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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Light On the Muhammadan Sunnah Or Defence of the Hadith Introduction of the Second Edition 13 In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful “This is God’s guidance guideth He with it, whomsoever of His servants He pleaseth; and if they were to associate others (with Him) certainly would be vain for them what they were doing.

These are they whom gave We the Book and the authority and the apostleship; so if these (people) disbelieve in it, indeed have We (already) entrusted it unto a people who are not disbelievers in it.

These are they whom God hath guideth, therefore follow their guidance.” (6: 89-91) While introducing the second edition of my book Adwa’ ‘ala al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah, or Difa‘ ‘an al-hadith, I find myself obliged to present an express comment on its first edition, and how was the reaction and response toward it on the part of people with their different strata and inclinations.

Concerning the eminent scholars and leading thinkers in our homeland and other countries, this book – thanks to God for His favour and help – has gained their pleasure and appreciation with much applause, may Allah reward them the best, on my behalf and that of knowledge.

In regard of those who dislike investigation in research, strival (ijtihad) in comprehension, and free thinking, seeing knowledge to lie only in whatever they have learned through dictation from their chiefs and shaykhs … these people reacted to it – as was expected – with severe protest, making widespread campaign against it here and there, and even authoring books to this end.

My reaction or stance toward such people was turning away from them, never facing them with the same stance and practices.

But, through any of these books – despite their voluminousness and abundance – I have never come across even one study of worth or a subjective criticism based on a modern scientific style that showing a truth or rectifying an error, or modifying a viewpoint, with their value being only disclosing the actual morals and nature of their authors with the level of their knowledge.

And if such type of criticism was justifiable for some people in the past, it has verily become nowadays so detested, with no one resorting to it but only the ignorant who know nothing of the principles of criticism.