Understanding Muslim Teachings and Traditions

by Phil Parshall

The sense of urgency to spread the gospel to Muslims has never been greater. Many Christians are turning new attention to the teachings of the Quran-yet few know even the basics of the Hadith, collections of Muslim teachings and traditions with deep influence on Muslim attitudes and actions.
Phil Parshall's careful analysis of the Hadith is made authentic by his decades of ministry among Muslims. He explains the Hadith's teachings of Muhammad on such issues as salvation, prayer, jihad and violence, women, and Jesus. Here are essential insights for all those seeking an in-depth understanding of the Muslim faith and community.

Genres: Islam

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a rarity in Muslim/Christian reviews; it is fair (at least as far as I can tell). In this book, Parshall examines the Al-Bukhari Hadith, which is regarded by Muslims as the most authoritative collection of Hadith. He correctly differentiates between the Qur'an (which Muslims believe was dictated by Allah to Muhammad) and the Hadith (which are records of Muhammad's life style and personal declarations). The Hadith contain what Muslims refer to as the Sunnah, the life and example of the Prophet. For Muslims, the Qur'an is more authoritative than the Hadith for the Muslim faith. But the Qur'an itself says "Verily, in the messenger of Allah, you have a good example" (Qur'an 33:21), which has encouraged Muslim teachers and theologians throughout the ages to follow the life, teachings, and example of the Prophet as portrayed in the Hadith.

I like that the majority of this book is made up of quotations from the Hadith instead of interpretation. I spot-checked these quotations against a Muslim source (http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/) and there were a couple of transposed verse numbers, but there was only one verse that I couldn't find with a quick google search. That one is definitely from the sayings, but I can't find the reference. But there don't seem to be any of the intentional misquotes that are often used to make another religion look bad.

I like that Parshall clearly and fairly compares the Hadith with the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, and points out similarities, even when those similarities are ones that Christian or Jewish apologists might want to overlook. The only real complaint that I have about this book is that Parshall regularly brings science to religious questions, which seemingly disparages the prophet, but is nonsensical. For example, "What effect, scientifically, could one expect to result from placing the green leaf of a date palm tree on the graves of two Muslims who are undergoing torture [for their sins]?" This is a clearly religious, supernatural statement. What would science have to say? But other than that quibble, I found this book informative.

Here are some of the most important quotes from the Hadith that helped me to understand more about Islam.

Volume 1, Book 6, Number 301 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri
Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion."

Volume 8, Book 76, Number 554 :
Narrated by 'Imran
The Prophet said, "I looked into the Fire and found that the majority of its people were women."

Volume 8, Book 76, Number 555 :
Narrated by Usama
The Prophet said, "I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of the people who had entered it were poor people, while the rich were forbidden (to enter along with the poor, because they were waiting the reckoning of their accounts), but the people of the Fire had been ordered to be driven to the Fire. And I stood at the gate of the Fire and found that the majority of the people entering it were women."

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 250 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas
That he heard the Prophet saying, "It is not permissible for a man to be alone with a woman, and no lady should travel except with a Muhram (i.e. her husband or a person whom she cannot marry in any case for ever; e.g. her father, brother, etc.)." (See Hadith 234 Vol 1)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 460 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning."

Volume 1, Book 9, Number 490 :
Narrated by 'Aisha
The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, "Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people)." I said, "You have made us (i.e. women) dogs. I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip away. for I disliked to face him."

Volume 7, Book 62, Number 132 :
Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Zam'a
The Prophet said, "None of you should flog his wife as he flogs a slave and then have sexual intercourse with her in the last part of the day."
[this references al'Qur'an Surah 4:34 "As for those [wives] from whom you fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart and scourge them"]

Volume 6, Book 61, Number 510 :
Narrated by Anas bin Malik
H'Uthman sent to every Muslim province one copy of what they had copied, and ordered that all the other Qur'anic materials, whether written in fragmentary manuscripts or whole copies, be burnt.
[this happened after Muhammad's death]

Volume 3, Book 32, Number 235 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri
Allah's Apostle said "I have verily been shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr) but I have forgotten it."

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 620 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "The reward of the prayer offered by a person in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer offered in one's house or in the market (alone). And this is because if he performs ablution and does it perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and his one sin is taken off (crossed out) from his accounts (of deeds)."
[what about women? When they can't attend mosque? What a disadvantage!]

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 495 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri
The Prophet said, "If while you are praying, somebody intends to pass in front of you, prevent him; and should he insist, prevent him again; and if he insists again, fight with him (i.e. prevent him violently e.g. pushing him violently), because such a person is (like) a devil."

Volume 1, Book 10, Number 505 :
Narrated by 'Abdullah
I asked the Prophet "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause."

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57 :
Narrated by 'Ikrima
Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

Volume 9, Book 89, Number 271 :
Narrated by Abu Musa
A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism. Mu'adh bin Jabal came and saw the man with Abu Musa. Mu'adh asked, "What is wrong with this (man)?" Abu Musa replied, "He embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism." Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down unless you kill him (as it is) the verdict of Allah and His Apostle.

Volume 9, Book 93, Number 549 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees to the person who carries out Jihad for His Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but the Jihad in His Cause, and belief in His Words, that He will either admit him into Paradise or return him with his reward or the booty he has earned to his residence from where he went out."

Volume 5, Book 59, Number 505 :
Narrated by Anas
they reverted to Heathenism after embracing Islam, and killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away the camels. When this news reached the Prophet, he sent some people in pursuit of them. (So they were caught and brought back to the Prophet ). The Prophet gave his orders in their concern. So their eyes were branded with pieces of iron and their hands and legs were cut off and they were left away in Harra till they died in that state of theirs.

[And finally, this one ... Aisha herself, Muhammad's favorite bride seems to be questioning the convenience of the divine commands for the prophet]

Volume 6, Book 60, Number 311 :
Narrated by Aisha
I used to look down upon those ladies who had given themselves to Allah's Apostle and I used to say, "Can a lady give herself (to a man)?" But when Allah revealed:

You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will; and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily).' (Qur'an 33.51)

I said (to the Prophet), "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires."

[Curtis Sleme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone that wants a deeper understanding of Islam really should read this book! My favorite aspect about Phil's writing is his very humble approach. He really implies that we are to love and have a desire to save Muslims throughout the book rather than have a hate toward them. He often turns the tables around on us as Christians showing that we too would have the same bias and presuppositions about our beliefs as shown in the Islamic culture. He really seems to have a good attitude about the subject that I personally think would be hard to have. He also adds in his personal reflections and testimonies with Muslims which make the read not only informative and interesting, but emotional and inspiring. He does all this but also talks about the fallacies, contradictions, and problems with the teachings and traditions of "true" Muslims (not westernized muslims that do not know the Quran and it's teachings). He also has a great chapter on Jihad and violence condoned in the Hadith and Quran. You will learn that/how Islam is in fact a violent religion that encourages killing, war, and forced conversion. He let's the Islamic scripture speak for itself and kind of narrates it. He has researched this topic well and I am glad I read this. Phil Parshall seems like a good, humble, intelligent, and positive guy and his great personality shows in this book.