06-23-2008, 01:15 PM
From a linguistic viewpoint, the word Sunnah means the way and methodology either good or evil. It is used to describe good as well as evil specially to refer to someone who pioneered an action or established a methodology to be followed.
“Narrated under the authority of Jarir Bin Abdullah that the Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: One who established a good Sunnah in Islam that was adopted after him/her, an equal reward to those who implement it shall be recorded for him/her without decreasing of their reward. And one who established an evil Sunnah in Islam shall bear its sin and the sin of those who implement it after him/her without decreasing any of their sin” (reported by Muslim).
As for the word Sunnah according to scholars, it bears various meanings that differ according to the specialization of scholars. In this essay, we are concerned with its sense according to scholars of jurisprudence. To them, Sunnah is defined as what the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said, did or approved (what he approved of the sayings or actions of the companions even if just kept quite) that was ascribed to him after receiving the message. In this sense, it serves as the second basis after the Holy Quran that is used to derive, refer to and extract the rules of legislation.
Importance of Sunnah:
The honored Prophetic Sunnah is deemed the practical accurate and clear application that taught us how to connect between Quran and real life. It also gains its importance as being established by the Messenger who is described by Allah:
“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a revelation that is revealed. (Quran 53:3-4).
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (Quran 33:21).
Allah, exhausted all possible formula in Commanding the believers to obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam including:
“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds.” (Quran 47:33)
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority” (Quran 4:59).
In this noble Ayah, we can see that Allah differentiated between obeying Allah and obeying the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. This Ayah establishes that obedience is ordained to the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam as well as to Allah. Through this position the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is authorized the role of legislator, by virtue of the Ayah 59:7 that will be indicated below, in cases when a detailed Quranic text is not available. For example Allah may He be Glorified Say:
"Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters…." (Quran 4:23).
To the included categories who are forbidden for marriage in this Ayah, the Messenger further detailed the unlawfulness domain to cover as well other categories according to his hadeeth saying:
"Narrated under the authority of Ibn Abbass that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: relations created consequent to breast feeding is unlawful as those relations based on lineage" (reported by Bukhari and Nasai).
By virtue of this prophetic legislation, an aunt who acquired this capacity through breast feeding (sister to the husband of the breast feeding woman or sister of the breast feeding woman for example), and lactation niece are also unmarriageable. The same case applies for taking a woman and her lactation sister for marriage by the same man. This legislation coming for the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is equally binding to the Muslim Ummah as the Quranic legislation based on the Ayah:
"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment." (Quran 59:7)
Another form of commanding the obedience to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam which is obey Allah and the Messenger:
" Say (O Muhammad): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad)." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers." (Quran 3:32)
" and obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), if you are believers." (Quran 8:1)
"And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabirin (the patient ones, etc.)." (Quran 8:46). Nonetheless, in this Ayah, Allah Did not repeat the command of obeying the Messenger in order to establish it as obeying the Messenger is an obedience to Allah as indicated in this Ayah:
" He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a watcher over them." (Quran 4:80).
In this context, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is assigned the capacity of interpreting Allah's commands, prohibitions as well as presenting the relevant implementation methods.
The command of obeying Allah and the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam came as part of the Holy Quran in the above mentioned two forms 11 times. In one Ayah, the command of obeying the Messenger was indicated as follows:
" And perform the prayer, and give alms (of Zakah) and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may receive mercy (from Allah)." (Quran 24:56).
Full detailed description of Salat and Zakat rulings were introduced by the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. As indicated in the previous Ayah, it only referred to obeying the Messenger without an open command to obey Allah as it is already implied. Thus, the command to establish Salat and Zakat is one from Allah that requires compliance. Nevertheless, Allah Allowed the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam the position to explain in details how to perform both rituals. In this regard, he presented us in detail validity rulings of Salat, causes that invalidate Salat, invalidating causes of ablution, rulings of wiping over the turban, socks, shoes, cast and others. He also informed us about how to perform Zakat including types of money that entail Zakat, calculating the percentage for each type, assigned Zakat value for each type..etc. For this purpose, Allah Commanded to obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam as he is going to be assigned the task of elaborating on the details of how to implement the command of performing Salat and Zakat. The Muslim Ummah throughout different eras and generations worldwide came to consensus agreement that Prophetic Sunnah is indispensable and it is as binding as Quran.