Hadith: A Re-evaluation [Paperback]

Kassim Ahmad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

The main thesis of the book is that Hadith has been compiled without permission, either from the prophet, or from the four Righteous Caliphs for fear of confusing it with the Quran, the first source of Islam. Because of the power struggles between different political factions, each pretender legitimized his claim by recourse to a saying of Prophet Muhammad in his favor. Pious Muslims such as Bukhari and Muslim tried to collect these sayings after verifying their authenticity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"this book of Kassim Ahmad is a real implementation of the Kantian principle evoked in the book, "Dare to Know" against the authority of the Church. In Islam, there is no Church. However, the common knowledge, the established notions and the popular creed play the role of an intellectual and ideological Church which denies freedom of thought and shackles free intellectual development." -- Hassan Hanafi, Professor of Philosophy, Cairo University

About the Author

Kassim Ahmad was born on September 9, 1933 in Kedah, Malaysia. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Malay language and literature, but also read widely in political science and Islamic philosophy. He taught Malay language and literature for a time in the London School of Oriental and African Studies and then in a secondary school in Penang where he has been staying with his family since 1966. He has written several books on Malay literature as well as on Islamic subjects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Universal Unity (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881893022
• ISBN-13: 978-1881893028
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,007,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read For All Muslims, February 21, 2003

By 

"zshatry" (Colorado, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hadith: A Re-evaluation (Paperback)

Prepare to be blown away by Kassim Ahmad. If you want to know the truth about Islam and its 'derivatives', this is where to find it. Its a pity that this book was banned in Malaysia (where the author was born) as soon as it got published. Makes me wonder if there's a deliberate plot to keep the truth under wraps, or even worse, to keep Muslims worldwide from thinking!
In the end, Allah and His Infallible Word, the Qur'an, will always prevail. Care to see what the minority of Muslims (submitters) beleive?

"These are God's revelations that We recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than God and His revelations do they believe?" (Quran 45:6)

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Water tight argument against Hadiths and Sunnah., February 26, 2002

By 

"white-anglo-saxon-muslim" (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hadith: A Re-evaluation (Paperback)

Kassim Ahmad has delivered a tour de force on the stupidity of the hadiths. The contradictions between the Quran and many hadiths, the Prophet's ruling against hadith collections, the hilarious way they were collected, the fallacy that somehow Bukhari's collection can be above criticism and finally the Quran (THE supreme and ONLY authority) stating that it is the only relevant hadith; 'These are God's revelations that we recite for you with the truth. In which hadith besides the revelations of God, do they believe?', 'God sent down the best hadith, a scripture that is consistent, repeating.' and just to make sure 'Some people uphold vain hadith in order to divert others from the path of God without knowledge, and to create a mockery out of it. These have deserved humiliating retribution'.
Ahmad tackles the claims of the traditionalists and utterly refutes them and the stupefying effect their claims have upon Muslims and the Ummah in general. Truth shall eventually prevail despite the attempts of fools to keep the ordinary Muslim under the thumb of their self created priesthood. This triumph shall be achieved in no small respect due to this easily readable and coherently argued book.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mother of All Books: A Wake Up Call to All Muslims, April 8, 2003

By 

The Critic (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hadith: A Re-evaluation (Paperback)

Mankind has the tendency to deviate from God's teachings and create their own without realizing the harm and the implications of their actions. Hence, why each religion has become divided into multiple sects. This phenomenon is no stranger to Islam. The author of this book argues that the recorded Hadith (the sayings by the prophet Muhammad which are not to be confused with the Quran) are untrue and are against the core of Islam. The author argues that they are man made and they have caused Muslims to deviate from God's true message. The author provides logical, scientific, and Quranic evidence to support his arguments. He argues that sectarianism within Islam is caused by such Hadiths, and that if Muslims return to the Quran as the only source for Islam, the Muslims will reunite under one religion as they were once long time ago. Unfortunately, it is also a human tendency to shut one's eyes and ears when threatened by a different ideological principles. Therefore, Muslim institutions do not appreciate this book. The only thing I can say is read it and decide for yourself. Dare to know!