The Sunnah (the actions, sayings and approvals of Prophet Muhammad, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is the second source of Islamic legislation and must be in complete agreement with the first source (i.e. the Quran).


The term Sunnah comes from the root word ‘sanna’, which means to pave the way.





Sunnah can be used to describe a path that people follow. In Islamic terminology, Sunnah applies to a prophetic way which includes references to the Prophet’s sayings, actions, approvals, physical features and character traits.





His actions pertain to anything he did, as authentically reported by the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. His silence on different issues meant he didn’t oppose or mind what he saw, heard or knew of the actions or sayings of his Companions, and this means he approved of them. The Sunnah also includes everything authentically narrated concerning the Prophet's physical features and his traits.





The Quran and the Sunnah complement each other. Without the Sunnah, Islam is not complete, likewise without the Quran, Islam is not complete.





Actually, the Sunnah is so important that, without it, one cannot fully understand the Quran and Islam, or be able to apply them to his life. Both of these sources guide us to the right path.





The Quran is the word of Allah, whereas the Sunnah is its practical interpretation. The Sunnah also gives a full account of the life of the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam.





The Quran principally deals with basics. It is the Sunnah which gives the details and necessary explanations of Quranic injunctions. For instance, Allah Says in the Quran what means: "…Establish the prayer…” [Quran 2: 43] But it does not specify how the prayer has to be performed.





Even after knowing the details, it may not be possible to follow the divine injunctions contained in the Quran. For not everything can be properly understood by words alone. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, demonstrated before the believers how the prayer was to be performed.





Thus, not only did the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, inform the believers of the divine injunctions, but he also put these teachings into practice in all matters pertaining to religion and daily life. He, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, himself practiced these injunctions scrupulously. His practice was not a private matter; it had the status of a detailed interpretation and application of the Quran.





Importance of the Sunnah





The Quran repeatedly reminds us of the importance of the Sunnah, enjoining us to strictly follow the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam.





Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): “…And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from…” [Quran 59:7]





Allah also Says (what means): "But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you [O Muhammad] judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.." [Quran 4:65)





Again, Allah Says (what means): "It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error." [Quran 33:36]





According to many verses in the Quran, the Muslim is bound to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam. No one remains a Muslim if he does not accept the Prophet’s, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, Sunnah.

The Sunnah is nothing but a reflection of the personality of the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who is to be obeyed at every cost.

The Sunnah was not, as is generally supposed, a thing of which the need may have been felt only after the Prophet’s, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, death for it was very much needed in his lifetime. The two most important religious institutions of Islam are the Prayer and Zakat (obligatory alms giving); yet when the injunction relating to Prayer and Zakat were delivered, and they were repeatedly revealed in both Makkah and Madeenah, no details were supplied. 'Keep up prayers' is the Quranic injunction, and it was the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, himself who, by his own actions, gave details of the prayer by saying: “Pray as you see me praying.” [Al-Bukhari]

Zakah is again an obligation frequently repeated in the Quran, yet it was the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who gave the rulings and regulations for its payment and collection. These are two examples, but since Islam covers the entire sphere of human activities, hundreds of points had to be explained by the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in word and deed.

The importance of the Sunnah, even as a second source of Islam, was an openly accepted issue by the Companions of the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Whenever they couldn’t find a solution to a problem in the Quran, they would refer to the Sunnah. And they were the most diligent in preserving it for those who came after them.

 

The Role of the Sunnah towards the Quran:

The Sunnah cannot dispense with the Quran: Allah Almighty chose Muhammad , as His Prophet and selected him to deliver His final message. The Quran was revealed to the Prophet in which Allah commanded him to obey everything that was ordered of him; that is, to convey and explain His message to the people.

Allah Almighty says what means: "…And We revealed to you the message [i.e., the Quran] that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them…" [Quran: 16:44]

The declaration mentioned in the verse contains two commands:


1. To propagate the speech of Allah (i.e. the Quran). This is to openly communicate the Quran to (all) mankind as Allah Almighty has revealed to the Prophet that which means: "O Messenger! Announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord…" [Quran: 5:67]


‘Aa’ishah is reported to have said: "Whoever says that Muhammad concealed anything that he was commanded to communicate has forged a great lie against Allah." Then she read the abovementioned verse. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Another narration is found in the book of Imaam Muslim which states: "If the Messenger of Allah had concealed something that he was commanded to communicate, he would have concealed the saying of the Almighty (which means): "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favour: 'Keep your wife and fear Allah,' while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him." [Quran: 33:37]

2. To clarify words, sentences or verses from the Quran that are not easily understood by most people. Some verses may be comprehensive or general in their meaning, and the Sunnah clarifies and defines them through the Prophet’s sayings, actions and confirmations.

The Necessity of the Sunnah to Understand the Quran:


Allah says what means: "[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands..." [Quran: 5:38] In the context of this verse, the thief and the hand are mentioned in a general manner. It is the Sunnah that explains the first of them and places a restriction on it by explaining the meaning of the word 'thief' to mean the one who steals something worth at least a quarter of a Deenaar (a unit golden currency) according to the saying of the Prophet : "There is no cutting of the hand unless the thing stolen is worth a quarter of a Deenaar or more." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]


The latter (i.e., how the hand is to be amputated) is explained by the actions of the Prophet and his Companions . They would amputate the hand of the thief from the wrist, as is known from a saying of the Prophet.

There are many other verses of the Quran that cannot be completely understood except through the Sunnah, such as:


1. Allah says what means: "And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy." [Quran: 4:101] It is obvious from this verse that fear is a pre-requisite for the shortening of prayers. However, some of the Companions asked the Prophet : "Why do we shorten our prayers while we feel safe?" He replied: "It is an allowance from Allah, so accept it." [Muslim]


2. Allah says what means: “Say: 'Who has forbidden the adornment of [i.e., from] Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?..." [Quran: 7:32]


But the Sunnah has forbidden some 'adornments', and this is evident from the saying of the Prophet : "The wearing of silk and gold has been made unlawful for males and lawful for the females of my nation.' ' [At-Tirmithi]


3. Allah says what means: "Say: 'I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah…” [Quran: 6:145]

But the Sunnah has forbidden many things not mentioned in the abovementioned verse; an example of this lies in the saying of the Prophet : "All predatory animals with tusks and every bird with claws are forbidden for consumption." There are other narrations that have forbidden the consumption of such animals, such as the one where the Prophet is reported to have said: "Allah and His Messenger have prohibited the consumption of domesticated donkeys, for they are filth." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]


There are many other examples that show the necessity of the Sunnah within Islamic Law. There is no other way to understand the Quran correctly except with the interpretation of the Sunnah.

The Inadequacy of Philology to Understand the Quran:


The Companions of the Prophet were the most knowledgeable of people in the Arabic language, yet, if they were to attempt to understand the verses quoted above by relying on the Arabic language alone, then they would have erred.


It is agreed upon by the majority of Muslim scholars, past and present, that the Quran should first and foremost be interpreted by the Quran itself, then by the Sunnah, then by the sayings of the Companions, and so on.


It is here that the cause of deviation of scholastic theologians (Ahl Al-Kalaam), both ancient and modern, becomes clear, as well as their opposition to our righteous predecessors in doctrine and law.


In short, what is obligatory upon all Muslims is that they do not separate the Quran from the Sunnah; moreover, it is obligatory to follow both of them and to formulate laws using both. This is a safeguard for the people, so that they do not falter and regress, as explained by the Prophet : "I am leaving behind two things - you will never go astray if you hold fast to them: the Quran and my Sunnah." [At-Tirmithi]