ة بوي ة الن السنThe Prophetic

Tradition

Abu Bilal Sanel-Abdurrahman

Sunnah is …… the TWO prayer units

after DOHR prayer. [Year 6 pupil at Apex (Muslim) Primary School, Ilford (London, UK) –

September 2010 (1431 AH) ]

ما ?What is SUNNAH هي السنة؟

القصد من العرض؟ Learning IntentionThis presentation should teach us,

The term “SUNNAH” can denote different meanings depending on the area of expertise of its user. Its definition depends on who is defining it.

Therefore, the term “SUNNAH” needs to be understood in context.

This presentation is not about, The different categories of “SUNNAH”. The ruling of “SUNNAH” in Islamic legal issues and

(Fiqh).

The term “Sunnah” has different meanings in the Arabic language: Sunnah = … a “way (of life)” or “code of

conduct/practice” نة السيرة، حسنة كانت أ�و قبيحة ... » » قال أبو الفضل والس

لسان العربجمال الدين ابن منظور في : Translation: “The Sunnah is a way, regardless of whether the intended way is praiseworthy or detestable.”

Example: The Prophet e said:من سن سنة حسنة فله أجرها ما عمل به في «حياته وبعد مماته حتى تترك ومن سن سنة سيئة

» فعليه إثمها حتى تترك Translation: “Whoever sets a precedent for a good Sunnah (i.e. good moral conduct and practice), then he has its reward as long as he applies it in his life and (also) after his demise until it is omitted. Likewise whoever sets a precedent for an evil Sunnah (i.e. an evil practice), then upon him is its sin until it is omitted … “

[Ibn Mundhir in Al-Targeeb wa Al-Tarheeb, 2/221. Authenticated by Sh. Al-Albanī in Sahīh Al-Targeeb, 1222]

Sunnah can linguistically also refer to: “SHARIAH” (i.e. moral code and Islamic law, see Surah Al-Isrā, 17:77), as well as “CONTINUITY” (as reported by Al-Kasaī).

السنة لغة؟ Linguistic meaning of Sunnah

The definition of “Sunnah” has a very specific meaning for the scholars of Hadith. A very widespread definition of “Sunnah” according to the scholars of Hadith is:

ة ن oي : السoن هoطالح المحدثيoي اصoن »فZر عZا أثZم مZن قول أZو فعZل أZو تقريZر أZو صZفة eالنZبي

خلقيZة أZو خلقيZة أZو سZيرة سZواء كان قبZل « البعثة أو بعدها .

Translation: “All that has been related from the Prophet e - from his speech, actions, approvals, physical or moral attributes, or biography, regardless of whether this was in the period before the first revelation (i.e. before prophethood) or after it.“

[Mustafa As-Sibāī, The Sunnah and its role in Islamic legislation, pg. 73]

السنة عند علماء الحديث؟ Sunnah according to scholars of HADITH

Sunnah in the definition of the Muhadithīn is almost a synonym of Hadith.

Sunnah in the definition of the Muhadithīn has a very wide meaning and includes even the time before Muhammad e actually became a prophet.

Sunnah in the definition of the Muhadithīn is not restricted to only speech, actions and approvals of the Prophet e.

خصائص هذا التعريف؟ What is special about this definition?

The definition of “Sunnah” is slightly different according to scholars of Usōl Al-Fiqh. Muhammad As-Shawkānī mentions in his book Irshād Al-Fuhōl ila tahqīq Al-Haq min ‘ilm Al-Usōl (pg. 131) one possible definition of “Sunnah” according to the scholars of Usōl:

ة ن oي : السoوليين هoطالح األصoي اصoدر »فZا صZم مZن غيZر القرآZن مZن قول أZو eعZن النZبي

« فعل أو تقرير . Translation: “All that has been related from the Prophet e

which is not from the Qur’an - from his speech, actions, approvals.“

السنة عند علماء أصول الفقة؟ Sunnah according to scholars of Usōl Al-Fiqh

Sunnah in the definition of the Usōliīn is much shorter than the one of the Muhadithīn.

This definition of “Sunnah” does not include: Events, speech, actions or approvals before prophethood. What is mentioned in the Qur’an. Physical or moral characteristics of the Prophet e. The biography of the Prophet e.

This definition of “Sunnah” focuses much more on valid “proofs” (Arabic; dalīl, pl. adillah) based on the speech, actions or approvals of the Prophet e during his prophethood.

