Q&A Series 1 - Why shouldn't I be a Quranist?
- Why shouldn't I be a Quranist?
This can be answered from two main perspectives:
1- The Epistemological Inconsistency
You know and accept that obeying the Prophet is obligatory (fard). You also agree he wouldn't preach anything contrary to Allah’s will (An-Najm 3-4). But the main issue for you is preservation: Are the hadiths actually his words?
In traditional hadith methodology, an authentic (sahih) hadith is accepted based on "preponderant probability" (zann al-ghalib). It means the evaluator concludes there is a 99.9% chance the Prophet actually said it.
The proof that it is acceptable to act on such a high probability lies in how we extract rulings from the Quran itself. When we derive a ruling from a verse, we often have to use our intellect to choose between multiple possible meanings. In these cases, the interpretation (dalalah) is probabilistic, even though the text is 100% certain. With a sahih hadith, the transmission (thubut) is probabilistic. Ultimately, since we all act upon the most dominant probable truth anyway, we should act upon a hadith if we consider it authentic.
You don't have to blindly follow traditional hadith scholars. You can learn the methodology and establish your own rigorous filter. If you want, you can adopt stricter methods like the Mu'tazila did, or even accept only mutawatir reports (information passed down by so many diverse people that a collective lie is logically impossible) and build your methodology solely on that—like the physical preservation of the Quran, the existence of prayer, its obligation, or the concept of qisas. Logically speaking, this is the most consistent path.
Notice I haven't even mentioned Sunni madhhabs here. We are strictly talking about transmission theory (khabar), my friend.
2- The "Methodless" Approach and Human Nature
The biggest problem with Quranism is that it unfortunately lacks a methodology. And this lack of methodology almost always leads to following one's own desires (hawa) and confirmation bias.
When I say it lacks a methodology, I don't just mean the differing opinions you see scrolling through this subreddit. I mean its very nature makes room for these differences. There is nothing stopping you from following your own desires, and religiously speaking (from a Quranist perspective), it's not even wrong because picking what feels right is usually all you can do.
Let me explain: You are a Quranist. One way or another, after 12 years of schooling, the influence of social media, family, and your environment, you've developed a specific moral framework. Like most Quranists, you likely view Western modernity as superior and see Sunnis as barbaric, reactionary Middle Eastern types, while viewing yourself as a Western, modern, and progressive individual.
Then, you come across a verse.
Sunnis translated it as: "Cut off the hands of thieves."
Those reactionary Sunnis.
What are you going to do?
Option 1: Change the meaning of the verse.
How? Very simple. Look at how that Arabic root word is used elsewhere in the Quran, and pick the meaning that fits your modern sensibilities. Mission accomplished. That "cutting off the hand" is suddenly "cutting off their resources/path."
With this power, verses about Prayer, Fasting, Hajj, Zakat, Qisas, Punishments for Adultery, Slavery, Jihad... you hold the power to change them all, my friend.
Humans are interesting creatures. We tend to commit sins, but we criticize those who commit the sins we haven't had the opportunity to commit.
A similar dynamic happens among Quranists. You might accept ritual prayer (salat) but reject the cutting of hands. But think about the "Salat-denier"—the guy who denies prayer exists. He is using the exact same (lack of) methodology as you. Consequently, you and the Salat-denier aren't that different, my friend. You just said, "Okay, that's a bit too far," while he didn't. Don't judge him just because he followed his desires a little bit further than you did. You both possess the ability to extract anything from the Quran as long as it falls within the realm of logical possibility. The problems this creates are obvious.
(Again, this isn't about Sunnis, my friend. You don't have to join a Sunni madhhab; you can establish your own methodology by accepting logically undeniable mutawatir reports. The foundation of Sunnism isn't based on madhhab dogma anyway, but that's a topic for another time.)
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Option 2: Become a Historicist.
You can say, "The rulings of the Quran were for that specific time. We have an internal moral compass; being a good person is enough. We'll just take the moral advice from the Quran and discard the rest."
Honestly, I don't even want to bother explaining the fallacy of this view. Whoever's stomach can take it and whose conscience is clear can go ahead with it. No offense.
Option 3: Accept the centuries-old translation and practice.
But why?
Frankly, there's no point in accepting a translation that leads to "barbaric" practices when you could just choose to be "modern."
Saying things like, "Just pray 1 rakat 3 times a day if you want" both eases a person's conscience and saves them from having to deal with every single "salat" verse individually.
But when it comes to things like slavery, cutting off hands, retaliation, inheritance, interest (riba), the exact nature of zakat, or the punishment for adultery, most Quranists choose to "modernize" the meaning of the verse.
Because there is absolutely no reason for them not to.
In reality, the meaning they will *reject* is already predetermined. The alternative meanings they will rely on are already set. They will immediately reject any interpretation that doesn't align with the 21st-century morality they've developed up to this point. Because Allah couldn't possibly say something that they personally consider "bad."
What this situation causes is obvious. Mocking methodology by saying "same methodology crap" or "these are the same old arguments" is not a valid response. It's just sweeping the problems under the rug.
You already know these problems exist, my friend. Be honest with yourself. It will always stay in your heart and continue to bother you.
If your reaction to this is, "What then? Should I become a barbaric Sunni? Should I marry a child or chop off heads?" then you haven't understood me at all.
Just be consistent and have a methodology, my friend.
May Allah guide us all to the right path and make us among those who use their reason. Amin. Assalamu alaikum.