Shari'a: Barbaric? Oppressive? ...a closer look.

[Thinker]

The point is, what is implied in the Hadith? Consider the wording: "deserted his religion WHEREBY abandoning the community"...This statement was made at a time when the Muslim world was surrounded by enemies. To leave the Muslim community was to become a supporter of those who sought to kill Muslims. -Also, at the time this statement was made by our beloved Prophet Muhammad [saas], when someone entered into Islam, they also gave what is known as baya to the Islamic state. That is, a pledge of allegience or loyalty. Thus, to abondon or renounce that baya by leaving the community was in fact, high treason.

Entirely so but then how is it that some members of this forum validate certain practices by saying they must “follow the sunnah” and produce an hadith which they interpret literally (and nobody here suggests otherwise). Surely the above is saying just that i.e. that you can’t take and act upon these words literally because they were written in a time and place and in circumstances which are not the same as your time place and circumstances today? You can’t have it both ways, can you?

 

[aamirsaab]

Entirely so but then how is it that some members of this forum validate certain practices by saying they must “follow the sunnah” and produce an hadith which they interpret literally (and nobody here suggests otherwise). Surely the above is saying just that i.e. that you can’t take and act upon these words literally because they were written in a time and place and in circumstances which are not the same as your time place and circumstances today? You can’t have it both ways, can you?

The thing with hadiths (and Quranic ayats for that matter) is that it isn't just a hard and fast rule. You have to approach it with a level of knowledge and understanding - it requires interpretation. Which is exactly why we have scholars and sheiks - guys who have studied the texts and are able to communicate it to fellow worshippers in the most effective way.

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Just had a look at this thread; it's going all over the place. So, I shall lock it to avoid any unneccesary discussion (or ''off-topic'' posts to you guys).