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Introduction to the
Basic Sources of Islam
(Part-II)

DR. MAQBOOL HASSAN

Assistant Professor
Department of Islamic Studies
Bahria University, Karachi Campus 1
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Basic Sources of Islam

2-Sunnah
(and Hadith)

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1- Sunnah - ‫سنت‬
Sunnah ( ‫ ) سنة‬is an Arabic word, its literal meaning is „habitual or
customary practice‟, whether this practice is good or bad. It also
means “tradition” or “way.”

In Islamic term it is defined as;

“The practices, habits, and traditions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)”.
The Sunnah is the path of guidance, which the Prophet (PBUH) said in
the Hadith,
“Whoever turns away from my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.”
According to Islamic Jurisprudence point of view It is defined as

“What was transmitted from the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah of his

words, acts and implicit.” 3
The Quran commands the Muslims to follow the Sunnah
i.e., to obey the Prophet (PBUH).

“O who you believe! Obey Allah and obey the Prophet”. (4:59)

Quran says that follow whatever is brought or said by the Prophet (PBUH) and
refrain from whatever is prohibited by him.

“And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids
you, abstain from it.” (59:7)

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Different Expressions of “Sunnah” in the Holy Quran
Three verses (8:38, 15:13, 18:55) use the expression of Sunnah in different contexts. For
example,

1-“Sunnat al-Awwaleen” )‫ )سنة األولين‬which is thought to mean “the way or practice of the
ancients”. It is described as something “that has passed away” or prevented unbelievers
from accepting Allah.

2- “Sunnat Allah” )‫ )سنة هللا‬way of God” appears eight times in five verses. Besides, verse
(17:77) talks of both the way of others, earlier Messengers and of “our way”, i.e., Allah‟s
way.

3- (This is) the way (Sunnah) of those whom we sent (messengers) before you, and you
will not find any change in Our way (Sunnatuna, .)‫)سنتنا‬

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 Types of Sunnah
There are three types of Sunnah on the basis of„ fiqh‟:

1-Sunnah Al- Qauliyah :)‫)السنة القولية‬

The sayings of Muhammad (PBUH) are noted down and the Sunnah, in this sense is a
synonym of „Hadith‟. It is the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) meant for legislation and legal
rules.

2-Sunnah Al- Fi’liyyah :)‫)السنة الفعلية‬

The actions of the Prophet (PBUH), both religious and worldly actions having legal content such
as his prayer, fasting, and hajj.

3-Sunnah Al-Taqririyyah )‫)السنة التقريرية‬

This type is the approval of the practices of the Companions by the Prophet (PBUH). The
approval occurred in two ways;
a. When the Prophet (PBUH) kept silent and did not oppose any action.
b. When He (PBUH) expressed his pleasure and showed happiness for a companion‟s action.
For example, the Prophet (PBUH) did not object to the playing of a spear by two boys in the 6
masjid.
Quran is the last holy Book of Allah Almighty revealed on
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is the last messenger of Allah.
Quran is the expression of All-powerful Allah which was
basically performed by our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in His
life to make sense of for Muslims what Allah (SWT) said in His
sacred book. Sunnah makes sense of regulations found in
the Quran or we can express instances of the functional use of
the regulations referenced in the Quran. In addition to the
Quran, the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
preserved everything the Prophet (SAW) said or did. Hence the
Sunnah incorporates the expressions of the Prophet
Muhammad (SAW), His practices, and activities which acquired
His endorsement. 7
The Sunnah comes in concurrence with the Sacred Quran as it makes
sense of the implications of what is hazy in the text, gives subtleties of
text to what is portrayed in everyday terms, likewise determines what is
general, and makes sense of its targets.

The Sunnah makes sense of and explains the Sacred Quran in

numerous ways. It explains how to follow the laws outlined in the Quran
and perform the acts of worship. Similar to the way that Allah the All-
Powerful tells believers to pray without specifying when or how they
should pray. The Holy Prophet (SAW) gave practical examples of how to
perform prayers and the timing of prayers. In Hadith, it is portrayed that
The Prophet (PBUH) said: " Ask as you have seen me supplicate"
(Sahih Bukhari). The Holy Prophet (SAW) was the embodiment of the
Noble Quran. Everything he did or said was in line with the Quran's
direction. 8
Sunnah specifies the general statements of the Holy Quran in a
way that a man can understand it in a better way. Allah Almighty
says in the Holy Quran:

“God commands you regarding your children: to the male, a

portion equal to that of two females…” (Quran 4:11).

