M. FETHULLAH GÜLEN’S UNDERSTANDING OF SUNNAH Submitted by Mustafa Erdil A thesis in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Theology Faculty of Theology and Philosophy Australian Catholic University Research Services Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia 23 JULY 2016 1 | P a g e STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP AND SOURCES This thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma. No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of the thesis. This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution. All research procedures in the thesis received the approval of the relevant Ethics/Safety Committees (where required). Mustafa Erdil 23 JULY 2016 Signature: ABSTRACT The aim and objective of this study is to highlight the importance of and the status of hadith in Islam, as well as its relevance and reference to sunnah, the Prophetic tradition and all that this integral source of reference holds in Islam. Furthermore, hadith, in its nature, origin and historical development with its close relationship with the concept of memorisation and later recollection came about after the time of Prophet Muhammad. This study will thus explore the reasons behind the prohibition, in its initial stage, with the authorisation of recording the hadiths and its writing at another time. The private pages of hadith recordings kept by the companions will be sourced and explored as to how these pages served as prototypes for hadith compilations of later generations. The Qur’an and hadith, as they exist as integrals parts complementing each other, provides the impetus and emphasis of the interpretation of the Qur’an by hadith. In addition, this research will also identify the law-making characteristic of hadith after the Qur’an, and the implications and regulations the hadith project and provide in their role as the second primary source of Islam. The approach of Western scholars to the Qur’an and hadith will also be a focus, considering why their perceptions of hadith are quite different from those of Muslim scholars. Within this specific definition of hadith, its meaning according to Islamic terminology becomes synonymous with the word ‘sunnah’, also translated broadly as tradition, practice discourse, and prophetic observations and approvals. The critical approach to religion with the emergence of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe prompted Western scholars to formulate some overly critical views and perceptions of Christianity and Judaism. Later these scholars chose to 3 | M. Fethullah Gülen’s Understanding of Sunnah subject Islam to the same process of criticism and investigation as their own respective religions. Significantly, Western scholars’ approaches differed fundamentally from the more traditionally accepted perceptions of hadith held by Muslims in this regard. To counter the discourse, the teachings and written works of Fethullah Gülen will be analysed and brought into the spectrum. Muslim scholars, by convention, bring evidence from the Qur’an, as well as the sunnah, to emphasise the importance of sunnah since the early period of Islam. In this regard the teaching of hadith by Islamic scholar and thinker Gülen will be utilised as a source and reference point. Unlike what has hitherto been prescribed in traditional madrasahs, Gülen’s perspectives and contributions to the discipline of hadith, and innovative new methods he introduced, would be another perspective of this study. As for methodology, the method of investigation will rely on a research technique ‘for the objective, systematic, and qualitative description of manifest content of communications’. Therefore, this research will employ content and discourse analysis which is a social science methodology that is based on an understanding of human communication, including writing and context.1 1 Siddiqi Muhammad Zubayr, Hadith Literature İts Origin, Development &Special Features (Cambridge,UK: The Islamic Text Society, 1993).p,220 4 | M. Fethullah Gülen’s Understanding of Sunnah Acknowledgements My special thanks will first and foremost go to Professor Ismail Albayrak, Professor Raymond Canning and Dr. Edmund Chia under whose supervision this research was produced. I am obliged to them for their time and limitless support provided during this enterprise. This thesis would not have taken form without their fortitude. I am genuinely obliged to the Australian Catholic University, for awarding me an APA scholarship and grants for the conference in US which assisted me in completing my study in the best way. I owe warm thanks to Dr. Mark Stone zealously editing this study. I also genuinely appreciate Dr. Salih Yücel and Dr. Recep Dogan for their participation in my confirmation and pre-submission seminars. I also will like to deliver my special thanks to the ACU Library staff (especially Strathfield Campus) and friends for assisting me to consume all the resources I needed for the research. Last of all, I am also genuinely indebted to my family for their patience, dedication and endless support. 5 | M. Fethullah Gülen’s Understanding of Sunnah TABLE OF CONTENTS Context of the study and Intended Area of Research ............................................. 10 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................... 13 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 14 Organisation of Thesis ............................................................................................... 15 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 16 Early History of Hadith Collection .......................................................................... 16 Muslim approach to hadith in contemporary time ................................................... 18 Literary Works about Fethullah Gülen ..................................................................... 23 Literary Works Regarding Fethullah Gülen’s View on Sunnah .............................. 25 Electronic sources .................................................................................................... 29 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 30 Chapter One: Hadith in Islam and its importance. ................................................ 35 Hadith and sunnah (prophetic tradition) as primary sources in Islam ..................... 35 Definition of hadith? ................................................................................................ 37 Relationship between hadith and sunnah ............................................................. 39 Hadith as the second primary source .................................................................... 44 Technical terms for various types of hadith ......................................................... 47 Development of hadith literature ............................................................................. 48 Recording of hadith in the time of the Prophet .................................................... 48 Prohibition on writing hadith ................................................................................ 50 Permission for writing hadith ............................................................................... 53 Veracity of the companions in recording of hadith .............................................. 55 Qualities sought in Hadith narrators (Rawi) ......................................................... 59 Interpreting the Qur’an by prophetic tradition (sunnah and hadith) .................... 63 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 69 Chapter Two: Thoughts and assessments on hadith in contemporary time......... 71 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 71 Western and Muslim worlds from scholarly, religious and philosophical perspectives .............................................................................................................. 72 Western literary works of hadith studies: ............................................................. 75 Motives urging the West to study Islamic sciences and hadith ............................ 81 Western views on the recording of hadith ............................................................ 85 Effects of modernism on Muslim scholars’ perception of hadith ........................ 92 6 | M. Fethullah Gülen’s Understanding of Sunnah Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 96 Chapter Three: M. Fethullah Gülen’s understanding of sunnah.......................... 99 Brief Biography of Fethullah Gülen ......................................................................... 99 Gülen’s understanding of sunnah ........................................................................... 100 Gülen’s description of sunnah ................................................................................ 102 The evolution of Islamic and Hadith discipline according to Gülen ..................... 110 Recording, ascertaining