What Is The Sunnah? Prophet Muhammad’s Guide

Muhammad is regarded as a wonderful role model. This is evident during Salat, or prayer time; while the Quran outlines when and how one should pray, Muslims rely on Muhammad’s example to know what words and motions to employ during prayer, owing to the Sunnah.

Keep reading to know more about the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and why it’s important.

What Is the Sunnah in Islam?

So, what is Sunnah in simple words?

The Sunnah refers to the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad and is the second source of knowledge for Muslims. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad’s time evidently saw and followed and passed on to the next generations.

Sunnah, as used in fiqh texts, implies “there is reward if we do it, but there is no guilt if we do not.” For example, eating with the right hand, brushing one’s teeth, not eating while standing, and so forth.

When we examine the term sunnah in its broadest definition, it encompasses all that our Prophet accomplished.  In such a scenario, Allah’s desires and prohibitions are also incorporated in the Sunnah. 

For example, did the messenger of Allah offer prayers? Yes. Then it is obligatory to pray.

What Is the Sunnah and What Does It Teach?

As you would expect, attempting to record nearly everything a person does, says, or encounters might result in a large number of entries.

Whereas the Holy Quran is only a few hundred pages long, a single collection of Hadith might take up whole shelves! To be clear, the prophet’s example is known as the Sunnah, and the writings that record it are known as the Hadith.

The Sunnah teaches us about Islam. It teaches us how to live our lives. It’s the second authentic source of Islam after the Holy Quran. The Quran has set the guidelines we need to follow and the Prophet prophet ﷺ lived his life showing us how to do so.

Reading about the life of the Prophet (PBUH) can teach you a great deal about Islam. This glorious man lived his entire life following Islam’s principles, as we should all. His references were always the Quran and Sharia (Islamic Law), and his acts were all consistent with what Islam requires.

It’s a simple and handy method to learn more about Islamic legislation and requirements, what Allah SWT wants us to do or avoid, how to treat other Muslims and non-Muslims, and much more by just witnessing how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) acted.

You may want aid in comprehending the wisdom of some acts at that time. As a result, it is preferable to seek the assistance of a Muslim-verified instructor to assist you with what you do not understand.

Why Is Sunnah Important?

Everything Muhammad (PBUH) did was not deviant or incorrect. All of his words and deeds were constrained by Allah’s purpose. As a result, everyone should follow and emulate him at all times. His life is a living Quran and a collection of Divine Laws.

There are several passages and hadiths in the Quran and hadith collections that show unequivocally that following the Sunnah is the essential foundation of Islam. Here is an example:

“O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are invested with authority; and if you are to dispute among yourselves about anything, refer it to God and the Messenger if indeed you believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best (for you) and fairest in the end.” 

(Surah an-Nisa)

Sunnah Is Our Guide in Life

All Muslims can use Sunnah as a guide. Allah SWT sent the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to serve as a teacher and guide for Allah’s message. The assignment was then assigned to Muhammad (PBUH), who completed it flawlessly. That is why we should pay great attention to his life and learn from the smallest things.

To begin, investigating Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) life gives evidence of his Prophethood. We can only understand his Prophethood by studying his Sunnah.

Sunnah Teaches Us about the Islamic History

In addition, Islam has a particular past. Every Prophet of Allah has a life story, no matter how brief. There are fragments of incidents related to the life of Muhammad (PBUH) in the Quran, who was sent to the entire world with the spirit of Islam.

Sunnah Follows the Prophet’s Spirit of Islam

Sunnah’s study will eventually lead to Muslims fully following Muhammad (PBUH). Sunnah allows us to follow him in his entirety.

It’s difficult to follow him if you don’t know who he is. We can’t draw life lessons from his experiences until we first understand what happened to him and how he dealt with the obstacles he faced during his prophecy.

Sunnah Makes Us Love Our Prophet

One can profess love for someone, but s/he will never be practical about it. Similarly, Muslims cannot develop real love until they are acquainted with Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) via his Sunnah.

Following Sunnah Pleases Allah and His Prophet

Leaving the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, even on a tiny scale, may cause you to be a little disliked by Allah and His messenger. Absolute submission is the fundamental requirement of love and devotion.

Sunnah Helps Building a Better Muslim Identity

Sunnah’s studies genuinely assist a Muslim in developing an authentic Muslim identity. Studying the Sunnah brings one closer to Islam and Muslims all around the world.

Sunnah uplifts our spirits and instills love in the hearts of Muslims all around the world. To put that another way, it motivates us to love and care for Muslims who live far away from us.

The Difference between the Sunnah and the Quran

But, what is the difference between the Sunnah and the Quran?

The difference between the Sunnah and the Quran is that the Quran was written and sent down by Allah SWT to His last prophet; Muhammad (PBUH). Sunnah, on the other, is the verbally transmitted documentation of Muhammad’s lessons, actions, and expressions, silent permissions, or disapprovals. 

Another difference is how deeds are observed in both resources. For example, not doing something obligatory in the Quran will give you a bad deed (sayi’aat). In Sunnah, there is a reward if we do what’s mentioned in it, but there is no sin if we do not do it.

The Position of the Sunnah in Islamic Law

The Sunnah is comprised of the Prophet Muhammad’s examples, and it is an essential source of guidance not just for every Muslim, but also for Islamic law.

A great number of these instances were written down to make them simpler to recall in massive book collections. These compilations are known as Hadith, and it is on the basis of these Hadith that much of Islamic Law is built.

Islamic Law is also called Sharia. The word ‘sharia’ means ‘straight path’. It sets the code of law for Islamic living and is based on both the Quran and the Sunnah. These are its main sources.

Sharia law governs a Muslim person’s whole life as it is based on revelation from Allah SWT. For Muslims, Sharia law applies the insight of the Qur’an to new situations and it explains to them how to properly obey Allah.

Do you want to study Sunnah and Hadith? Sign up in Iqra Online for online Islamic Studies course to learn all about Islam from the life and traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions.