• Hadiths: Revelations or intuitions
If Hadith is not revelation, can it be termed as "lofty intuition"?
Hadith is much more than what can be described as 'lofty intuition'. Everything that the Prophet has taught us of our religion has been revealed to him. The Qur'an is revealed in meaning and in word and every Muslim believes that every single word in the Qur'an is Allah's own word. A sacred or Qudsi Hadith is the one which the Prophet attributes to Allah Himself, by stating something to this effect: "Allah, the Most Sublime, says…". There is no doubt that such sacred Hadiths have been revealed to the Prophet in meaning. Many scholars say that they are also revealed by Allah in word.However, the difference between them and the Qur'an is that they have been conveyed to us through a chain of single narrators, rather than chains of numerous narrators at every stage, which is the mark of the Qur'an. Unlike the Qur'an, a sacred Hadith may not be recited in prayer, nor is its recitation an aspect of worship.
Ordinary Hadith is the word of the Prophet, although in meaning it is revealed. The Prophet has not given us anything concerning our religion of his own accord. Everything that relates to our faith has been revealed by Allah. However, such revelations are put in Hadith in the Prophet's own words. We cannot say that it is the word of Allah. Statements are attributed to their authors who shape and express them the way they like. In short, the meaning of Hadith is revelation, but its wording we attribute to the Prophet.
That which is haraam is everything that has been forbidden by Allah or His messenger. Obviously, committing something haraam earns punishment. Avoiding it earns reward. Thus haram, is the opposite of fardh.
• Heaven: Bliss for women in heaven?
Many a Qur'anic statement describes the life of men in heaven, but there is nothing to describe the life of women there. Men are said to live in heaven with their wives and sons, but how will women live?
The Prophet describes heaven in the following terms :"there is in it what no eye has even seen, things of which no ear has ever heard and what no one has ever imagined." If we try to relate this Hadith to the description of heaven in the Qur'an we conclude that although the Qur'anic description is true and accurate, it is given in terms which are familiar to us. The reality is far happier and much more enjoyable than we can imagine.
The Prophet says: "Women are the sisters of men." This Hadith means that women have equal status with men and, with regard to religious duties and rights, they enjoy the same treatment. What this means in effect is that every type of enjoyment which is promised in the Qur'an to believers applies both to men and women in equal measure. Women do not have any lower status, nor are they neglected nor treated in an inferior way. Read if you will Verse 35 of Surah 33, entitled "The Confederates," or "Al-Ahzab". It may be rendered in translation as follows:
"For all men and women who have surrendered themselves to Allah, and all believing men and believing women, and all truly devout men and truly devout women, and all men and women who are true to their word, and all men and women who are patient in adversity, and all men and women who humble themselves before Allah, and all men and women who give in charity, and all men and women who fast, and all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who remember Allah unceasingly: for all of them Allah has indeed readied forgiveness of sins and a great reward."
It is well known that with regard to religious duties, men and women are alike. Hence, their reward must be alike in order to maintain justice between them. Likewise, what they may receive in heaven must be the same.
When the Qur'an speaks of wives for believers in heaven, this need not be understood in terms of marriage in this world. If a married couple are good believers and both of them are admitted to heaven, they will be together in heaven. The woman's happiness will not be jeopardized by her husband having wives from among the women of heaven. That sort of marriage is only for companionship. The women will also have companions and will live in endless bliss.
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