How Can the General Public Understand the Hadith?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Question

How can the general public understand the Hadith?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

The Importance of Knowledge in Understanding Hadith

Knowledge is the key to understanding, and sound understanding leads to correct practice and application. Without knowledge, there can be no accurate understanding, no proper practice, and no correct application.

How can someone who is ignorant of the basics and principles of any science or field—what we now refer to as a layperson—speak about it or understand it correctly?

This is impossible and would not be accepted by any rational person in any of the worldly sciences, such as medicine, engineering, economics, and so on.

How, then, could it be accepted in the religious sciences, which are based on divine revelation and which, for us Muslims, constitute our faith?

The Obligation to Seek Knowledge from Scholars

Therefore, these sciences must be acquired from those who are knowledgeable in them. This is what Allah (Most High) commanded when He said:

“We did not send (messengers) before you (O Prophet) except mere men inspired by Us. If you (polytheists) do not know (this already), then ask those who have knowledge (of the Scriptures).” [Quran, 16:43]

In His mercy towards this Umma, Allah did not obligate every single individual to learn and become well-versed in religion, as this would cause great difficulty and hardship for the general Muslim public. In fact, it would be impossible for everyone to do so.

Instead, the obligation and responsibility were placed upon a group among them. Allah (Most High) says:

“(However,) it is not necessary for the believers to march forth all at once. Only a party from each group should march forth, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge then enlighten their people when they return to them, so that they (too) may beware (of evil).” [Quran, 9:122]

The Challenges of Understanding Hadith for the General Public

Given this, how can a layperson, who lacks knowledge of the principles of Hadith studies—whether in terms of narration, understanding, chain of transmission, or text—understand the Hadiths?

This person does not know the meanings of technical terms, the implications of words, the abrogating from the abrogated Hadith, and other aspects that are essential for understanding and applying the Hadith. How, then, can they grasp their meanings?

For this reason, the general public must refer to scholars, experts, and knowledgeable individuals in this field so that they may learn, understand, and then practice and apply.

The Role of Scholars in Explaining Hadith

It is the duty of scholars to explain these Hadiths, simplify them, and clarify the benefits and rulings they contain so that the general public can easily act upon them without confusion.

Imam ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Speak to the people according to what they know. Do you want Allah and His Messenger to be denied?” [Bukhari]

Abu Qilaba (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Do not speak of a Hadith to someone who does not understand it, for it will be a source of harm to them and not benefit” [Ibn ‘Abd al-Bar, Jami‘ Bayan al-‘Ilm wa Fadluhu]

Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Whenever you speak to people with a Hadith they do not comprehend, it will be a trial for some of them.” [Ibid.]

Hadiths That Are Clear and Easily Understood

This applies to the vast majority of the noble Hadiths. However, there are some Hadiths that are completely clear, whose meanings are not hidden, and whose understanding is not ambiguous—such as those that call for virtues and good manners. These may be understood by some among the general public, and Allah knows best.

Summary

The door should not be opened, nor should permission be granted, for just anyone among the general public of this era to speak about and explain the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) according to their limited understanding.

This is especially true for those who pretend to be knowledgeable or those who intrude into the sciences of Shariah and dare to engage in them, even if they are highly knowledgeable and understanding in their worldly fields of expertise. Otherwise, we would witness wonders and calamities, as we do now.

We ask Allah (Most High) for guidance and success for everyone. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.

He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.

He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.

Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”