For instance...

For instance, it has been narrated that `Umar ibn al-Khattab, once, recited the verse, “The vanguard (of Islam)—the first of those who forsook (their homes), and of those who gave them aid, and those who follow them in (all) good deeds.” (Holy Qur’an: 9/100) in an erroneous manner; therefore, Zayd ibn Thabit recited the accurate form before him in order to show him his mistake. However, `Umar insisted on his mistake, and Zayd said, “Amir al-Mu'minin (i.e.

`Umar) must be more knowledgeable!” Yet, `Umar summoned Ubayy ibn Ka`b (the expert in the recitation of the Holy Qur'an) and presented the question before him.

Ubayy said, “Indeed, I recited this verse in the very form recited by Zayd ibn Thabit before the Messenger of Allah while you were abiding in Baqi` al-Gharqad (a place far away from the abode of the Holy Prophet).” `Umar thus commented, “You have memorized while I have forgotten, and you devoted yourself to learning this while I was engaged with other affairs, and you witnessed while I was absent...”[^3] In order to evade such troubles and to lock the door of objections and embarrassments, the best way was to prohibit the reporting, writing down, and recording of the Hadith.

Accordingly, the caliphs began to threat and arrest the reporters of Hadith after they had ordered to reduce reporting it. Third Factor On later stages, the caliphs permitted themselves to be semi-sources of the religious legislation.

As a result, the conducts of the two Shaykhs, namely Abu-Bakr and `Umar, were legislated to be the partner of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah, as a first stage, and then other legislations were enacted—all for purpose of corroborating the legislative rulership of the caliphs besides the political authority.

As examples on this legislative authority, `Umar ibn al-Khattab said about the enactment of the Salat al-Tarawih , “Excellent is this heresy,”[^4] and about the prohibition of the temporary marriage, “Two issues were allowed during the age of Allah’s Messenger, but now I deem them forbidden and will punish anyone who will violate this prohibition.

These are the temporary marriage and the allowable period ( Mut`at ) during the Hajj.”[^5] Afterward, these laws have been called ‘Ijtihad’ and thus the caliph was given the same position of the Holy Prophet and, in the intervening time, they reduced the position of the Holy Prophet to the level of those who issue religious verdicts according to their personal conjectures!