It is actually. We had a pretty technical discussion on this on another thread with numerical particulars of chapter and verse.
I of course as a non Muslim was Googling furiously.
Can you please help out for the sake of non Muslims here and explain to us the
basic differences between the Quran and the Hadith (spelling?) and the Sura (?). Would seriously like an objective lesson in the origins.
I have another question linked to my reading up on Islam and Women during the last debate.
Is it true that the prophet asked Muslims to "beat lightly your wives" or something of that nature?
If so, how many Muslims here actually do? Or have men in the family who do?
I would caution in keeping this discussion objective and eventually making a point in link to the original topic.
However.
In addition to what armstrong said.
The Quran is the divine book, the word of god.. collection of the revelations to the Prophet via the Angel gabriel.
These were memorized and recorded by the Prophet's companions as he instructed them to do so.
There are NO..zip..zero.. mistakes in the Quran.. as it is today.. so it was then. due to a unique system of recording and remembrance.
The Hadiath are the sayings of the prophet..
Daily sentences he uttered.. to different people or on different occasions.. as advice,actions or observations.
He did not request these to be recorded, but his companions did record them and remembered them.
Which were later collected through another massive research undertaken by later Muslims.
They are not always accurate.. or stated the same way everywhere.
As to your contention on "beating your wife"..
It falls in the same category of beating kids to make them offer prayers.
It is a last resort to be undertaken for disobedient people...which most people do anyway.
However, just like the beard and other misunderstood things.. it has been taken as divine word and as first option.
Wife beating happens on the same ratio in Muslims as it happens elsewhere around the world.
The hadiath is rarely used(and if used) to justify domestic abuse...
Apart from that.. such hadiath are used to degenerate Islam along with other collective misunderstood ones.
ignoring all that is good about it..and only bashing on what is bad.