Sunnah

Sunna redirects to here, which can also refer to Sunne or Frau Sonne , a Scandinavian sun goddess , also known as Sol . Sunnah ( ) means “way” or “custom”, and therefore, the sunnah of the prophet means “the way of the prophet”, or what is commonly known as Prophet’s traditions . Terminologically, the word ‘Sunnah’ means the deeds, sayings and approvals of Muhammad during the 23 years of his ministry, and this means that whatever he said, did, or approved during his ministry as a prophet and messenger of Allah is considered a sunnah, which Muslims are recommended to follow. The Sunnah, therefore, is the second source of Islamic law after the Qur’an . The Qur’an is considered by Muslims as the only authentic revelation of Allah to humanity. The Qur’an, taken as the word of Allah incorporated in the book called ‘Mus-haf’, and the Sunnah, incorporated in many books (the most important of which are Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan An-Nasai, Sunan Attirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Sunan Abu Daud) are considered divine directives for mainstream Muslims. Quran Alone Muslims follow only the Quran and reject all other hadith as a source for Divine Guidance or religious law. The Sunnah, as opposed to Hadith , is the way or deeds of Muhammad during his ministry, while Hadith is a collection of his narrations and approvals during the same period. The two words are interchangeable when referring to the Traditions of the Prophet, but actually there is a difference between the two. Hadiths are classified according their status, in relation to their texts (matn) and their chain of transmitters (isnad). Scholars of Hadiths have studied the Sunnah from their context (matn) as well as from their transmitters (isnad) in order to establish what is true and what is false from these hadiths. Through research on the transmitters of Hadith (isnad), scholars of the science of Hadith came up with the system of knowing the different categories of Hadith, and how to evaluate the text (matn) in order to establish if the text is correct, good, weak, or false. Sunnah in Islam is both the life of Muhammad (the sira ) and his recorded and validated sayings (the hadith ). These are together supposed to constitute a moral example for the Muslim to study, discuss, and emulate. There is a tradition both of historical biography ( Ilm ar-Rijal ) of Muhammad and of validating hadith — isnah or “backing”. These were influential in the development of early Muslim philosophy and modern scientific citation . Sunnah must be made distinct from both fiqh , which are opinions of the classical jurists, and the Qur’an , which is revelation, not record. It is one of many terms in Islam which are difficult to translate out of Arabic without loss of meaning. History further complicates the translation since different assumptions about sunnah dominated Islam in past eras. In early Islam, the Sunnah was often considered equivalent to the sira, as the hadith were poorly validated, and contemporary commentators on Muhammad’s life were better known. As the hadith came to be better documented, and the scholars who validated them gained in prestige, the sunnah came to be known mostly through the hadith, especially as variant or fictional biographies of Muhammad spread, in part from the Christian world, some of them very slanderous. Classical Islam often equates the sunnah with the hadith. Modern Islam is beginning to examine both the sira and the hadith, with an eye to justifying modifications to the fiqh , or jurisprudence, which was largely drawn from past interpretations of both. The sunnah in one form or another would retain its central role in providing both a moral example (sira) and ethical guidance via Muhammad’s own social rules (hadith).

