarified in Hadith.

4. Dietary Laws: Major Changes

Halal Slaughter (Dhabiha):
- The Quran only prohibits dead animals, blood, pork, and food dedicated to other than Allah (Quran 5:3).
- The method of halal slaughter, the requirement of pronouncing Allah’s name, and other dietary rules are from Hadith.
Intoxicants:
- The Quran forbids intoxicants (Khamr), but Hadith clarifies that this applies to all forms of alcohol, not just wine.

5. Social and Ethical Conduct: Transformed

Hijab (Veiling):
- The Quran mentions modesty (Quran 24:31, 33:59) but does not specify the exact form of veiling for women (face covering, headscarf). This is clarified in Hadith.
Gender Roles:
- The Hadiths provide the basis for concepts such as "the man as the head of the family," women’s testimony worth half of men’s, and men’s authority over women.
Mourning Practices:
- The rules for mourning periods, funeral prayers (Janazah), and burial procedures are entirely from Hadith.

6. Islamic Theology and Spirituality: Drastically Changed

Concept of Shirk (Associating partners with Allah):
- The Quran condemns Shirk, but Hadith specifies practices that are considered Shirk (visiting graves, invoking saints).
Dua (Supplication):
- While the Quran encourages prayer, the format, recommended duas, and occasions (before sleep, before travel) are from Hadith.
Exorcism (Ruqyah):
- Without Hadith, the method of exorcism, specific verses for healing, and practices to avoid evil eye (Ayn) would disappear.

7. Historical Knowledge of Muhammad: Almost Erased

Biography of Muhammad (Seerah):
- Most of what is known about Muhammad's life, his character, his battles, and his interactions with companions is from Hadith and the Sira literature (Ibn Ishaq, Al-Tabari).
- Without Hadith, Muhammad would be a mostly unknown figure except for a few brief references in the Quran (as a messenger, a good example).
Details of his family (Khadijah, Aisha, Fatima, Ali) would be lost.
His sermons (Khutbahs), letters, and treaties (like Hudaybiyyah) would not exist.

8. Sects and Schools of Thought: Drastically Affected

Sunni-Shia Split:
- The Hadiths are the primary source for the Sunni-Shia split because they provide the basis for the story of Ghadir Khumm (Shia) and the role of the Rashidun Caliphs (Sunni).
Madhabs (Legal Schools):
- The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools are all based heavily on Hadith interpretations.
- Without Hadith, these schools would lose their legal authority.

Conclusion: A Quran-Only Islam Would Be Radically Different

Without Hadith, Islam would become a minimalist faith focused only on monotheism (Tawhid), prayer (in an undefined form), and basic moral principles.
Most rituals, legal systems, social norms, and historical knowledge would be lost.
It would resemble a Deist or minimalist faith, with personal spirituality but without the detailed rituals and laws of traditional Islam.