من طرف Sunnah: the second form of revelation
Sunnah: the second form of revelation
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Allaah, 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." [Quran; 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 Allaah
.
It has been suggested by him to the hearts of some of the Muslims that
the Quran, as Glorious as it is, is sufficient enough alone 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 Allaah?
Do we worship Him any way we want? Is there a correct methodology to
worshipping Allaah? 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 Allaah (which means): "O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!"[Quran; 47: 33]
You must know that the Quran and the Sunnah do not contradict one
another, rather they complement one another. When Allaah Says in this
verse that the Messenger is to be obeyed, he is not only talking to that honorable group of Muslims that accompanied the Prophet 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 Allaah, 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 Quran.
Satan is crafty! He may then try to sway your thinking from another
angle. He may say that the Quran is simple to understand and that it
needs no explanation. For it is true that Allaah Says (what means): "We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember" [Quran; 54: 32]
However, although the Quran
is easy to understand, it does need to be explained so that it is
properly understood. Allaah Says (what means): "And
when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibreel (Gabriel)]
then follow you its (The Quran's) recital. Then it is for Us (Allaah)
to make it clear (to you)." [Quran; 75: 18,19]
Surely if the Quran had to be made clear to the Messenger then how much more so to you and I?
Allaah 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." [Quran; 16: 44]
In this verse, Allaah is exhorting the Messenger
to not merely recite the Quran 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 certaincommands
given in the Quran was another very vital role played by the Sunnah.
For example, Allaah 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].”
[Quran; 2] Yet, nowhere in the Quran does Allaah 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, Allaah Says (what means): "…(And)
if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and
His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is
better and more suitable for final determination." [Quran; 4: 59]
Once again, if we try to leave off the importance of the Sunnah, then
how do we implement this verse of the Quran? Allaah orders us to refer
our differences to Him. This means for us to seek our answers from the
Quran. He also attaches the Messenger
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. Allaah
Says (what means): "Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allaah." [Quran; 4: 80]
And (what means): "Say (O Muhammad): If you (really) love Allaah, then
follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins." [Quran; 3:
31]
How can the Muslims of today follow the Prophet and not refer to his Sunnah? How can we say that we love Allaah and not try to follow the methodology of His Prophet ?
Finally I would like to conclude with a Hadeeth (narration) from the Messenger of Allaah that was collected by Imaam Maalik 
in his book called Muwatta. The Prophet said: "I
have left behind two matters. Those who hold fast to them will never go
astray: The Book of Allaah 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 Quran
as well! If you are not giving the Sunnah its rights, then you are not
giving the Quran its rights.
Without the Sunnah then the second statement of your Shahaadah (testimony of faith) also has no meaning.
day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor upon
you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Quran; 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 Allaah
.It has been suggested by him to the hearts of some of the Muslims that
the Quran, as Glorious as it is, is sufficient enough alone 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 Allaah?
Do we worship Him any way we want? Is there a correct methodology to
worshipping Allaah? 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 Allaah (which means): "O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!"[Quran; 47: 33]
You must know that the Quran and the Sunnah do not contradict one
another, rather they complement one another. When Allaah Says in this
verse that the Messenger
is to be obeyed, he is not only talking to that honorable group of Muslims that accompanied the Prophet 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 Allaah, 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 Quran. Satan is crafty! He may then try to sway your thinking from another
angle. He may say that the Quran is simple to understand and that it
needs no explanation. For it is true that Allaah Says (what means): "We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember" [Quran; 54: 32]
However, although the Quran
is easy to understand, it does need to be explained so that it is
properly understood. Allaah Says (what means): "And
when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibreel (Gabriel)]
then follow you its (The Quran's) recital. Then it is for Us (Allaah)
to make it clear (to you)." [Quran; 75: 18,19]
Surely if the Quran had to be made clear to the Messenger
then how much more so to you and I? Allaah 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." [Quran; 16: 44]
In this verse, Allaah is exhorting the Messenger
to not merely recite the Quran 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 certaincommands
given in the Quran was another very vital role played by the Sunnah.
For example, Allaah 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].”
[Quran; 2] Yet, nowhere in the Quran does Allaah 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, Allaah Says (what means): "…(And)
if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and
His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is
better and more suitable for final determination." [Quran; 4: 59]
Once again, if we try to leave off the importance of the Sunnah, then
how do we implement this verse of the Quran? Allaah orders us to refer
our differences to Him. This means for us to seek our answers from the
Quran. He also attaches the Messenger
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. Allaah
Says (what means): "Whoever obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allaah." [Quran; 4: 80]
And (what means): "Say (O Muhammad): If you (really) love Allaah, then
follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins." [Quran; 3:
31]
How can the Muslims of today follow the Prophet
and not refer to his Sunnah? How can we say that we love Allaah and not try to follow the methodology of His Prophet ? Finally I would like to conclude with a Hadeeth (narration) from the Messenger of Allaah
that was collected by Imaam Maalik in his book called Muwatta. The Prophet said: "Ihave left behind two matters. Those who hold fast to them will never go
astray: The Book of Allaah 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 Quran
as well! If you are not giving the Sunnah its rights, then you are not
giving the Quran its rights.
Without the Sunnah then the second statement of your Shahaadah (testimony of faith) also has no meaning.
