The Sunnah: second form of revelation

Masjid at the new Hamad International Airport. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

Allah, Almighty, Says (what means): “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Qur’an; 5: 3]

Amongst the believers there is no doubt about this way of life called Islam. It is a complete way of life. The Creator of the heavens and the earth has not left anything out of this glorious religion (way of life) of His. As the above verse states that this religion is perfect and complete. However, something new has come in fairly recent years from Satan, concerning the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam . It has been suggested by him to the hearts of some of the Muslims that the Qur’an, as Glorious as it is, is sufficient as guidance for mankind. Meaning that the Sunnah is something that can be left off, or abandoned. Surely this is a disease that has no place in this wonderful religion (Islam).

In order to address this issue we must ask ourselves an important question. How do we worship Allah? Do we worship Him any way we want? Is there a correct methodology to worshipping Allah? Is it sufficient for us to say and do whatever it is that we feel is worship and then call it worship and it will be accepted as such? Let us consider the saying of Allah (which means): “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!” [Qur’an; 47: 33]

You must know that the Qur’an and the Sunnah do not contradict one another, rather they complement one another. When Allah Says in this verse that the Messenger is to be obeyed, he is not only talking to that honourable group of Muslims that accompanied the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam during his lifetime. He is speaking to all of the Muslims that will come up until the Last Day.

Similarly, no one is ready to conceive the notion that when Allah, Says (what means): “O you who believe!” that the only ones who believe are the Muslims who were with the Prophet  at that time and no one after them believed and no one else will ever believe! This would be grossly limiting the Qur’an.

Satan is crafty! He may then try to sway your thinking from another angle. He may say that the Qur’an is simple to understand and that it needs no explanation. For it is true that Allah Says (what means): “We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember” [Qur’an; 54: 32]

However, although the Qur’an is easy to understand, it does need to be explained so that it is properly understood. Allah Says (what means): “And when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibreel (Gabriel)] then follow you its (The Qur’an’s) recital. Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear (to you).” [Qur’an; 75: 18,19]

Surely if the Qur’an had to be made clear to the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then how much more so to you and I?

Allah Says (what means):  “…And We have sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the Reminder, that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.” [Qur’an; 16: 44]

In this verse, Allah is exhorting the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam not merely to recite the Qur’an but to explain it as well. Obviously, some explanation is required even to the most pious of men.

Furthermore, giving the needed details to carry out certain commands given in the Qur’an was another very vital role played by the Sunnah. For example, Allah commands us to establish the Prayers and to pay the obligatory charity (Zakaah), saying (what means): “And establish the prayers and give Zakaah (the obligatory charity) and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].” [Qur’an; 2:43] Yet, nowhere in the Qur’an does Allah give the required details to implement His command, and it was the Sunnah that gave us all the details of the how, when, who of this command.

Additionally, Allah Says (what means): “…(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.” [Qur’an; 4: 59]

Once again, if we try to leave off the importance of the Sunnah, then how do we implement this verse of the Qur’an? Allah orders us to refer our differences to Him. This means for us to seek our answers from the Qur’an. He also attaches the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to that particular order when He stated for us to refer to Him. If we leave off the Sunnah then this part of the verse has no meaning. Allah Says (what means): “Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allah.” [Qur’an; 4: 80]

And (what means): “Say (O Muhammad): If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.” [Qur’an; 3: 31]

How can the Muslims of today follow the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and not refer to his Sunnah? How can we say that we love Allah and not try to follow the methodology of His Prophet?

Finally, we would like to conclude with a Hadith (narration) from the Messenger of Allah  that was collected by Imaam Maalik  in his book called Muwatta. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I have left behind two matters. Those who hold fast to them will never go astray: The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.”

The reason that many of the Muslims are going astray today is because they are not only leaving off the Sunnah but they are leaving the Qur’an as well! If you are not giving the Sunnah its rights, then you are not giving the Qur’an its rights.

Without the Sunnah then the second statement of your Shahaadah (testimony of faith) also has no meaning.

Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/

The Role of the Sunnah towards the Qur’an:

The Sunnah cannot dispense with the Qur’an: Allah Almighty chose Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) as His Prophet and selected him to deliver His final message. The Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet in which Allah commanded him to obey everything that was ordered of him; that is, to convey and explain His message to the people.

