How Does Verse 82 of Sura Al-Nisa Explain Contradictions in Hadith?

Question:

Can you explain verse 82 in Sura al-Nisa’?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barkatuh.

I pray you are well.

There Are No Mistakes in the Qur’an

The verse in question talks about the absence of any mistakes and internal contradictions in the Qur’an. This is something in which there is no doubt. The text of the Qur’an is perfectly preserved, and what it states has been proven to be true time and time again throughout history. Many other matters will come to light too.

Contradictions in the Hadith

Contradictions can be found in the hadith literature. However, this is understandable, and not a problem. The hadith were not all narrated verbatim: scholars who knew the language well sometimes narrated a hadith using a synonym.

Also, the hadiths were narrated over a period of time, and rulings were being revealed and amended over that period. This too led to conflicting narrations. Sometimes, the context of a hadith makes it seem like it conflicts with others, when, in reality, they do not.

Scholars have a methodology for addressing these issues, and there are many works that analyse seemingly conflicting narrations. If they can find and explain the reason, they do. Otherwise, the narration must have been abrogated.

I pray that helps. May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.