What is definition of sunnah?
Dear friends please share your ideas as to what you think sunnah means.
thanks and all the best.
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
Sunnah: the ways of living your everyday life in accordance with the ways of the Prophet salallahualaihiwassallam.
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
Sunnah: the ways of living your everyday life in accordance with the ways of the Prophet salallahualaihiwassallam.
Thank you dear Niksik. The quran states;
003.031YUSUFALI: Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
033.021YUSUFALI: Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.
068.004YUSUFALI: And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.
As far as I know, most muslims take these like verses to mean living exactly like the prophet as he lived in his own time in his own place.
There this sense of sunnah is very obvious when we see them wearing clothes like the prophet, growing beard like him. Not only that they claim they have each and every detail about the prophet as to how he sat, how he stood, how he walked, talked, ate, slept, awoke, travelled, communicated etc etc etc.
The question is, is this really how the quran wants us to follow the prophet or is there a better purpose to our lives than this that the quran wants us to serve?
Well, let me try and explain;
No two people are alike even the identical twins. All humans are different from each other biologically as well as psychologically and cannot be the very same even if they wanted to be the same. All the quranic prophets were different from each other as individuals and their situations and circumstances were also different. So one has to ask, was there anything common between all the prophets? The answer is yes, they all had a common purpose assigned to their lives. What was that purpose? To live as allah told them to live ie the way of life that pleased allah was their common purpose and therefore that was, is and will always remain the purpose of all human beings for ever.
Otherwise It is not possible for anyone to follow anyone so closely day and night and to pay attention to each and every word and deed or movement of anyone. Nor it is possible for anyone to convey such amount of information about anyone to anyone. Because each and every person has his/her own life to live, so people need time to themselves to recharge or rest and also to earn their livelihood etc etc.
If we look at the life of the prophets as their stories are told in the quran, none of these prophets lived like their father adam nor they behaved exactly like him or had that much information about him. They did not even live like each other rather all lived in their own time just like the rest of people of their own time and just like we live today in our own time. They wore similar clothes, lived in similar dwellings and did all they had to do just like everyone else. The only difference was that they did not do things god forbid them to do and they did what god bound them to do as their duty. The rest was up to themselves to do as it suited themselves according to their own situations and circumstances, time and place.
What it means is that if our prophet came today instead of back in 7th century then he would have lived like good people of today not like people of arabia back in 7th century. He would not have travelled by camel for example, nor would use weapons of those times if it came to fighting wars. The quran tells us how adam and his wife used leaves to cover themselves. David and solomon lived as it suited their time like kings.
All these points prove beyond a shadow of doubt that following the prophet does not mean doing things liike him. Using miswak is not sunah, travelling by camel is not sunnah and likewise a lot more of other things. The prophet comes for a reason or purpose as set by god. That purpose is to guide human beings as to how to live their lives properly. The common principles they were told are just the same ie raise good families because families make tribes and tribes can come together on basis of common beliefs that help them live as a single family. Living like a good family helps people establish and accomplish much more because infighting damages the family if not destroys it altogether. Working together, caring for each other and sharing things with each other has many advantages. In short the prophets came to teach people how to establish this unity amongst people based on social justice and fair play so that there is peace on the earth for people to cooperate for progress of humanity and its prosperity.
Allah did not send his message for dividing people on basis of what they believe but for uniting them as one people so that they do what is good for themselves in here at least if not for the next world as well. Islam is more about this world than about god. Because islam is not a belief system but a way of life. It talks more about how people should interact with each other than praising allah. Faith in one god and good works is the fundamental teaching of islam. Good works are fundamentally about how people behave towards each other and what they do for each other in the name of god and humanity.
This is why the quran sets the standard that live your lives like your prophets ie behave towards each other and do for each other as good people should. Be helpful for each other like brothers and sister in worldly life. Take care of each other fully ie attend to each others needs and lawful desires thereby help each other towards happiness and thank god for guiding you to this kind of way of life. This is islam and this is following the prophets. Just imitating the prophet is mere acting and does not produce the intended results. Doing things like prophet is what is meant by following the prophet ie trying to teach people the best way of life and then help them achieve it.
One can see that in the bible the prophets did the same ie jesus said take your cross and follow me ie attend to purpose of life like I do. Struggle for social justice and fair play on this earth. This is what jihad is all about, it is not about killing or subduing infidels. Because the quran states, look after your parents with full responsibility as a child even if they are nonmuslims and tell you to be one 31/14-15 also 60/8-9 etc.
So following prophet is all about supporting their cause not doing things that waste your time instead by divert your time and resources to no purpose. If we try to live like prophet, we will be going backwards in time and that is not what is needed to help this world to be a better place. To make this world a better place a lot more hard work is needed so that we could find ways of removing poverty and disease as much as we can. By infighting over the right length of beard or designs of clothes we are not going to get anywhere. A leader needs his follower to follow him in helping to establish what he intends to establish oraccomplish ie his objective. If the soldiers instead of fighting in the war started to look at the king to see how long was his beard or what he is wearing etc etc the war will be lost.
I shall explain more perhaps later. This should be enough to show that word sunnah means following the prophet in his objectives not in his each and every word or deed. So it is necessary for us to find out what he wanted to establish or accomplish in his life and see if there is any way we can help him in his cause. It is not only achievement of the objective that is important but also to keep it established so that things remain in order.
Regards and all the best.