Allah Almighty says what means: “…And We revealed to you the message [i.e., the Qur’an] that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them…” [Qur’an: 16:44]

The declaration mentioned in the verse contains two commands:

1. To propagate the speech of Allah (i.e. the Qur’an). This is to openly communicate the Qur’an to (all) mankind as Allah Almighty has revealed to the Prophet  that which means: “O Messenger! Announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord…” [Qur’an: 5:67]

‘Aa’ishah  is reported to have said: “Whoever says that Muhammad  concealed anything that he was commanded to communicate has forged a great lie against Allah.” Then she read the abovementioned verse. [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Another narration is found in the book of Imaam Muslim  which states: “If the Messenger of Allah  had concealed something that he was commanded to communicate, he would have concealed the saying of the Almighty (which means): “And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favour: ‘Keep your wife and fear Allah,’ while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him.” [Qur’an: 33:37]

2. To clarify words, sentences or verses from the Qur’an that are not easily understood by most people. Some verses may be comprehensive or general in their meaning, and the Sunnah clarifies and defines them through the Prophet’s sayings, actions and confirmations.

The Necessity of the Sunnah to Understand the Qur’an:

Allah says what means: “[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands...” [Qur’an: 5:38] In the context of this verse, the thief and the hand are mentioned in a general manner. It is the Sunnah that explains the first of them and places a restriction on it by explaining the meaning of the word ‘thief’ to mean the one who steals something worth at least a quarter of a Deenaar (a unit golden currency) according to the saying of the Prophet : “There is no cutting of the hand unless the thing stolen is worth a quarter of a Deenaar or more.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

The latter (i.e., how the hand is to be amputated) is explained by the actions of the Prophet  and his Companions . They would amputate the hand of the thief from the wrist, as is known from a saying of the Prophet .

There are many other verses of the Qur’an that cannot be completely understood except through the Sunnah, such as:

1.        Allah says what means: “And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.” [Qur’an: 4:101] It is obvious from this verse that fear is a pre-requisite for the shortening of prayers. However, some of the Companions  asked the Prophet : “Why do we shorten our prayers while we feel safe?” He replied: “It is an allowance from Allah, so accept it.” [Muslim]

2. Allah says what means: “Say: ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of [i.e., from] Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?...” [Qur’an: 7:32]

But the Sunnah has forbidden some ‘adornments’, and this is evident from the saying of the Prophet : “The wearing of silk and gold has been made unlawful for males and lawful for the females of my nation.’’ [At-Tirmithi]

3. Allah says what means: “Say: ‘I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah…” [Qur’an: 6:145]

But the Sunnah has forbidden many things not mentioned in the abovementioned verse; an example of this lies in the saying of the Prophet : “All predatory animals with tusks and every bird with claws are forbidden for consumption.” There are other narrations that have forbidden the consumption of such animals, such as the one where the Prophet  is reported to have said: “Allah and His Messenger have prohibited the consumption of domesticated donkeys, for they are filth.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

There are many other examples that show the necessity of the Sunnah within Islamic Law. There is no other way to understand the Qur’an correctly except with the interpretation of the Sunnah.

The Inadequacy of Philology to Understand the Qur’an:

The Companions of the Prophet were the most knowledgeable of people in the Arabic language, yet, if they were to attempt to understand the verses quoted above by relying on the Arabic language alone, then they would have erred.

It is agreed upon by the majority of Muslim scholars, past and present, that the Qur’an should first and foremost be interpreted by the Qur’an itself, then by the Sunnah, then by the sayings of the Companions, and so on.

It is here that the cause of deviation of scholastic theologians (Ahl Al-Kalaam), both ancient and modern, becomes clear, as well as their opposition to our righteous predecessors  in doctrine and law.

In short, what is obligatory upon all Muslims is that they do not separate the Qur’an from the Sunnah; moreover, it is obligatory to follow both of them and to formulate laws using both. This is a safeguard for the people, so that they do not falter and regress, as explained by the Prophet : “I am leaving behind two things - you will never go astray if you hold fast to them: the Qur’an and my Sunnah.” [At-Tirmithi]

Source: A lecture delivered by Shaykh al-Albaani