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The Wikipedia article on Shafi'i says:

He also argued that sunnah contradicting the Qur'an were unacceptable, claiming that sunnah should only be used to explain the Quran.

This implies that every hadith must have its roots in the Qur'an. This makes sense to me. It naturally raises the question I asked i.e. Under which Quranic injunction the hadith to kill apostates could be classified?

Update:

The Hadith I am referring to is Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84 (Dealing with Apostates), Number 57

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57 :
Narrated by 'Ikrima
Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

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    Which hadeeth? Hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas (radiallahu anhu)? And if that is the hadeeth, you might want to mention which verse of Qur'an it contradicts. – Abdullah Jul 21 '12 at 09:47
  • -1 it's not really clear what you're asking here. – ashes999 Jul 21 '12 at 10:05
  • @Ershad Yes, the Hadith of Ibn Abbas. Let me mention it in the question as well. And no, my question is not about contradiction at all. I'm simply asking about the ayat, if any, that is basis of the prophetic saying. Please keep in perspective the opinion of Shafi'i I highlighted above. Thanks! – a_fan Jul 21 '12 at 10:28
  • @ashes999 Let me know if my above comment makes it clear to you. Thanks! – a_fan Jul 21 '12 at 10:31
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    @Affan One of the things that Sunnah does is explain Qur'an. I am keeping in perspective Imam Shafi'i's opinion. What I understand is you ignore the first part of his opinion. For example, can you bring me one ayah from Qur'an that prohibits wearing Gold for men? As long as Sunnah doesn't contradict the Qur'an it is fine. The issue of Gold is not mentioned in Qur'an. However, Sunnah makes additional prohibition. So, Sunnah is what Allah commanded through the messenger. – Abdullah Jul 21 '12 at 10:51
  • @Ershad The above quotation of Shafi'i is a single opinion. The relationship between the two parts is that of a principle and a concrete rule derived from it. What he is saying is: sunnah should only be used to explain the Quran (principle), therefore sunnah contradicting the Qur'an were unacceptable (rule). What I am saying is: the principle has another implication that every hadith (sunnah) must be rooted in Quran otherwise it can't explain. Right? – a_fan Jul 23 '12 at 05:41
  • @Ershad Thanks for bringing up the example of Gold. It will help me clarify my question further. To me the prohibition of Gold for men is an application of the principle mentioned in 17:26-27 i.e. And give his due to the near of kin, as well as to the needy and the wayfarer, but do not squander [thy substance] senselessly. Behold, the squanderers are, indeed, of the ilk of the satans – inasmuch as Satan has indeed proved most ungrateful to his Sustainer. – a_fan Jul 23 '12 at 05:44
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    @Affan I think you are applying ayah with your own interpretation. That ayah doesn't mention men alone firstly. And women are allowed to wear Gold. Extravagance is extravagance be it Gold or not. – Abdullah Jul 23 '12 at 05:48
  • @Affan Regarding your penultimate comment, No. The last part of your comment is your derivation from Shafi'i opinion. Let me find more Shafi'i opinion regarding Hadith, Insha Allah. Hadith does more that explaining Qur'an. One of its function is explaining Qur'an of course. – Abdullah Jul 23 '12 at 05:50

1 Answers1

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Firstly I would like to clarify that there are things in the sunnah which are not in the Quran, and they are authentically reported, and it is required to accept it, for the Sunnah is revelation like the Quran. And the Authentic Ahadeeth never contradict the Quran, and lastly the Quran is in need of the sunnah for it explains it, while the Sunnah is not in need for the Quran to explain it.

Going to the next point. Imam Ashafi'i and others have used as proof from the Quran:

ومن يرتدد منكم عن دينه فيمت وهو كافر فأولئك حبطت أعمالهم في الدنيا والآخرة وأولئك أصحاب النار هم فيها خالدون

And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.

Surat Al Baqarah Ayah 217

As for the authentic proofs in the Sunnah for killing those who revert from Islam after entering it and not repent, are numerous. As well as it is the Ijma' of the Sahabah that the Murtad is to be killed if repentance is not done.

مجاهد
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    Thanks for your answer! As a side note فيمت وهو كافر creates the possibility that من يرتدد منكم عن دينه dies a natural death. Isn't it so? – a_fan Jun 20 '13 at 09:13