"This verse clearly supports my opinion!" someone confidently says while quoting a verse whose context they don't actually understand. "This hadith proves I'm right," even though they only read bits and pieces of the translation without understanding the scholars' explanations. With the rise of religious debates, more and more people are interpreting the Quran and hadith according to their personal desires, just to justify their opinions.
Don't Misinterpret Islamic Teachings
Words of the Prophetﷺ
Whoever interprets the Quran according to his personal opinion has said something wrong, even if he is right.
Volume4Ch.1No.2952
At-Tirmidzi. (2008). Sunan Al-Tirmithi. Translated by Haytham Kreidly.
The Threat of Hellfire for Those Who Lie About Hadith and Interpret the Quran Without Knowledge The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Be careful in conveying my words unless you truly know them. Whoever deliberately narrates a lie (when conveying hadith), let him prepare his seat in Hellfire.And whoever interprets the Quran according to his personal opinion, let him prepare his seat in Hellfire."
Why is it so serious? Because when someone interprets a verse according to their own desires without proper knowledge, they don't just risk misunderstanding the word of Allah, but can also mislead others who believe their interpretation. The Quran has context, there is asbabun nuzul (the reason for revelation), there are explanations from the Prophet ﷺ, and there is a methodology of interpretation established by scholars. Ignoring all of this and directly
For example: In Surah An-Nisa verse 34, Allah says "...and if you sense ill-conduct from your women, then advise them, separate them in bed, and strike them..." Wrong Personal Interpretation: "If your wife disobeys, just hit her! The command is in the Quran!"
Related Hadith (1): Rasulullah (ﷺ) said: “I enjoin you to treat women well, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds and strike them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.”
Related Hadith (2): Rasulullah (ﷺ) said: “If one among you engages in a fight with his brother, he must avoid striking the face.”
Through the hadith and Quranic verses above, there are essentially 3 steps that must be followed in order: (1) Advise with kind words. (2) Separate sleeping arrangements (give space for reflection). (3) Only then a "strike" (which is very limited).The "strike" referred to is not a hard blow that causes injury or leaves marks, and must not hit the face.
Many people cherry-pick verses or hadith, taking what suits their interests and ignoring what doesn't. For example: Quoting verses about jihad while forgetting verses about peace, quoting hadith about a husband's leadership while ignoring hadith about how the Prophet ﷺ treated his wives with complete tenderness. Don't take just one verse or hadith without understanding other related verses/hadith; we must also understand the situation when that verse/hadith was revealed/spoken. Because the Quran and hadith are a complete and comprehensive system, not a buffet where you can pick whatever you like.
Sometimes we're so focused on being right that we use religion to validate our ego instead of seeking truth. "I have to win this argument, so I'll find a verse that supports my position." But what we should really be asking, "What do Allah and His Messenger say about this?" Even if it contradicts our opinion, we must follow it, because truth is more important than ego.