Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 624 [Read full issue]
Gathering Hadiths
It is necessary for a correct understanding of the Sunnah that the sahih hadiths on a single subject be gathered together and juxtaposed - the ambiguous alongside the explicit, the absolute alongside the restricted, the general alongside the particularized. That way, by interpreting one with the other, we make the meaning intended in them plain and clear.
Take for example the hadiths on wearing the izar (the lower garment) long:
"There are three to whom God will not speak on the Day of Resurrection: the benefactor who does not give anything except as a favour; the quick profiteer whose commodity is sold by a lying oath; and the one who wears his izar long." [Muslim]
"That which of the izar is lower than the ankles, then it is in the Fire." [Bukhari]
"Once the Prophet said: 'Whoever trails his robe with conceit God will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.' Hearing that Abu Bakr inquired: 'O Messenger of God; one side of my izar works loose, unless I am attending to that to prevent it.' Then the Prophet said: 'You are not among those who make that happen with conceit.'" [Bukhari]
Abu Bukrah narrated, "The sun eclipsed, and we were with the Prophet. He stood up, trailing his robe in great haste until he come to the mosque [...]" [Bukhari]
Ibn Umar narrated: "I heard God's Messenger, with these my two ears, saying: 'One who trails his izar not meaning by that [anything] but conceit, then indeed God will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.'" [Muslim]
It becomes clear to one who reads the whole group of hadiths that have come on this that its meaning is as al-Nawawi and Ibn Hajar and others judged it on balance to be: namely, the apparent absoluteness is to be interpreted by the restriction to 'conceit'. And there is consensus that this 'conceit' is what the threat in the hadith is directed against.
One who intends, by the shortening of his robe, following the Sunnah and keeping away from the suspicion of conceit, and if he intends his acceptance of the practice as a precaution, then he will be rewarded for that, if God wills. That is on condition also that he does not compel all people to do the same, and does not proclaim the rejection of one who, being among those content with the views of the imams and profound commentators, has left that practice.
The resort to the outward sense of a single hadith, without looking into the rest of the hadiths and texts relevant to its subject, often causes lapsing into error, and falling far away from the main road to correctness, and from the purpose for which the hadith has come.
Compiled From:
"Approaching the Sunnah: Comprehension & Controversy" - Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, pp. 103-109