Significance of Sunnah

No devout Muslim would ever dare to go against the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah, but it is regrettable to note that some of the liberal elite tend to raise the slogan that the Book of God (i.e. the Qur'an) is enough and that there is no need at all for the Sunnah of the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him. Slogans like this are raised mainly by people who want to get rid of the Islamic Law (Arabic: Sharee`ah) completely.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, himself was well-aware that such ill-natured opinions would arise and hence gave a clear warning of this as reported by Al-Miqdam Ibn Ma'di Karib, one of his Companions: "I have indeed been given the Qur'an and something similar to it besides it. Yet, the time will come when a man leaning on his couch will say, 'Follow the Qur'an only; what you find in it as halaal, take it as halaal, and what you find in it as haraam, take it as haraam.' But truly, what the Messenger of God has forbidden is like what God has forbidden." (Reported by Abu Dawood and Darimi.)

In fact, ANYONE WHO REJECTS THE SUNNAH OF THE PROPHET, PEACE BE UPON HIM, DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE QUR'AN, for Almighty God Himself has emphasized the importance of the Sunnah in many verses, of which a few are given below.

"O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger and those charged with authority among you; and if you differ in anything among yourselves, then refer it to God and the Messenger if you do believe in God and the Last Day. That is best and most suitable for final determination." (Surat Al-Nisa' 4:59)

"The answer of the believers, when summoned to God and His Messenger in order that he may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, 'We hear and we obey'. It is such as these who will attain success." (Surat Al-Nur 24:51)

"But no, by your Lord! (O Muhammad) They cannot be believers until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest submission." (Surat Al-Nisa' 4:65)

Ana’s reported that the Messenger of God said: "I have left among you two things; you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of God and my Sunnah." (Reported by Haakim.)

The Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to hold the commandments given by the Prophet, peace be upon him, in a very high esteem, making no distinctions between them and those given by God.

Once 'Abdullah Ibn Mas`ood quoted this saying of the Prophet (hadeeth) while he was delivering a sermon: "May God curse the women who tattoo their bodies and those who pluck their eyebrows; those who separate their teeth to make them look prettier and those who try to change the creation of God." A woman named Umm Yaqub from the tribe of Banu Asad came to know of these words. She approached Ibn Mas`ood and said: "O Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman! It was reported to me that you have cursed such and such women." He said: "Why should I not curse those whom the Prophet, peace be upon him, cursed and who are cursed in the Book of God as well." She said: "I have read whatever is contained between the two covers (i.e. the whole Qur'an)." Had you been a good reader, you would have discovered it. Did you not read the following verse?

"So take whatever the Messenger gives you and keep away from what he forbids you." (Surat Al-Hashr 59:7)

Let us see what the four great Imams (i.e. religious scholars) have said about the authority of the Sunnah.

a) IMAM ABU HANIFAH was asked: "What do we do if we find a saying of yours opposing the Book of God?" He replied: "Leave my saying and stick to the Book of God." The questioner asked: "What if it contradicts a saying of the Prophet?" Abu Haneefah said: "Leave my saying in the face of the Prophet's saying." Again he was asked: "What if it goes against the saying of a Companion?" Again he said: "Leave my saying in the face of the Companion's saying." (Reported in Al-Qawl al-Mufeed by Shawkani.) Imam Abu Haneefah also declared: "My way (Arabic: madhhab) is whatever hadeeth (saying of the Prophet) that is proved to be authentic." (Shami 1:50, Al-Fulani in Iqaz, p. 62.)

b) The saying of IMAM MALIK IBN ANAS is well-known: "The saying of any person can be accepted or rejected, except for the Prophet of God, peace be upon him." (Reported by Ibn 'Abd al-Barr and Ibn Hazm. Also in Al-Yawaqeet WA Al-Jawahir 2:96.) He also said: "I am just a mortal; sometimes 1 am wrong, sometimes I am right - so check my opinions. Whatever agrees with the Book (i.e. the Qur’an) and the Sunnah, accept it; whatever disagrees with them, reject it." (Reported by Al-Fulani in Iqaz, p. 72.)

c) Once IMAM SHAFI'I narrated a saying of the Prophet (hadeeth). Someone from the audience said: "Do you say so as well?" On hearing this, the Imam was enraged. His face turned pale and he said: "Woe to you! Which earth would carry me, which sky would shelter me if I narrate a saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him and do not hold the same view! Do you see a zunnar (belt worn by non-Muslims) on me? Or have you noticed me coming out of a church? How can I report something from the Prophet, peace be upon him, and not agree with?!!"

d) IMAM AHMAD IBN HANBAL said: "Do not follow me or Maalik or Shaafi or Auza'i or Thawree, but take from where they took (i.e. from the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah)." (Reported by Al-Fulani and Ibn al-Qayyim.) He also said: "He, who is on the verge of destruction rejects a saving of the Messenger of God, May the peace and blessings of God be upon him." (Reported by Ibn al-Jauzi.)

The Prophet (PBUH) also has stressed the importance of his Sunnah. During the course of Khutbah al Wada'ah (Farewell Sermon) the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:"I leave behind two things, if you hold fast unto them you shall never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah."

He also asked his Companions to convey others what they have learned from him saying:"Haddithu 'anni" (relate my saying to others)

Furthermore, he implored his Sunnah to uphold his way of life saying:'Alaykum bi sunnati' (follow my example)'.

The Holy Qur'an forbids ignoring or opposing any of the explanations or commands given by the Prophet (PBUH):"And as for him, who opposes the Messenger after guidance has been made clear, follows a path other than that of a believer."

Qur’aanic revelation and the precepts of the Prophet (PBUH) constitute the primary sources of Islamic Law.Generally the Holy Qur'an lays down the broad aspects of the Law and Sharee`ah obligations which cannot be fulfilled without resorting to the Sunnah of the Prophet the Prophet (PBUH).

For instance, the Holy Qur'an orders Muslims to pray but does not provide its specific timings; also it does not explain the way Muslims should pray. The details are found in the Sunnah. Again, the Holy Qur'an allows one to bequeath a share from one's estate to any person and does not stipulate the maximum limit for such a bequest. The Prophet (PBUH) is the one who fixed its maximum limit at one third of one's estate only.In other words then, the Prophet (PBUH) interpreted the verses of the Holy Qur'an and explained their meanings and implications to his companions to apply them in their lives. In the process he (PBUH) also made provisions for those aspects of the Law which were not specifically provided for in the Holy Qur'an. Likewise, all rules pertaining to Fasting, Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) and Zakaat (compulsory charity) were laid down by the Prophet (PBUH).