The Quran is the highest authority in Islam. That is my starting point.
I don’t reject hadith. I believe hadith are important and can preserve genuine teachings of the Prophet. But hadith were written and compiled by men generations after Muhammad, and many of the compilers never met the Prophet or his companions.
So I don’t believe every hadith simply becomes true because it is labelled “sahih.”
If a hadith clearly contradicts the Quran, I have a problem with the hadith, not the Quran. It could be misunderstood, misreported, taken out of context, or simply not represent what the Prophet actually said.
As for the four Sunni schools and classical consensus, I respect them, but I don’t believe they are above the Quran.
My position is basically this: Quran first. Hadith matters, but hadith must be examined.
I’m not trying to throw away the Sunnah. I’m trying to separate what Muhammad actually taught from what men later attributed to him.
Maliq, before we keep debating individual topics, can I ask one foundational question?
What is your actual standard of authority in Islam?
Do you believe:
Sahih Bukhari and Muslim are generally authoritative?
A sahih hadith can be rejected if you think it conflicts with the Qur’an?
Classical consensus is binding, persuasive, or optional?
When the four Sunni schools disagree, how do you decide which ruling represents Islam?
Is the Qur’an alone your final authority, or Qur’an + authentic Sunnah?
I’m asking because sometimes you defend Islam through classical Sunni sources, and other times you dismiss traditions as fabricated or distorted. I want to understand your Islam, not argue against a position you don’t actually hold.