Life Mecca Hijrah First Islamic state After Conquest of Mecca Farewell Pilgrimage ( Farewell Sermon ) Hadith Milestones and records Career Military Diplomatic Miracles Quran ( First revelation ) Isra and Mi'raj Splitting of the Moon Views and Perspectives Views Jews Christians Perspectives Islam Bible Judaism Medieval Christian Historicity Criticism Succession Saqifah Ghadir Khumm Companions of Muhammad Hadith of the pen and paper Ahl al-Bayt Praise Salawat Naat Mawlid Related Mohammedan Mahound Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Possessions Relics Seal History of Islam Islam portal Biography portal v t e Sunnah ( sunnah , سنة , , plural سنن sunan ) is the orally transmitted record of the teachings, deeds and sayings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , as well as various reports about Muhammad's companions. Along with the Quran , (the holy book of Islam ), the Sunna make up the two primary sources of Islamic theology and law. The Sunna is also defined as "a path, a way, a manner of life"; "all the traditions and practices" of the Islamic prophet that "have become models to be followed" by Muslims. The word is derived from the root ( سن ), meaning smooth and easy flow or direct flow path. The word literally means a clear and well trodden path. The sunnah of Muhammad includes his specific words ( Sunnah Qawliyyah ), habits, practices ( Sunnah al Fiiliyyah ), and silent approvals ( Sunnah Taqririyyah ). According to Muslim belief, Muhammad was the best exemplar for Muslims, and his practices are to be adhered to in fulfilling the divine injunctions, carrying out religious rites, and moulding life in accord with the will of God. Instituting these practices was, as the Quran states, a part of Muhammad's responsibility as a messenger of God . Recording the sunnah was an Arabian tradition and, once people converted to Islam , they brought this custom to their religion. The word "Sunnah" is also used to refer to religious duties that are optional, such as Sunnah salat . ABC RELIGION AND ETHICS . Ask a Question to Us . A Concise Dictionary of Islamic Terms . An Encyclopedia History of the Religious Quest . 19 vols. Mabadi Tadabbur i Hadith (translated as: Fundamentals of Hadith Intrepretation) (in Urdu). Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law .

Sunnah ( , sunnah , plural sunan ), also sunna or sunnat , is the Arabic word for traditional customs and practices; in the Islamic community it refers to the traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad , that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. According to classical Islamic theories of Sunnah they are documented by hadith (the verbally transmitted record of the teachings, deeds and sayings, silent permissions or disapprovals of Muhammad ), and along with the Quran (the holy book of Islam ), are the divine revelation ( Wahy ) delivered through the Prophet that make up the primary sources of Islamic law and belief/theology . Differing from Sunni classical Islamic theories are those of Shia Muslims, who hold that the Twelve Imams interpret the sunnah, and Sufi who hold that Muhammad transmitted the values of Sunnah "through a series of Sufi teachers." According to Muslim belief, Muhammad was the best exemplar for Muslims, and several verses in the Quran declare his conduct exemplary, and enjoin his followers to obey him. Sunnah provides a basis not only for major laws and rituals in Islam like how to pray salat , but for "even the most mundane activities", such as the order in which to cut fingernails or the proper length of a beard. In the pre-Islamic period, sunnah was used to mean "manner of acting", whether good or bad. During the early Islamic period, the term referred to any good precedent set by people of the past, including both Muhammad, and his companions. In addition, the Sunnah of the Prophet was not necessarily associated with hadith. The classical meaning that now prevails was introduced later in the late second century of Islam, when under the influence of the scholar Al-Shafi‘i , Muhammad's example as recorded in hadith was given priority of over all other precedents set by other authorities. The term al-sunnah then eventually came to be viewed as synonymous with the sunnah of Muhammad, based on hadith reports. Recording the sunnah was also an Arabian tradition and once they converted to Islam, Arabians brought this custom to their religion. The sunnah of Muhammad as based on hadith includes his specific words ( Sunnah Qawliyyah ), habits, practices ( Sunnah Fiiliyyah ), and silent approvals ( Sunnah Taqririyyah ). In Islam, the word " sunnah " is also used to refer to religious duties that are optional, such as Sunnah salat . A Concise Dictionary of Islamic Terms . ABC Religion and Ethics . Ask a Question to Us . Mabadi Tadabbur i Hadith [ Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation ] (in Urdu). Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law . An Encyclopedia History of the Religious Quest . 19 vols.