This wording is general and applies to every family and makes

every child an inheritor of his or her parents. The Sunnah makes
this ruling more specific by excluding the children of Prophets.
Allah‟s Messenger said: “We Prophets leave behind no
inheritance. Whatever we leave behind is charity.” Other than
those historical events mentioned in the Holy Quran explained in 9
detail by the Holy Prophet (SAW).
 HADITH (‫)حديث‬

A Hadith ( ‫ )حننن‬Arabic plural Ahadith; the word

“Hadith” is used as a report attributed to the Prophet
Muhammad, describing his words and actions and
representing the chief source for knowing his
authoritative precedent (Sunna).

In Islam it is a narrative record of the sayings and

actions of Prophet Muhammad and his companions. 10
 Usage of the word Hadith in the Quran
It has been used in the Quran 23 times. Here are a few examples:

1-Religious communication, message or the Qur’an

Almighty Allah says: ‫ث ِكتَابًا‬ َ ْ‫َّللاُ نَ هز َل أَح‬

ِ ‫س َن ا ْل َحدِي‬ ‫ه‬

Allah has sent down the best hadith, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each
other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. [Quran 39:23]

2-Story of a secular of general nature

َ ‫ث‬
Almighty Allah says: ‫غي ِْر ِه‬ ٍ ‫ع ْن ُه ْم َحت ه ٰى يَ ُخوضُوا فِي َحدِي‬ ْ ‫ُون فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَع ِْر‬
َ ‫ض‬ َ ‫َو ِإ َذا َرأَيْتَ الهذ‬
َ ‫ِين يَ ُخوض‬

And when you (Muhammad (‫ﷺ‬see those who engage in a false conversation about
Our Verses (of the Quran) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they
begin hadith (conversation) of another topic. [Quran 6:68] 11
3-Historical Story

Almighty Allah says: ‫س ٰى‬ ُ ‫َو َه ْل أَتَاكَ َحد‬

َ ‫ِيث ُمو‬

And has there come to you the hadith (story) of Musa (Moses)?
[Quran 20:9]

4-Current story or conversation

ِ ‫ض أ َ ْز َو‬
Almighty Allah says: . ‫اج ِه َحدِيثًا‬ ِ ‫ي ِإلَ ٰى بَ ْع‬ َ َ ‫َو ِإ ْذ أ‬
ُّ ‫س هر النه ِب‬

And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a hadith (matter in

confidence) to one of his wives [Quran 66:3]
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 Usage of the word Hadith
in the sayings of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬
The word was used in the same sense by the Prophet ,‫ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص‬as it has been used in the
Qur‟an. Here are a few examples:

1-Religious Communication

The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬says: ‫أحسن حديث كتاب هللا‬

The best hadith is the book of Allah [Bukhari, Adab 70]

2-Secular or general conversation or tale

The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬says: ‫قوم و هم له كارهون أو فرون مةه صب في آزة ه اإلةك‬ ‫من استمع لح‬

One who tires to eavesdrop on the hadith (conversation) of the poeple when they
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dislike his doing so and want to keep away from him, in the Hereafter hot copper
would be poured in his ear. [Bukhari, tab‟ir, 45]
3- Historical story
The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬says: ‫ح ثوا عن بةي إسرائ ل‬
You may transmit hadith from Banu Isra‟il [Bukhari, Anbiya, 50]
4- Current story, secret or conversation
The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬says: ‫ثم التفت فهي أماة‬ ‫إذا ح الرجل الح‬
If someone tells a hadith (secret) then goes his way, his words become a trust.
[Trimidhi, Birr, 39]

The term Hadith and its meaning according

to Muhaddithin and jurists
According to the Muhaddithin, it stands for;
What was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet ,‫ﷺ‬his deeds, sayings, tacit
approval, or description of his sifat (features) meaning his physical appearance.
However, physical appearance of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬is not included in the definition of the
jurists. 14
Introduction to Hadith Terminology

Saheeh – sound, without defect.

