sunnah

The Sunnah

The path followed. The way of life. Habitual practices.

The Sunnah is the common name given to the words, deeds, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the second source of the Islamic Law.

“Whoever institutes a good practice in Islam will have its reward and the reward of whoever acts upon it without diminishing their rewards in the slightest. Whoever institutes an evil practice in Islam will have its sin and the sin of those who act upon it without diminishing their sins in the slightest.”¹⁾

“The elevated Sunnah, in a way, means religion, from the obligatory acts to the manners. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has sent our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to people to teach them about life, by directly controlling his behavior in accordance with His consent.”²⁾

“Certainly, following the Sunna of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, is of exceptional value. It is even more valuable particularly at times when innovations in the Religion are prevalent. Especially when the Muslim Community is corrupted, following even an ordinary practice of the Prophet signifies a strong belief in and deep reverence for Islam. Observation of the Islamic rules established by the Prophet and following his Sunna (his way of life) recalls the noblest Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings. This recollection leads one to feel the constant company of God. When one follows the Prophet even in dealings of the least significance and in the practices of daily life such as eating, drinking, or sleeping, such ordinary transactions and natural acts become meritorious acts of worship and actions of the Shari’a. For, a person who follows the Prophet even in such everyday actions has thought about following the noblest Prophet, upon whom be peace and blessings, and considers these to be among the good manners of conduct commended by the Shari’a. Then this thought causes them to recall the Prophet as the one who brought the Shari’a. Through this recollection, their hearts turn to Almighty God, the Legislator of the Shari’a. This gives some sort of spiritual satisfaction and sense of worship. Thus, one who appropriately follows the Sunna as a way of life transforms even their habitual acts into worship, and can make their whole life fruitful and yielding of reward.”³⁾

“There are degrees in the Sunna. Some of its principles or decrees are imperative; they cannot be ignored or abandoned. They are described in detail in the illustrious Shari’a. They are among the established, unquestionable rules of the Religion and can in no way be altered.

The other degree of the Sunna consists in supererogatory acts of worship and practices. These also fall into two categories. One category is composed of the Prophet’s supererogatory practices of worship, which are very meritorious and highly commendable for Muslims to perform. They are also described in the books of the Shari’a. Changing them is (heretical) innovation.

Another category comprises the Prophet’s practices that are regarded as good manners or good, commendable conduct. They are mentioned in the Prophet’s biographies. Not following them is not regarded as innovation, but it entails opposition to the Prophetic practices and good conduct and causes deprivation of the light that derives from these acts and from the principles of good conduct or manners. There is still another category of the Prophet’s good manners or conduct, which consists in everyday actions, behavior, and dealings of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, which are known through reliable, unanimously reported Traditions. For example, there are numerous Prophetic practices showing good manners in speaking, eating, drinking, sleeping, and concerning social relationships. One who follows these good manners in their daily life transforms their everyday practices into a form of worship, and derives significant spiritual radiations and benefits from them. Observing the least of them recalls the noblest Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, and imparts a light to the heart.”⁴⁾

“One who studies the Prophet’s biography and knows his conduct will certainly understand that God Almighty collected all varieties of good conduct in His Beloved. One who abandons his Sunna abandons good manners…”⁵⁾

¹⁾

Muslim, Zakah, 69; Tirmidhi, Ilm, 15.

²⁾

M. Fethullah Gülen, Kendi Ruhumuzu Ararken (Prizma-9), İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2013, pp. 52–53.

³⁾

Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, The Gleams, New Jersey: Tughra Books, 2013, p. 64.

⁴⁾

Ibid., p. 69.

⁵⁾

Ibid., p. 70.

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The Sunnah

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