The Quran does not need Rijal: The Quran does not need Ilm al-Rijal. It was revealed to the Prophet (SAW) and passed on by countless people in every generation — so many that it is impossible for all of them to have agreed on a mistake.
What Tawatur means: This is called Tawatur: a report passed on by so many people, in so many places, that it cannot be false. The Quran was memorised by thousands, written down in the Prophet's (SAW) own lifetime, and recited in prayer every day.
A Hadith is different: A Hadith is different. Most Hadith were passed on by one or a few people at a time. So a single chain must be checked, person by person.
The whole community vs one chain: That is the difference: the Quran came to us through the whole community; a Hadith came to us through a single chain.
Example
The whole city says it rained: If the whole city says it rained yesterday, you believe it at once. You do not check each person one by one.
One person says it rained: But if only one person tells you it rained, and you did not see it yourself, you ask: is this person honest? Did he see it himself?
The city and the one person: The Quran is like the whole city. A single Hadith is like the one person.
Key Terms
- Tawatur (تواتر) — a report passed on by so many people that it cannot be false
- Mutawatir (متواتر) — a report that has reached us by Tawatur
Quran or Hadith
Quran 15:9 — "Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian." — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Two pictures side by side — on the left, a crowd of many people passing one book (the Quran); on the right, a single chain of five people passing one paper (a Hadith).
- The Quran reached us through countless people in every generation — this is Tawatur.
- A Hadith usually reached us through a single chain, so that chain must be checked.
- Allah promised to guard the Quran (15:9). — to be checked.