al-Quraniyyun, Nasha'uhum - Aqa'iduhum - Adillatuhum
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dar al-Qabas
al-Quraniyyun, Nasha'uhum - Aqa'iduhum - Adillatuhum (The Quranists: Their Emergence, Beliefs, and Arguments) is a contemporary theological and polemical study authored by Ali Muhammad Zaynu, published in 1432 AH / 2011 CE by Dar al-Qabas in Damascus . The book examines and refutes the modern Quranist movement—a group that rejects the authority of the Prophetic Sunnah and Hadith collections, arguing for the exclusive reliance on the Quran in Islamic legislation and belief .
Background and Purpose
Zaynu explains in his introduction that the impetus for writing the book was the growing spread of Quranist ideas across Islamic societies and digital spaces, especially through the group's official website Ahl al-Quran . The immediate catalyst was a public report regarding plans by members of the movement to hold a conference in New York City under provocative designations such as "Muslim Heretics" .
The author observed that many previous refutations by mainstream scholars were rhetorically repetitive or ineffective because they attempted to prove the authoritative status of the Sunnah using Hadith reports—a method Quranists dismiss as circular reasoning . Consequently, Zaynu aimed to formulate a direct critique grounded exclusively in Quranic verses and rational argumentation, reserving Hadith and historical reports merely for supplementary illustration .
Structure and Contents
The work examines the Quranist phenomenon across historical, ideological, and jurisprudential dimensions:
- Historical Precursors: The opening chapter traces early instances of rejecting Hadith in Islamic history, discussing early theological factions such as the Kharijites (Haruriyya) and early debates noted by classical scholars . It highlights encounters recorded by early authorities, such as the companion Imran ibn Husayn and the jurist al-Shafi'i in his treatise Jima' al-Ilm, demonstrating how early scholars responded to individuals who demanded restricting religious practice solely to the text of the Quran .
- The Modern Movement and Leadership: The book focuses extensively on the modern revival of the group, highlighting Ahmad Subhi Mansur, an Egyptian scholar formerly affiliated with al-Azhar University who was dismissed in 1987 due to his rejection of the Sunnah and his critiques of classical Hadith authorities such as al-Bukhari . Zaynu analyzes the organizational platform established by Mansur, including the editorial policies of the Ahl al-Quran platform that prohibit citing Hadith or attributing extra-Quranic statements to the Prophet .
- Doctrinal and Jurisprudential Analysis: The author evaluates Quranist theology regarding the Prophetic mission, revelation, and their legal rulings (fatwas) . He critiques individual legal interpretations published by the movement's writers, such as novel reinterpretations of zakat (identifying it with the moral purification gained from prayer rather than financial obligations) .
- Methodological Contradictions: Zaynu critiques the internal consistency of the Quranist methodology, specifically examining their reliance on practical living transmission (tawatur) to justify established rituals like the daily prayers while simultaneously rejecting the historical transmission mechanisms that preserved the Hadith corpus and religious rituals alike .
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