The Sunnah as a Primary

Dr. Syeda Mehmoona Khushbakht

Source
In this class, we are going to explore about

Sources of Islamic Law

What is Sunnah?
Kinds of Sunnah
Kinds with Respect to the Channel of Ahkam
Kinds with Respect to its Mode of Transmission
Justification of Sunnah as a Basic Source of Law
Importance of Sunnah
Learning current issues concerning validity of Hadith and sunnah
 The Qur’an

The Sunnah
Sources of
Islamic Law Ijma

Qiyas
What is Sunnah?

In its literal sense

Sunnah stands for the “ well-known path”

which is followed again and again.
It might be a practice or may be the path.
 The word Sunnah has been
assigned diverse
meanings!
Technical • Some jurists consider it as
recommended acts of worship.
Sense • The word Sunnah is opposite of
Bidah(innovation), innovation in
matter of religion. In this sense,
“this act is a sunnah” means, it
is legal.
Basically, Sunnah is defined as

“What was transmitted from the Messenger of Allah(S.A.W.W) of his words, acts and
silent approvals.” (Islamic Jurisprudence)
The Sunnah is the second source among the sources of Islamic law. If the hukm is not found in the Holy Book concerning any
matter, the recourse to Sunnah is the necessary method to find out the solution. The well-known tradition of Muad bin Jabbal:

When the Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬intended to send Mu'adh ibn Jabal to the Yemen, he asked: How will you judge when the
occasion of deciding a case arises?
He replied: I shall judge in accordance with Allah's Book. He asked: (What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in Allah's
Book? He replied: (I shall act) in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (‫)ﷺ‬.
He asked: (What will you do) if you do not find any guidance in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬and in Allah's
Book?
He replied: I shall do my best to form an opinion and I shall spare no effort.
The Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬then patted him on the breast and said: Praise be to Allah Who has helped the messenger of the
Messenger of Allah to find something which pleases the Messenger of Allah ( Sunnan Abi Dawood, Hadith no: 3585.
 Qawl(Words)

Classification
Hadith with respect to
of channel of Ahkam (Laws)
Fael (Acts)

Sunnah/Hadith
Taqrir (Silent Approvals)
Sunnah/Hadith with respect to channel of Ahkam (Laws)

Qawliyyah(Words)

It is defined as the sayings of Holy Prophet(S.A.W.W) through which he intended the

lying down of the law or the explanation of the law.

e.g. He said: “The nature of acts is dependent upon the underlying intention”.
 It is defined as the acts of Holy
Prophet(S.A.W.W) having a legal
content like his

Fi‘liyyah (Actions) • Prayer

• Fasts
• Hajj
Sunnah Taqririyyah (Silent Approvals)

It is defined as commission of some acts, by word or deed, by Companions and

maintenance of silence by the Prophet(S.A.W.W) without expressing disapproval.
Classification of Sunnah/ Hadith

Sunnah with
respect to its
mode of
Transmission

Mutawatir Mashhur Ahad

Hadith Mutawatir

The mutawatir Hadith is the one that is related by such a large number of
people that their agreement to propagate a falsehood cannot be conceived.

It must be followed under all circumstances.

Hadith Mashhur

The mashhur Hadith is the one the number of whose reporters do not
reach to the level of mutawatir in the first generation.

This type is added by Hanafi jurists.

Hadith Al-Ahad
The Hadith Al- Ahad or also called khabr e wahid is reported by one or two
persons by the beginning upto its end.
Thus, the narration does not reach the level of reporters in three generations i.e.,
Companions
Tabieen
Taba Tabieen

This type is added by Hanafi jurists.

Justification of Sunnah as a Source of Law

• The sunnah is unanimously accepted as a primary source of law.

• Laws can be derived from it independently of any other source.

Justification by Jurists

From the Book:

• The Book indicates that what the Prophet(S.A.W.W) lays down as law is based upon
revelation.
• Allah the Almighty Says:

Nor does he speak of his own whims. It is only a revelation sent down ˹to him˺.(53:3-4)
• Allah granted the Prophet the task of elaborating the meaning of the Qur’an as well as
the explanation of the unelaborated words.
The translation of the verse says:

We sent them˺ with clear proofs and divine Books. And We have sent down to you ˹O
Prophet˺ the Reminder, so that you may explain to people what has been revealed for
them, and perhaps they will reflect (16:44).
A number of verses in the Qur’an indicates definitively that the Sunnah is to be followed
as a source of law.

• O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.
Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you ˹truly˺
believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution (4:59).

• Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah. But whoever turns away, then
˹know that˺ We have not sent you ˹O Prophet˺ as a keeper over them (4:80)
On the basis of Ijma(Consensus)

The Muslims all agreed during the period of the Prophet(S.A.W.W) upon the obligation of
acting according to the Ahkam(laws) laid by the Sunnah.

There was no one among Companions to who disputed this, because the true source of
these Ahkam was revelation.
Rational Argument

First, it is a part of Muslim Faith the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.W) is the Messenger of Allah
charged with the mission of conveying the commands of Allah.

Secondly, no one can neglect the bond between the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Importance of
Sunnah
• The Sunnah is the second source of Islamic Law.
• The Sunnah is the Commentary of the Qur’an.
• For Muslims following the actions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the matter of meaningful importance because his Sunnah is the
source of great benefits for the followers.
• Allah says in Quran:
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the
Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” (Quran 33:21)
• A person who loves Allah really will definitely try to resemble the person whom Allah loves and is pleased with, and try to
replicate his deeds.
• Hence, despite not everyone can act in accordance with the whole Sunnah, but everybody can have the intention of acting in
accordance with the Sunnah and be in favor of the Sunnah.
Learning current issues concerning validity of Hadith and Sunnah

If authentic Hadiths were mixed up with the weak or fabricated Hadiths than the Muslims would be
led astray. It was therefore important to verify the authenticity of the Hadiths.
Rules to Remember:
• Check authenticity
• Do not blindly accept whatever is forwarded to you.(For example, semi-literate Muslims with
unconditional love for the Hadith and Sunnah can be misguided as to their meaning, and then misguide
others, blindly adhering to anything labeled a Prophetic tradition regardless of authenticity).
• Use Valid Hadith Books.
• Do not believe or forward without checking the reference.
Any Question?
Jazakumullah!!!