Sunna: Primary Source

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Sunna

Basis in Islam

‘So take what the messenger gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you’ (Al Hashr, 59:7).

‘Obey Allah and obey the Prophet’ (Surah At-Taghabun, 64:12)

‘We have merely revealed this book to you so that you may explain to them where they are differing over (and so it stands out) as a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.’ (Surah Al-Nahl, 16:64)

“I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.”

• Hadith of Mu'adth ibn Jabal

Examples of Rulings derived from Hadiths

• Method of establishing prayers,

• Explaining circumstances under which hands of a thief can be cut.

‘And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of dawn.’

• The Prophet (pbuh) interpreted the verse by saying that the white thread refers to day and the black thread refers to the night,

• Zakat is mentioned in the Qur’an but the way in which it should be given is detailed by the Hadiths;

• Laws of Inheritence:
  • 1/6 of inheritance given to grandmother is not specifically mentioned in the Qur’an, but is explained by Hadith;
  • ‘A Muslim may not inherit from a non-Muslim and a non-Muslim may not inherit from a Muslim’.

What is the role of Hadiths as a source of guidance in the lives of Muslims?

• What the Prophet (pbuh) said, did and what he approved of is second in importance to the Qur’an;

• God has Himself told Muslims in the Qur’an

  ‘Obey Allah and obey the Prophet’ [64:12];

• Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘I leave with you two things. If you hold fast to them both you will never be misguided: the Book of Allah and my sunna.’

• Hadiths are important to explain the teachings of the Qur’an;
  • Details of hajj, zakat, fasting are all given to Muslims from the hadith and sunna of the Prophet (pbuh);

• The Prophet (pbuh) laid down principles (shariah) regarding every aspect of life: buying, selling, contracts, inheritance which are all part of his sunna;

• In the Farewell Address he clearly stated: ‘He who is present here shall carry this message to the one who is absent.’

• Muslims turn to his actions to emulate him in the hope that their actions will please the Almighty and be acceptable to him

Why have Muslims, right from the earliest years of Islam, attached so much importance to the Prophet’s Hadiths?

• The Prophet (pbuh) not only conveyed the message of God to humanity but was the best interpreter of the guidance given by God to humanity. Candidates could say that people from very early on realised that the path to salvation was in following his guidance.

How are Muslims obeying God when they obey the Prophet?

• By following the Prophet’s (pbuh) example, for instance in how to perform salat, Muslims are not only following his instruction but also fulfilling their obligation to God by completing the second Pillar of Islam. So in this way they are obeying both the Prophet (pbuh) and God.

Describe how the Hadiths are used in establishing law in Islam. [10]

• Here candidates may well state that the Hadiths of the Prophet are the second most important source of Islamic law. They are second only to the Qur’an and give fuller teachings to what the Qur’an states in brief.

• Examples could be given here and quotes from the Qur’an recommending that Muslims follow the teachings of the Hadiths. Examples of zakat being calculated in the light of the Prophet’s Hadiths or the laws of inheritance etc. being determined by Hadiths could be given.

• Candidates could also state that in some cases when the Qur’an is completely silent the Hadiths are used to make laws, examples could be given in more developed answers.

• Also, good answers will tend to give examples of the early successors using knowledge of Hadiths to help formulate laws and this kind of elaboration is what is being looked for to get to the top end of L3/L4. The candidates could also write about how ijma and qiyas rely upon Hadiths to formulate laws. However, it is not essential for them to do so. Development in the answers can be achieved with the help of examples.