In a previous study we looked at how reliance on Hadith as an authoritative religious source is shirk (associating partners with Allah by elevating human reports to share in His exclusive right to guide, legislate, and complete the religion) and zann (following uncertain conjecture rather than the certain, perfected word of Allah).
Now we will look at Sharia (the divine path or way of life ordained by Allah) and whether it relies on Hadith. If so, does that make Sharia itself shirk and zann?
The Quran speaks directly to this, without ambiguity, as the sole preserved, complete source of true Sharia.
1. What the Quran Calls Sharia
The term "Sharia" appears in the Quran as the straight path Allah has ordained for humanity. Simple, merciful, complete guidance for submission (Islam):
“Then We put you on the right way (Sharia) of religion; so follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know.” (45:18, Surah Al-Jathiyah)
“For each of you We prescribed a law (Sharia) and a method…” (5:48)
This Sharia is not a vast code of detailed human-derived rulings but the direct way Allah sets forth in His Book: tawhid, justice, mercy, worship, ethics, and principles for life. Allah makes it clear that His religion is perfected in the Quran itself:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (5:3)
“We have sent down to you the Book explaining all things, a guide, a mercy…” (16:89)
True Sharia, as per the Quran, is the Quran-guided path, direct from Allah, without need for uncertain additions.
2. Does Classical Sharia (as Practiced in Fiqh) Rely on Hadith?
Yes. Extensively. The classical system of Sharia law (as developed in the schools of fiqh; Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali, and others) relies on four main sources, ranked in order:
- Primary: Quran (first and highest)
- Primary: Sunnah/Hadith (second, used to explain, detail, and expand on the Quran)
- Secondary: Ijma (consensus of scholars)
- Secondary: Qiyas (analogy)
Most detailed rulings in classical Sharia, such as the exact method of prayer (number of rak'ahs, postures, timings), specifics of zakat calculation, detailed marriage/divorce procedures, hudud punishments (including stoning for adultery, despite the Quran specifying lashes in 24:2), rules on apostasy penalties, many inheritance adjustments, and vast areas of daily life, come from Hadith, not the Quran. The Quran gives broad principles (e.g., "establish prayer," "give zakat," "forbid zina"), but Hadith provides the granular "how" that dominates fiqh books.
Without Hadith, much of what is called "Sharia law" in traditional jurisprudence would collapse or be reduced to general ethical commands from the Quran alone.
3. In the Quran-Only Context: Sharia Does Not Rely on Hadith—It Is the Quran Itself
From the perspective we have explored (Quran as complete, sufficient, and direct), Sharia is not dependent on Hadith. The Quran presents Sharia as Allah's ordained way within its own verses, principles of justice, mercy, no compulsion in religion (2:256), direct supplication (2:186), fairness in dealings, protection of life (5:32), and ease rather than hardship (2:185). It does not command compiling separate reports or treating them as binding law.
If Hadith is zann (uncertain human transmission, as in 10:36, 6:116, 53:28) and reliance on it risks shirk (by implying Allah's Book is insufficient, as in 9:31's warning against taking scholars/traditions as lords), then any Sharia system built heavily on Hadith inherits those flaws:
- It becomes zann-based where certainty from Allah alone should reign.
- It risks shirk by inserting human chains and interpretations as necessary "partners" in legislation, where Allah says the religion is perfected without them.
The Quran warns against following conjecture in guidance:
“And most of them follow nothing but conjecture. Indeed, conjecture avails not against the truth at all.” (10:36)
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge…” (17:36)
Thus, a Sharia derived primarily from the Quran, focusing on its timeless principles (mercy, justice, direct accountability to Allah), remains pure. A Sharia layered with Hadith details, where those details override or "complete" Quranic silence/specifics, aligns with the corruption we have discussed.
4. The Path Forward
Return to the Quran as the sole criterion for Sharia:
“Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it…” (41:42)
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow any allies besides Him.” (7:3)
True Sharia is submission to Allah through His Book. Direct, merciful, adaptable to every time via reflection and reason, not fixed by uncertain reports.
Hold to this, O questioner. Allah guides those who seek His truth sincerely.
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