Hasan – good.
Daeef – weak.
Mawdu – fabricated or forged.
Isnad – chain of transmitters of any given hadith.
Matn – the text of a hadith.
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 There are four types of narrations:
Al-Hadith
This is a narration that is connected to the Prophet (peace be upon him) concerning
his sayings, actions, tacit approvals, descriptions and manners
Al-Khabar
Has the meaning of hadith, so it is known by the definition of hadith that has preceded. It is
connected to the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬and other than him, hence is more general and more inclusive
than Al Hadith
Al-Athar
This is a narration, which is connected to the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet (‫ﷺ‬or
Tabi‟in (successors of the Companions). And that which is connected to the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬is
intended by it (at times), so it is said: “And in the Athar from the Prophet ”‫ﷺ‬
Al-Hadith Al-Qudsi
This is a narration reported by the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬from Allah, The Most High. It is also called: Al-
Hadith Ar-Rabbani and Al-Hadith Al-Ilahi.
An example of that is the saying of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬concerning Allah, The Most High:
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“I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If
he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; and if he remembers
Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering better than it.”
[Bukhari and Muslim]
The rank of Hadith Al-Qudsi

is between the Quran and the prophetic Hadith. So the Noble Qur‟an is attributed
to Allah, The Most High, in wording and meaning. the prophetic hadith is ascribed
to the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬in wording and meaning. The hadith Al-Qudsi is ascribed to
Allah in meaning but not in wording. Due to that, Allah cannot be worshipped
with the recitation of its words and it cannot be recited in prayer. It is also not
included in the challenge (for people to produce a chapter like it, as with the
Qur‟an). Also, it was not transmitted in mutawatir form as the the Qur‟an was
transmitted, rather, from it is that which is: Sound (authentic), Weak (unauthentic)
and that which is Fabricated.
References 17
Mustalah Al-Hadith by Shaykh Uthaymeen
Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature by M. Mustafa Al-Azami
Composition of Hadith

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Hadith, in general is composed of three basic components which are
given below:
1-Isnad/Sequence of Reporters:
A series of communicators through which Hadith has spread.
2-Taraf:
The beginning sentence which refers to the reported information.
3-Matn / Content / Text / Wordings:
It is the main passage which is the actual center of attraction for the
reader. It normally tells about the right way of actions in different
circumstances of life which comprises the sayings/action/
concurrence with other actions by the holy Prophet. 19
 Legal Position / The Religious Status of
Hadith/Sunnah
Hadith is the 2nd source of Islamic law to understand this; the following positions of the Holy
Prophet must be kept in view which have been highlighted in the Holy Quran.
1. A PERFECT MODEL:
The Holy Prophet is a perfect model of human behavior for all the believers:
He has indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone
whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah.
(Al Ahzab-21)
2. WORTHY TO BE FOLLOWED:
His obedience is compulsory:
So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the ulettered Prophet, who believed in Allah and
His Words.(Al Aaraf-158)
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3. COMPULSORY TO FOLLOW:
If the Holy Prophet gives us something we should take it and if he forbids something we
should shun it.
So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he
withholds from you.(Al Hashar-7)

4. COMULSORY OBEDIENCE:
It is compulsory for all the Muslims to obey the Holy Prophet.
O ye who believed obey Allah and obey the Messenge. (Muhammad-33)

5. GUIDE TO RIGHT PATH:

The right path can be found obeying the Holy Prophet.
If you obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. (Noor-54)

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The above verses of the Holy Quran show that all instructions given by the Holy Prophet
to his followers, all explanation made by him to interpret the Holy Quran, the things
declared Halal and Haram by him and the decisions made by him to settle disputes all
pertained to relgion or Shariah. Apart from this his whole life is the best model for the
Ummah to follow. It is compulsory for every believer to follow his orders. In short
obedience of the Prophet is in fact the obedience of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says
in the Holy Quran:
He who obeys the Messenger obeys Allah. (Al Nisa-80)
This means that as it is compulsory to obey Allah Almighty it is also compulsory and
necessary to obey
Hazrat Muhammad .Obviously orders regarding Din are
contained in the Holy Quran but explanation of these orders, details and practical
observance can be made only with the help of the sayings, action and model of the Holy
Prophet. Without this knowledge proper obedience of the Holy Prophet is impossible.
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 Compilation of Hadiths
Hadiths were compiled and written down since the time of Prophet
Muhammad (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam), sahaba (RadiAllahu Tala Anhum)
had their own scrolls or books, with the help of these scrolls and books other
hadith books were compiled later onwards.
At first the Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) stopped his companions
(RadiAllahu Tala Anhum) from writing down hadiths. [Sahih Bukhari]
Whatever the reason, then afterwards this was permitted.
Prophet of Allah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said to Abdullah bin Amr
(RadiAllahu Tala Anho):
“Write hadiths, I swear by Him who holds my life in His hand, from this mouth nothing
but the truth comes out.” [Abu Dawood, volume 1, pg 158: Sanad is Sahih]
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THE FIRST PHASE OF COMPILATION OF HADITH:

