DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITTBÁ AND ITTAT: The validity and importance of Prophetic Traditions or the Sunnah by Akbar Khoja Lately I have noticed Ismaili Missionaries picking up Quranist arguments and defending Ismailism on the basis of these Quranist arguments. For the average Ismaili brother who doesnt know, Quranists are a small group of people who reject the prophetic traditions (called sunnat al-Nabi or just sunnah for simplicity) and insist on only complying the Quran. Ismaili missionaries capitalize on the lack of knowledge of the Arabic language within the Ismaili community and insist that the Quran only asks Muslims to obey (in command) and follow (in command) the Prophet (pbuh) and not obey and follow and practice and deeds. Unfortunately, this argument falls flat on its face when the Quranic Arabic is analyzed. In Quran 4:59, Allah (swt) asks Muslims to obey Allah and obey the Messenger”. Transliteration: Ya ayyuhal lazina aamanu atiullallha wa atiur rasul …” Translation: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger…” The above is the same verse a part of which is recited daily in the Ismaili Dua. Examining closely the Arabic, in the above verse, Allah (swt) asks Muslims to do itaat – the Arabic root word of which is ṭā wāw ʿayn (ط و ع), as in أَطِيعُوا, which means to obey. That is, obedience to Allah’s commands and His Messenger’s commands in the Quranic context. However, in the verse 3:31, Allah (swt) asks Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to: Transliteration: “Qul in kuntum tuhibbunallaha fattabiuni…” Translation: “Say, [O Muhammad], If you should love Allah , then follow me” Here, the word used is ittiba’ which comes from the root word is tā bā ʿayn (ت ب ع) as in فَاتَّبِعُونِي which means not just to obey, but to adhere, to comply and in the Quranic context, means to comply with the practices of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The validity of prophetic traditions (simply called ‘sunnah’), is further reinforced by its being practised diligently by a vast majority of the expert and knowledgeable scholars over the centuries of Islam. The Ismaili missionary argument that its a newly constituted term is simply illogical since they themselves would have a hard time justifying Muslim ancestral roots of their terms mehmani, nandi, ginan, waez, dasond, dua karavi, shurkeet, shukrvari beej, channtta and other hindu-inspired beliefs and practices.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:38:38 +0000
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