خصائص هذا التعريف؟ What is special about this definition?

The definition of “Sunnah” according to the scholars of Fiqh is very short. Taqī Ad-Dīn Al-Futōhī mentions in his book Sharh Al-Kawkab Al-Munīr (pg. 211) a possible definition of “Sunnah” according to the scholars of Fiqh:

ة ن ooي : السooطالح الفقهاء هooي اصooل »فZا يقابZم« الفرض.

Translation: “The opposite of what is obligatory.“

Or according to Muhammad As-Shawkānī simply:« النافلة »

Translation: “The optional (act of worship).“ [Muhammad As-Shawkānī, Irshād Al-Fuhōl ila tahqīq Al-Haq min ‘ilm Al-Usōl, pg. 132]

السنة عند علماء أصول الفقة؟ Sunnah according to scholars of Fiqh

Sunnah in the definition of the Fuqahā is very short. This definition of “Sunnah” focuses on “legal

rulings” (Arabic: hukm, pl. ahkām). The children at my school were right :)

خصائص هذا التعريف؟ What is special about this definition?

Some ‘ulama, like Abu Muhammad Al-Barbaharī in his book Sharh As-Sunnah (pg. 1), have also defined “Sunnah” as “Islam” (i.e. the opposite of bid’ah - any innovated act in religious matters).

Ahlu As-Sunnah ≠ Ahlu Al-Bid’ah

Imaam al-Barbahaari رحمه الله also said:“Know that Islam is the Sunnah, and the Sunnah is Islam and one of them cannot be established without the other.”

Imaam az-Zuhree ه اللهoرحم (the famous taabi'ee who died in 124 AH) said:"The people of knowledge who came before us used to say, 'Salvation lies in clinging to the Sunnah.'"

[Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan, 96]

السنة عند علماء العقيدة؟ Sunnah according to scholars of Aqīdah

It was narrated from Al-Miqdaam ibn Ma’di Yakrib ه اللهoرحم that the Messenger of Allah e said: “Verily I have been given the Qur’aan and something similar to it along with it. But soon there will be a time when a man will be reclining on his couch with a full stomach, and he will say, ‘You should adhere to this Qur’aan: what you find that it says is permissible, take it as permissible, and what you find it says is forbidden, take it as forbidden.’ But indeed, whatever the Messenger of Allaah forbids is like what Allaah forbids.”

[Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2664; he said: It is hasan ghareeb with this isnaad.It was also classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2870]

Imaam Maalik رحمه الله said: "The Sunnah is like the Ark of Noah. Whoever embarks upon it reaches salvation and whoever refuses is drowned.“

[Quoted by Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah in Majmoo' ul-fataawaa, 4/57]

Importance of following the Sunnah

Scholars of the different Shari’ah sciences have unique research focuses and different study targets for their studies and expertise. ‘Ulama Al-Hadith Sunnah as a way of life/biography of the

Prophet e ‘Ulama Al-Usōl Sunnah as a legal proof (dalīl) ‘Ulama Al-Fiqh Sunnah as a legal ruling (hukm) ‘Ulama Al-’Aqīdah Sunnah vis-à-vis Bid’ah

Learning Outcome & Conclusion The term “SUNNAH” can denote different meanings

depending on the area of expertise of its user. Its definition depends on who is defining it and one must understand the Sunnah in context!

It is mandatory for Muslims to follow and obey both: The noble Qur’an as well as the authentic Sunnah!

سبب اإلختالف؟ Reasons for the differences in definitions

Al-Qur’an Al-Karīm Muhammad As-Shawkānī, Irshād Al-Fuhōl ila tahqīq Al-Haq min ‘ilm Al-

Usōl Taqī Ad-Dīn Al-Futōhī, Sharh Al-Kawkab Al-Munīr Abu Muhammad Al-Barbaharī, Sharh As-Sunnah Muwafiq Ad-Dīn ibn Qudamah, Rawdatu An-Nādhir wa Jannatu Al-

Munadhir ‘Abdu Al-Karīm An-Namlah, Al-Muhadhab fī ‘ilm Usōl Al-Fiqh Al-Muqārin ‘Abdu Al-Mohsin Al-’Abād, Al-Hathu ‘ala itb’a As-Sunnah Mustafa As-Sibāī, The Sunnah and its role in Islamic legislation http://www.dorar.net (Hadith) http://www.islamweb.net http://www.baheth.info (Lisān Al-’Arab)

قائمة المراجع؟ Bibliography

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