Literature on Muhammad's deeds and sayings For other uses, see Sunna (disambiguation) . In Islam , sunnah , also spelled sunna ( ), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed on to the next generations. According to classical Islamic theories, the sunnah are documented by hadith (the verbally transmitted record of the teachings, deeds and sayings, silent permissions or disapprovals of Muhammad ), and alongside the Quran (the book of Islam ) are the divine revelation ( Wahy ) delivered through Muhammad that make up the primary sources of Islamic law and belief/theology . Differing from Sunni classical Islamic theories are those of Shia Muslims, who hold that the Twelve Imams interpret the sunnah, and Sufi who hold that Muhammad transmitted the values of sunnah "through a series of Sufi teachers." According to Muslim belief, Muhammad was the best exemplar for Muslims, and several verses in the Quran declare his conduct exemplary, and enjoin his followers to obey him. Sunnah provides a basis not only for major laws and rituals in Islam like how to pray salat , but for "even the most mundane activities", such as the order in which to cut fingernails or the proper length of a beard. In the pre-Islamic period, sunnah was used to mean "manner of acting", whether good or bad. During the early Islamic period, the term referred to any good precedent set by people of the past, including both Muhammad, and his companions. In addition, the sunnah of Muhammad was not necessarily associated with hadith. The classical meaning that now prevails was introduced later in the late second century of Islam, when under the influence of the scholar Al-Shafi‘i , Muhammad's example as recorded in hadith was given priority over all other precedents set by other authorities. The term al-sunnah then eventually came to be viewed as synonymous with the sunnah of Muhammad, based on hadith reports. Recording the sunnah was also an Arabian tradition and once they converted to Islam, Arabians brought this custom to their religion. The sunnah of Muhammad as based on hadith includes his specific words ( Sunnah Qawliyyah ), habits, practices ( Sunnah Fiiliyyah ), and silent approvals ( Sunnah Taqririyyah ). In Islam, the word " sunnah " is also used to refer to religious duties that are optional, such as Sunnah salat . A Concise Dictionary of Islamic Terms . ABC Religion and Ethics . Ask a Question to Us . Mabadi Tadabbur i Hadith [ Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation ] (in Urdu). Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law . An Encyclopedia History of the Religious Quest . 19 vols.

Literature on Muhammad's deeds and sayings For other uses, see Sunna (disambiguation) . Sunnah is the body of traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time supposedly saw, followed, and passed on to the next generations. Differing from the Sunni Muslims, the largest Islamic denomination , are the Shia , who prioritize the role of Imams in interpreting the sunnah and that the true interpreters are the Twelve Imams , and Sufi who hold that Muhammad transmitted the values of sunnah "through a series of Sufi teachers". According to classical Islamic theories, the sunnah is primarily documented by hadith —which are the verbally-transmitted record of the teachings, actions, deeds, sayings, and silent approvals or disapprovals attributed to Muhammad—and alongside the Quran (the book of Islam) are the divine revelation ( wahy ) delivered through Muhammad that make up the primary sources of Islamic law , beliefs , and theology . The sunnah is classified into different types based on Muhammad's actions: his specific words ( Sunnah Qawliyyah ), his actions such as habits and practices ( Sunnah Fiiliyyah ), and silent approvals ( Sunnah Taqririyyah ). Historically, in pre-Islamic Arabia , the term sunnah referred to 'manner of acting', ( Urf ) whether good or bad and recording of it was also an Arabian tradition. Later, "good traditions" began to be referred to as sunnah and the concept of "Muhammad's sunnah" was established. During the early Islamic period , it included precedents set by both Muhammad, and his companions . In addition, the sunnah of Muhammad was not necessarily associated with hadith. The strict focus of Muhammad’s example—especially as recorded in hadith—as the only authoratative source of sunnah was established later, particularly by the scholar Al-Shafi‘i ( d. 820 CE), in the late second century of Islam. The term as-sunnah ( السنة , lit. ' the Sunnah ' ) then eventually came to be viewed as synonymous with the sunnah of Muhammad, based on hadith reports, distinct from other practices. According to Muslim belief, Muhammad was the best example for Muslims, with the Quran instructing followers to emulate his conduct and enjoin his followers to obey him. The sunnah serves as a guide not only for fundamental religious practices such as salat (prayer), but for "even the most mundane activities", such as the order in which to cut fingernails or the proper length of a beard. Additionally, in Islamic jurisprudence , the term "sunnah" can also refer to optional religious duties, such as sunnah salat (sunnah prayers), which are encouraged but not obligatory. A Concise Dictionary of Islamic Terms . ABC Religion and Ethics . Ask a Question to Us . An Encyclopedia History of the Religious Quest . 19 vols. Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law . Mabadi Tadabbur i Hadith [ Fundamentals of Hadith Interpretation ] (in Urdu).