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
as-salaamu alaykum
Bismillah
pardon me for harsh tone
even though you're correct in some things but the core of your call is wrong. How can we go backward if we emulate the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam)? We're not following the way of the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) and that's why we are in such a mess and not other way around. How can a Muslim even think that emulating the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) is taking us backward!!!!? Are you suggesting we're not living like good people because some of us try to emulate the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam)!? We take pride in following the best of creations and you want us to give up on that? Some of the things, which Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) did, may not be ibaadah/legal rulings per say but we still get reward for following the way of the Prophet (his sunnah - sal-allahu alayhi wa slaam). The sahabas used to intentionally walk in the streets where the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) walked and Abdullah ibn Umar would make his camels follow the footstep marks on the ground left by the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam). So who should we follow and listen, you or the sahabas!!!?
and Allah knows best
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
If you only make effort to dress,walk,talk like him....and don't try to learn and follow his principles......its no use
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
If you only make effort to dress,walk,talk like him....and don't try to learn and follow his principles......its no use
Post of the year.
Re: What is definition of sunnah?
as-salaamu alaykum
Bismillah
pardon me for harsh tone
even though you're correct in some things but the core of your call is wrong. How can we go backward if we emulate the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam)? We're not following the way of the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) and that's why we are in such a mess and not other way around. How can a Muslim even think that emulating the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) is taking us backward!!!!? Are you suggesting we're not living like good people because some of us try to emulate the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam)!? We take pride in following the best of creations and you want us to give up on that? Some of the things, which Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) did, may not be ibaadah/legal rulings per say but we still get reward for following the way of the Prophet (his sunnah - sal-allahu alayhi wa slaam). The sahabas used to intentionally walk in the streets where the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam) walked and Abdullah ibn Umar would make his camels follow the footstep marks on the ground left by the Prophet (sal-allahu alayhi wa salaam). So who should we follow and listen, you or the sahabas!!!?
and Allah knows best
Dear AllahkaBanda, sorry for not being clear enough for you. I am not against following the prophet because then there is no islam. The propherts are the best examples and the quran is clear on that;
004.064 * YUSUFALI: We sent not a messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto thee and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.
004.065 * YUSUFALI: But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.
004.069 * YUSUFALI: All who obey Allah and the messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!
04.080 * **YUSUFALI:* He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah: But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds).
Now here is the definition of what is sunnah.
004.125 * YUSUFALI: Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.
004.085 * YUSUFALI: Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: And whoever recommends and helps an evil cause, shares in its burden: And Allah hath power over all things.
004.026 * YUSUFALI: Allah doth wish to make clear to you and to show you the ordinances of those before you; and (He doth wish to) turn to you (In Mercy): And Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.
These like many many verses tell us that sunnah is all about following the god sent way of life ie islam as all peole have been following as shown by his messengers.
Let me try and explain this s bit. Islam is aqqaid=beliefs and amaal=deeds. Now deeds are of two kinds a)rules of conduct in ptivate and in society ie interaction between people b)rules for ritualism in private and in society. Any act that has no effect on others is private and any act that has any effect in any respect on others is public or social in that respect.
Allah will forgive all sins save disbelief. This is made clear. However any sin that is not against allah alone needs forgiveness of the person also against whom the sin is committed.
It is a bigger sin to do wrong against other people than any sin one does against allah himself save disbelief.
This is the context in which people need to see where they stand. If your neighbour is hungry and you are not doing anything to feed him, your ritualism is useless.
002.177 * **YUSUFALI:* It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.
Please do not get me wrong I do not mean that having beared is wrong but do not fight over these things and forget the bigger picture. If you do that then whatever you do is wrong because you are doing it out of its proper context.
You see in islam things are not just there but that they have a special place in islamic set up. If you do them out of place then whole thing becomes sensless. Let me explain. Let say you are praying. If you do all you need to do in prayer but not do them in right order or right way then any molavi sahib will tell you your prayer is not no good. I mean you did every thing that person must in prayer but all you did was just did them as you did them disregaring how they should be done.
Likewise if we change the priority order of things in islam eg make ritualism more important than interaction then the whole purpose of islam is lost. You can sit home and pray all day and night but you will agree that this is not what islam is all about because it will not serve or fulfil the objective of islam.
Likewise allah sent prophets to be helped by their followers to make this world a better place for humanity. Tell me if the world will become a better place for all of us all by itself. Allah has made this world so that it is based on the principle of cause and effect.
013.011 * **YUSUFALI:* For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
057.025 * YUSUFALI: We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help, Unseen, Him and His messengers: For Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might (and able to enforce His Will).
061.011 * YUSUFALI: That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!
061.013 *
YUSUFALI: And another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers.061.014 * YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Be ye helpers of Allah: As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?" Said the disciples, "We are Allah's helpers!" then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.
These like verses leave no room for doubt as to what is purpose of allah for sending prophets with his message ie so that their followers learn that message properly then teach it to other people so that all together estabisl what is good for all people because this gives them peace between themselves so that they could concentrate on helping each other towards a good life on this earth in the hope of hereafter for those who believe in hereafter.
So the major thing is to get people to join in struggle for the good of all. If a king sends his generals with soldiers to fight the war then soldiers need to follow his orders in that respect and not do other things that may result in defeat. Likewise allah sent his messengers so that we obey them for the purpose that allah has chosen for all of us as a people and not go our own ways in different directions leaving the messenger on his own.
I hope this explains the point I am trying to explain but I will also request others to help because different people have different ways of explaining things that may help our friend here understand better.
regards and all the best.