Chapter 17 of 988 min read

5. As used by specialists in Aqeedah (Theologians)

٥. مفهوم السنَّة عند علماء العقيدة

Opposite of innovation (sunnah is the opposite of bid’ah). Food for Thought! Now can you, as a Faqeeh, tell me which definition is pertinent to law and legislation? Answer: The Usooli definition Authority of the Sunnah 0fQ a 8"6 p 3 / ; B S ? # " ) Allah states [in Surah anNisa]: “He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as a watcher over them” (alQur’an 4:80). Al-Awza’i narrates that Hassan ibn Atiyyah said, “The revelation used to descend on the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) and Jibreel would bring him the Sunnah which interprets that revelation, so the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) didn’t have any source for his statements, actions and approvals except the Wahi (revelation). Then he recited: " r3 ) | $ ٓ) ( '"A ۡ & "A g a ۟ a ) “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired” (alQur’an 53:3-4). Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 25

Obey the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) by following his example. Once a hadith has been confirmed as Sahih (authentic), it is a source of legislation. The Qur’aniyyoon • They claim that the Qur’an is the only source of legislation. • They believe that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was a regular man, so there was no reason to follow him. "k # 3 x v ;5) () m( 8+?a .Q : 2 k 93>,; =+ 7?e " Abu Rafi' narrated: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Let me not find one of you reclining on his couch when he hears something regarding me which I have commanded or forbidden and he says about it: ‘I do not know. What we found in Allah's Book we have followed” (alBayhaqi, Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others). • And in another narration: " k L a %N # L a 'A " “… but truly what the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) has forbidden is similar to what Allah has forbidden” (alBayhaqi, Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah). Faqeeh Says… The Qur’aniyyoon are those who claim to abide by the injunctions of the Qur’an and reject any other source of law, including the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him). They do not represent a specific sect but can be found everywhere, at any time and amongst different sects. The Role of the Sunnah with the Qur’an • Sunnah explains the meaning of the Qur’an. For example: -", ) 8 3 < )! ' ? 6H 8 & ^v 8 6 Mml c8 f" 8 6 7 "A Allah says [in Surah alAn’am]: “It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided” (alQur’an 6:82). The companions (May Allah Be Pleased With Them) were scared because they thought that “zulm” referred to any transgression so the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) explained that it referred to shirk (associating partners with Allah). Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 26

Narrated Abdullah: When:"...and confuse not their belief with wrong." (6.82) was revealed, the Prophet's companions said, "Which of us has not done wrong?" Then there was revealed:-- "Verily joining others in worship with Allah is a tremendous wrong indeed." (alBukhari) Another example: "L FT 1 8 ( %a , & 8 (RE -"7 "A j 6 gq , 8 7 8 ( gq ' 7: ; 8 3 + 8 (7 B 8 8 ( = 8 ( - Q7 8 ( B + \ & @ ' 8 (3 Q , ) a @ + ^v : 8 ( } "% "A L FT H/; 8 O " bQ 2 ^v : 8 7 & @ , ; k 2 ? a M; ?"e - / * ' Q+ "q3 ; )< B F , ) M!+ & ; B ) 8 6 > ' Allah says [in Surah alBaqara]: “It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Leebas (i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with her - as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir At-Tabaree), for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things, Allahs set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” (alQur’an 2:187). The Sunnah explains this further: 'Adi bin Hatim narrated: “When the above verses were revealed: 'Until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the black thread,' I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the next morning I went to Allah's Apostle and told him the whole story. He explained to me, "That verse means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn." (alBukhari). • Sunnah qualifies the absolutes in the Qur’an. The sunnah makes particular some Qur’anic verses that are general. • Sunnah comes to detail the commandments in the Qur’an. Several components of prayer are mentioned in the Qur’an (observe salah on time, times of salah, recite what you know of the Qur’an, ruku’, sujood) but the description of the way Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) prayed is necessary. Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 27

“And perform As-salah (Iqamat-as-salah), and give zakah, and Irka (i.e. bow down or submit yourselves with obedience to Allah) along with ArRakioon” (alQur’an 2:43). Malik narrated: “We came to the Prophet and we were young men nearly of equal ages and we stayed with him for twenty nights. Allah's Apostle was a very kind man and when he realized our longing for our families, he asked us about those whom we had left behind. When we informed him, he said, "Go back to your families and stay with them and teach them (religion) and order them (to do good deeds). The Prophet mentioned things some of which I remembered and some I did not. Then he said, "pray as you have seen me praying, and when it is the time of prayer, one of you should pronounce the call (Adhan) for the prayer and the eldest of you should lead the prayer" (alBukhari). • Sunnah emphasizes some of the rules in the Qur’an • Sunnah can establish new laws This does not make Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) an independent lawmaker. This gives Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) permission to make ijtihad. Not everything that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did is considered a Shari’ah ruling. If he recommended (i.e. white clothing for men) or prohibited something, it is Shari’ah. Example: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) forbade the plucking of eyebrows, which is not found in the Qur’an: 'Abdullah reported that Allah had cursed those women who tattooed and who have themselves tattooed, those who pluck hair from their faces and those who make spaces between their teeth for beautification changing what God has created. This news reached a woman of the tribe of Asad who was called Umm Ya'qub and she used to recite the Holy Quran. She came to him and said: What is this news that has reached me from you that you curse those women who tattooed and those women who have themselves tattooed, the women who pluck hair from their faces and who make spaces between their teeth for beautification changing what God has created? