Before we understand the importance and types of Sunnah in Islam, let’s know what is Sunnah.
Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) means the traditions or habits of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These are the practices that were seen and heard by his companions and were later passed on from generation to generation. Sunnah holds the next position to the Qur’an when it comes to learning and following deen.
Companions of Prophets considered following one sunnah to be better than the whole world. Because is the way to follow our beloved Prophet (PBUH), to show our love to him, and in turn get Allah’s love. The collection of hadith (synonym of sunnah) started generations after Prophet (PBUH) but this was a very well-researched process. Every single hadith that was collected had to go through a certain process that considered:
- Minute details of who is the Raavi (the one who narrated the Hadith),
- The connectedness of the Sanad (chain of narration right from prophet to the Raavi),
- The memory of every single person in that Sanad, and lastly technical perfectness of Sanad.
After a very long struggle, the collection was done. The collection of these Sunnahs can be found in books of hadith. There are many hadith books available; six of these are called the Sihah Sitta, i.e. The Authentic Six.
To believe in the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) is essential for our iman as those are words and actions of the Prophet (PBUH).
Allah (SWT) says:
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger and the light which He sent down.” (64:8)
It is very crucial for all of us to struggle and strive to follow sunnah to make our Duniya and akhirah a better place.
Take what the Messenger brings you.” (Qur’an, 59:7)
Sunnah is our vehicle to understand Qur’an and its laws. It also shows us the way to practice various Idabah in Islam.
“You have a good model in the Messenger of Allah for one who hopes for Allah and the Last Day.” (Qur’an, 33:21)
Based on Importance Sunnah Falls Into Two Categories:
➔ Maukiddah (M): Those if missed habitually will be considered a sin.
➔ Ghair Maukiddah (GM): Those which can be missed habitually and will not be considered a sin.
Types of Sunnah in Islam:
Sunnah falls into three major types:
- Sunnah Failiyah
- Sunnah Qualiyah
- Sunnah Taqririyah
1. Sunnah Failiyah:
These are actions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which he used to do on a regular or daily basis. These include daily sunnah prayers, Azkar, sunnah fasts, and a few otherworldly actions.
For example, sunnah prayers include:
➔ Eid prayers (M)
➔ Extra Rakats:
— Rakat (M) before fajr fard.
— Rakats (G.M.) before and 2 Rakat(M) after zuhr fard.
— Rakats (G.M) before asr.
— Two rakat (M) after magrib.
— Four Rakat (G.M.) before and two Rakat(M) Isha.
➔ Taraweeh Prayer:
This is the night prayer that is performed during Ramadan. It is performed in the congregation by men. It is a recommended sunnah and is very rewarding.
The Prophet said: “Whoever stands for prayer (the night prayer) during Ramadan with Iman (faith), hoping for rewards, then all his/her previous sins will be forgiven.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
➔ Sunnah Azkar:
There are several Azkar that the prophet Muhammad used to do on regular basis and has also recommended to others. The popular ones include Tasbeeh Fatima after every namaz, reading Ayatul Kursi, and four Qul after every namaz, morning and evening Azkar.
➔ Sunnah Fasts:
These include Six days of Shawwal, Monday and Thursday, three days every month, the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of the lunar calendar, the day of Ashura i.e.10 of Muharram, day of Arafah 9th of Dhul hajj.
➔ Other Sunnah:
Replying to azan, using siwak, Duas, and etiquettes for eating and drinking, dua for going and coming out of the washroom, etiquettes, and Duas of sleeping, smiling, making dua for others, saying bismillah before starting at anything, and a lot of such actions which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to do on daily basis.
2. Sunnah Qualiyah:
These include all the words i.e. hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We have six highly reliable hadith books which are being followed worldwide. These include the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on every single area of life in both worlds.
The Six Canonical Books of Hadith:
- Sahih al-Bukhari
- Sahih Muslim
- Sunan Abu Dawood
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi
- Sunan al-Nasa’i
- Sunan ibn Majah
These include every single thing prophet (PBUH) said to his companions. His words include:
1. Nasihah for us: these included Nasihat of every area of life. Here are a few such examples:
➔ The prophet said, “The most perfect believers are the best in character, and the best of you are the kindest to their families” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi).
➔ “Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished.”
➔ “The best among you is the one who doesn’t harm others with his tongue and hands.”
➔ “The greatest jihad (struggle/striving) is to battle your own soul, to fight the evil within yourself.”
➔ “The strongest among you is the one who controls his anger.”
— “God does not look at your forms and possessions but he looks at your hearts and your deeds.”
➔ “Feed the hungry and visit a sick person, and free the captive, if he is unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed whether Muslim or non-Muslim.”
➔ “Speak good or remain silent.”
2. The rules related to prayers, fasts, zakat, hajj, umrah, other acts of ibadah, business and financial dealings, etc.
Example:
The smallest yet farad component of salah is known only from the sunnah.
Abu Humaid As-Saidi (R.A.) said:
” I am one among you who is more informed of the way the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) prayed. … When the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) stood up to pray, he raised his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders, and uttered the Takbir (Allah is the greatest) …. ” (Abu Dawud: 730)
Allah’s Apostle said, “There is no Zakat either on a horse or a slave belonging to a Muslim” – [Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 24, 542]
3. Virtue of deeds
➔ “Reciting ‘Qul Huwa Allaahu Ahad’ and al-Mi’wadhatayn [the last two surahs of the Qur’aan] three times in the evening and in the morning will protect you against everything.” – (Saheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 2829)
➔ Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his Companions: Could any one of you not recite one-third of the Quran in one night? They found the idea too difficult, and said, Who among us could do that, O Messenger of Allah? He said Allahu-Ahad, al-Samad [i.e., Surat al-Ikhlas] is one-third of the Quran. – (Reported by al-Bukhari, 4628)
➔ ‘The Prophet (saw) said, “The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be together in Paradise like this, “and he (saw) held his two fingers together to illustrate. [Bukhari].
Apart from these the words of the prophet (PBUH) also are about stories of previous generations and explanations for a lot of other things.
3. Sunnah Taqririyah:
This includes all those times when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) approved of an action done by others by keeping silent on the matter which shows the validity of that action.
Example:
It so happened once that two companions of the Prophet were on a journey and couldn’t find water for wudu, hence they did tayammum and prayed a fard Salah. Later when they found water one of them did wudu and repeated the prayer but the other one did not repeat the Salah. When they reached the prophet (PBUH) and narrated this to him he approved of both their actions.
Sunnah is a blessing of Allah (SWT) on the ummah of prophet Muhammed (SAWS). It is the second source from which we know our deen in a better and elaborated manner. It is the way to obey and love our prophet and hence to gain Allah’s blessings. We must all never forget the importance of sunnah and must follow it as used to be done by prophets’ companions and other Saliheen.