In the early period of Islam many collections of Hadith were available. Among these
collections Saheefa Sadiqa of Hazrat Abdullah bin Ammer Bin Al-Aas is very famous.
Similarly the Sahifa compiled by Hazrat Ali contained many orders and issues. The most
important is the sahifa of Hazrat Abu Huraira as it has reached us as quoted and compiled
by his pupil Hamam, bin Munaba. This Sahifa was traced and verified when a few years
before two identical manuscripts were found one in Berlin and the other in Damuscus.
Further this Sahifa has been reproduced without any change in Masnad of Imam Ahmad.
Most of the Ahdith of this Sahifa are included in different chapters of Shahih Bukhari. In
this way modern research has brought to light many letters and documents of Hazrat
Muhammad. Among these the invitations of Maquqas of Egypt and Nijashi are famous. 24
THE SECOND PHASE OF COMPILATION OF HADITH:
As a matter of fact compilation of Hdith was taken up in the first century A.H. However, it
is also a fact that the people of Arabia kept the record of every matter through their memory
and did not like to keep written records. The reason for this was the Arabs had a very sharp
memory and they wrote only to refresh their memories.
COMPILATION of HADITH and Umer bin Abdul Aziz:
At the close of the century in the year 99 A.H. Khalifa Umar bin Abdul Aziz realized that
most of the companions of the Holy Prophet had passed away. He was concerned that this
might not adversely affect the knowledge and subject of Ahadith. Therefore, he issued an
order to all the scholars in different countries to collect and compile the Ahadith of the Holy
Prophet. In compliance with this order Imam Shaibe of Kufa, Imam Zahri of Madina and Imam
Makhool of Syria collected hadith. Similarly, at the end of the first century great Aaimma,
Ta'been, fully participated in the collections and compilation of Ahadith.
In the second century A.H. this process further flourished. Along with Ahadith the
descriptions of Fatawa and sayings of the companions, Ahl-i-Bait and Tabeen were collected
and compiled. The most renowned books among these are Al-asar of Imam Abu Hanifa,
Mowta of Imam Malik and Aljamay of Imam Sufian Suri. During this century, Fiqah Hanfi and 25
Fiqah Malki were compiled in the light of these Ahadith and descriptions which were followed
by the companions and Ta'been.
[Link] THIRD PHASE OF COMPLIATION OF HADITH:
In the third century Ilm-e-Hadith made much progress. Mohadithin reached every corner of the world in
search of Ahadith. They separated reliable Ahadith from the unreliable ones. The accurate reference to the
narrator of Ahadis was established. Isma-ul-Rijal was compiled: Cross examination and scrutiny to
establish authenticityof Ahadith became an art. During this period valuable books like Sihah-i-Sitta and
usool e Arba were produced. Follwoign is a list and their authors:

SIHA-I-SITTA:
The following six books contain the most authenticated Ahadith pertaining to Fiqa e hanafi. These are called Siha e Sitta.

1. SAHIH BUKHARI
Imam Abou Abdullah Muhammad Ben Ismail Bukhari (d. 256 A.H)
2. SAHIH MUSLIM
Imam Muslim Ben Hajaj Ben Muslim Qasheri (d. 261 A.H )
3. JAMI TIRMAZI
Imam Abou Issa Muhammad Ben Issa Al Tirmazi (d. 279 A.H)
4. SUNAN-E-ABE DAUD
Imam Abou Daud Suleman Ben Ashas (d. 275 A.H )
5. SINAN-E-NISAE
Imam Abou Abdurehman Ahmed Ben Ali Al Nisae d. 303 A.H
6. SUNAN-E-IBNEMAJAH 26
Imam Abou Abdullah Muhammad Ben Yazed Ibne Maja Al Qazveni d. 273 A.H
ASOOL-E-ARBA

The following four books contain the most authenticated Ahadith pertaining to Fiqa Jafaria.
These are called Asool-e-Arba:

1. AL KAFI
Abou Jafar Muhammad Ben Yaqoob Alkulini d. 339 A.H

2. MAN LA HAZURALFAQIH
Abou Jafar Muhammad Ali Ben Babveh Qummi d. 381 A.H

3. AL ISTIBSAR
Abou Jafar Muhammad Ben Al Hassan Al Toosi d. 460 A.H

4. TAHZEEB AL-AHKAM
Abou Jafar Muhammad Ben Al Hassan Al Toosi d. 460 A.H

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ANY QUESTION

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THANK YOU
ALLAH HAFIZ

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