Islam Watch

What Did Muhammad's Islam Look Like Without Hadiths, Sharia, or Later Developments?

If we strip away the Hadiths, Sharia law, tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), and all later theological constructs—relying only on the Qur'an and what can be verified historically—we're left with a far simpler and less structured belief system. This is what Muhammad's Islam likely looked like in its earliest form, based on the best available textual and historical evidence.

1. Core Message: Monotheism and Judgment

The Qur’an’s repeated emphasis is on:

Tawhid (Oneness of God): "Say, He is Allah, [who is] One" (Qur'an 112:1).
Rejection of Idolatry: Targeting Meccan paganism (Qur'an 6:74; 53:19–23).
Prophethood of Muhammad: As a warner and messenger. "You are only a reminder, not a controller over them" (Qur'an 88:21–22).
Day of Judgment: "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it" (Qur'an 99:7–8).

This message parallels that of earlier Biblical prophets and is heavily eschatological.

2. Ethical Teachings

The early Qur'an promotes basic moral values:

Be honest and just (Qur'an 83:1–3).
Care for orphans and the poor (Qur'an 107:1–3).
Keep promises (Qur'an 17:34).
Be patient and forgive (Qur'an 41:34).

These are universal values not tied to detailed legal rulings.

3. Prayer and Worship (Vaguely Defined)

Prayer (Salah) is commanded, but how to pray is not described. No rak'ahs, no specific phrases.
Frequency: Possibly three times a day (Qur'an 11:114), not five.
Ablution (Wudu) is mentioned in Qur'an 5:6 without detailed steps.
Qibla: Mentioned once (Qur'an 2:144), but enforcement mechanism is absent.

4. Fasting and Almsgiving

Fasting in Ramadan is prescribed (Qur'an 2:183–187) but without detailed procedures.
Zakat is emphasized (Qur'an 9:60) but with no fixed percentage or collection method.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Hajj is commanded (Qur'an 22:27), but rituals such as Tawaf, Sa’i, or stoning are not fully described.

6. Social and Legal Systems: Virtually Absent

No criminal code: The Qur'an mentions amputation (Qur'an 5:38), but stoning, apostasy laws, and flogging for zina come only from Hadith.
Marriage and divorce: Basic ideas like polygamy (Qur'an 4:3) and waiting periods exist, but details are minimal.
Inheritance: Some general shares given (Qur'an 4:11–12) but calculation methods are undeveloped.

7. Political Role of Muhammad

Described mainly as a messenger (Qur'an 33:40), not a ruler.
No blueprint for a political or legal system like a Caliphate or Sharia.
Judgment and guidance are spiritual: "Judge between them by what Allah has revealed" (Qur'an 5:48).

8. No Sectarian Identity

No mention of Sunni or Shia.
No Imamate or Caliphate doctrines.
No structured theology beyond affirming God, Prophets, and the Last Day.

9. What's Missing Without Hadith?

No detailed rituals for prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.
No penal laws, court system, or state governance.
No gender roles, hijab rules, or burial rites.
Virtually no biography of Muhammad (no names of wives, battles, sermons, treaties).

Conclusion: A Minimalist Spiritual Movement

Muhammad's Islam, based solely on the Qur'an, looks like a spiritual revivalist movement centered on monotheism, moral reform, and eschatology. It contains ethical exhortations and spiritual warnings, but not a legal or political system. In this form, Islam resembles a universal call to worship one God and prepare for the Hereafter, without the complex religious structures seen today.

This simplified Islam likely reflects what Muhammad preached in Mecca before Islamic jurisprudence, Hadith sciences, and sectarian splits developed over the centuries.