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Sunnah, The Second Source Of Legislation

Sunnah, the second source of legislation

Keywords: Sunnah, Holy Prophet PBUH

According to the scholars of Hadeeth, Sunnah is everything that has been related to the Messenger of Allah such as His statements, tactic approvals, actions, personality, biography or physical description. For example He said:

“Verily deeds are but by intentions and every person will have only what he intended”

Sunnah is divided into three types and it was handed down by the Sahaba initially orally and later in writing. The traditional written form of Sunna is called Hadith.

  1. Sunnat-ul-Qual

All statements of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) which he has expressed to answer a question or to explain any subject belong to this group such as the kindness to his mother. It is reported by Hazrat Anas A.S that Allah’s Messenger said:

“Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.”

  1. Sunnat-ul-Fieel

All actions and attitudes of Holy Prophet (PBUH) to a certain theme belong to this group. For example, how prayer is to perform.

Sunnat-ul-Taqrir:

It means those actions that were not performed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himswlf but by his companions and He did not prohibit their performance.

Quran and Sunnah complement each other. Islam is not complete without Sunnah likewise without Quran, Islam is not complete. There is so much importance of Sunnah in Islam that without it one can’t fully understand the Quran and Islam. Both of these sources guide us to the right path. Quran is the word of Allah, whereas the Sunnah is its practical explanation. The Holy book continuously remind us of the importance of the Sunnah urge us to strictly follow Holy Prophet PBUH. Allah Almighty says:

And whatever the Messenger has given you take and what He has forbidden you refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, He is severe in penalty.

Allah Almighty also says:

“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.”

There are many verses in the Quran which tells us that the Muslims are bound to follow Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH. No one remains Muslim if he or she doesn’t accept the Holy Prophet’s sunnah. The sunnah is nothing but a reflection of the personality of Allah’s Messenger who is to be obeyed at any cost. Importance of sunnah even as the second source of Islam was an openly accepted issue by the companions of Holy Prophet PBUH. Whenever they were unable to find a solution to the problem in the holy book, they would refer to the sunnah. They were the most assiduous in saving it for those who came after them.