ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Light On the Muhammadan Sunnah Or Defence of the Hadith Al-sunnah Before starting the discussion I committed myself to, truth calls me to give a foreword identifying in it the word “Sunnah” in respect of linguistics and terminology, demonstrating how it is judged by the Prophet’s traditions, and the position it occupies in religion, after which I go forward God-willing.

Lexically, “al-Sunnah” is defined to be the paved method and followed conduct, or the followed example. Its plural is sunan. The linguists say that it is derived from the saying: sanna al-ma’ (water), which meaning: he continued pouring it (water). Hence the Arabs resembled the straightforward method with the poured out water, which is due to succession of its flow on one course shall be like one thing.

A poet said: 18 Never be fed up of a conduct you followed, The first be content with a rule is he who leads it. In origin: to prescribe a good rule is to lay down a good method. And it is said, also: He followed his guide, and so and so is mutasannin, i.e. following the sunnah. Ibn Taymiyyah said in Iqtida’ al-sirat al-qadim: The sunnah is the habit, and the repeated method, that people may or may not consider to be a worship.

The Most High said: “Indeed, there have already been before you examples, travel ye therefore in the earth…” (3:136) The Prophet (S) said too: “You shall verily follow the sunan, (conducts) of those who preceded you.” Ittiba‘ (following) is to tread in somebody’s steps and following his example.

The Prophet’s Sunnah is his sirah (conduct) he used to follow, and Allah’s sunnah (method) may be said to mean the method of His Wisdom, and the way of obedience to Him, such as: “(Such has been) the way of God concerning those who have passed away before; and never shalt thou find in the way of God any change.” (33:62), and “…and never shalt thou find in the course of God any alteration ” (35:43) In al-Ta’rifat, al-Jurjani is reported to have said: Al-Sunnah, in language, is the method (tariqah), whether be pleasant or not.

According to Shari‘ah (Islamic Law) it is the method followed in religion with no prescription or obligation. The sunnah is every act or practice which the Prophet (S) persevered on doing it, with leaving it sometimes. If this perseverance be out of worship it will be a guidance sunnah, and if it be out of habit it will be a superfluous sunnah.