The Islamic hadith contains many religious accounts considered legendary by Jews, Christians, and non-Muslim historians. They are not included in accepted Jewish or Christian scripture or tradition. Most of this literature was created long after the events they documents, after orthodox accounts had been written, therefore they are not considered to have any historical accuracy. Historians think that Muhammad mistook these accounts for being orthodox Jewish and Christian beliefs and therefore incorporated them into his beliefs, though not the Qur'an.
Critics of Islam therefore conclude that the Muhammad's knowledge cannot be from God because it contains these unhistorical legends. Others, including many Muslim scholars, believe that these hadith do not reflect Muhammad's actual teachings but the teachings of later followers. The resulting hadith is a combination of valid statements of Muhammad and invalid statements borrowed from legends are made up.
Eve from Adam's rib
editAlmost unanimously, modern Jews and Christians believe that Eve was created from Adam's rib. However, the Torah says that Eve was created from Adam's side, not his specifically his rib. This misunderstanding started sometime after the Septuagint was composed and before the Talmud was completed. The Talmud contains numerous references to Eve being created from a rib. The hadith also use this mistranslation:
| “ | Woman has been created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you wish to benefit by her, benefit by her while crookedness remains in her. And if you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her. Sahih Muslim 3466[1] | ” |
Adam's height
editAccording to hadith, Adam's height measured sixty cubits high (about 30 meters) and his descendants have gotten shorter since him.
| “ | The Prophet said, "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation. (Sahih Bukhari 4.55.453)[1] | ” |
Jewish tradition describes Adam's height thus
| “ | The dimensions of his body were gigantic, reaching from heaven to earth. [2] | ” |
In his respected tafsir, al-Tabari connects the legend and the hadith saying
| “ | Adam's head was in heaven, while his feet were upon the earth. The angels were in awe of him. So his size was reduced to sixty cubits. [3] | ” |
References
edit- ^ See Bukhari 4.55.453, Bukhari 4.55.544, Muslim 40.6796.6795, Muslim 40.6809, and Bukhari 8.74.246
- ^ Louis Ginzberg. The Legends of the Jews: From the Creation to Jacob. chapter 4 The Johns Hopkins University Press: 1998.
- ^ Franz Rosenthal (trans./ed.), The History of al-Tabari, [Albany: SUNY Press, 1985], pp. 292-293