On the controversy in Kano and the planned public debate
By
Wed Feb 10 2021
Hausa-speaking Muslims are looking forward to a debate coming up in Kano later this month. This “debate” appears to be the latest iteration of the historical encounter that has pitched those who have raised objections to the validity of Sunni prophetic traditions and the narrative integrity of the companions of the Prophet against those who have upheld same. The former includes orientalists, Shi’ites, Mu’tazilites and reformist/modernist Sunni Muslims, while the latter are Orthodox Sunni scholars from both Salafi/Athari/Izala and Ash’ari/Sufi persuasions. The trustworthiness of the ultimate transmitters of hadiths and the validity of the recorded traditions of the Prophet constitute the bone of contention. In Sunni Islam, since al-Shafi’i, authentic hadiths have been regarded as revealed truth just like the Qur’an, and with similar legislative powers. They are considered unimpeachable.