FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Prophet. In English the word ‘traditions’ is also used to refer to the Hadith. The Hadith gives a full account of the life of the Prophet, and serves as the commentary to the Quran as the Prophet lived out his life in accordance with the Quran. The Quran principally deals with basics. It is the Hadith that gives the details and necessary explanations of the Quranic injunctions. For instance, the Quran says: 'Say your prayers regularly'. But it does not specify how this form of worship has to be performed. Not even the timings and units of prayers are clearly mentioned. We need the Hadith to give us complete information on this. Even after knowing the details, it may not be possible to follow the divine injunctions contained in the Quran, for not everything can be properly understood by words alone. Therefore God’s Prophet demonstrated before the faithful how the practice of worship was to be performed. He said to the believers: ‘Look at me, see how I worship, and follow me.’ Thus the Prophet, besides teaching the believers about the divine commandments in a theoretical way, also put these teachings into practice in all matters pertaining to religion. He himself practised the divine injunctions scrupulously. His practice was not a private matter; it had the status of a detailed interpretation and application of the Quran. The Quran repeatedly reminds us of the importance of Hadith, enjoining us to strictly follow the Prophet. Obey God and obey the messenger...(4: 59) Whatever the messenger gives you, take it and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it...(59: 7) You have indeed in the Prophet of God a good example for those of you who look to God and the last Day, and remember God always. (33: 21) The Quran thus provided the fundamentals of religion while the Hadith furnishes us with the necessary details and explanations. It is as if the Quran is the text and the Hadith its commentary; the Quran being theory and Hadith being the practice. Both the Quran and Hadith are equally essential for the understanding of religion. o Dr. Farida Khanam hub@thespiritofislam.org