Among orthodox Muslims, these traditions are regarded as something like the Qur’an “in action” — the ways in which the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions actually lived out the inspired revelations of Allah. Because of that, these traditions are very nearly as sacred as the text of the Qur’an. Swarup, however, is quite skeptical of the idea that anything in the Hadith qualifies as divinely inspired:
- The Prophet is caught as it were in the ordinary acts of his life — sleeping, eating, mating, praying, hating, dispensing justice, planning expeditions and revenge against his enemies. The picture that emerges is hardly flattering, and one is left wondering why in the first instance it was reported at all and whether it was done by his admirers or enemies. One is... left to wonder how the believers, generation after generation, could have found this story so inspiring. The answer is that the believers are conditioned to look at the whole thing through the eyes of faith. ...To them morality derives from the Prophet’s actions; the moral is whatever he did. Morality does not determine the Prophet’s actions, but his actions determine and define morality. Muhammad’s acts were not ordinary acts; they were Allah’s own acts.
Many Muslims may be offended as Swarup’s skepticism — but Swarup’s book isn’t for Muslims. Believers are already quite familiar with these texts and don’t need summaries and explanations. Instead, this book is designed to provide insight into how and why Muslims believe what they do. Certainly Swarup is skeptical as to the allegedly divine origin of the material, but what counts is his accuracy in explaining what the material says and how orthodox Muslims use it.
If you want a better understanding of Islam and what Muslims believe, you need to understand the Hadith — not simply isolated passages, but rather the scope and nature of Hadith literature upon which so much in the Muslim world lies. Swarup’s book provides just the sort of introduction the average non-Muslims needs — it’s clear, accessible, and designed for a lay audience.
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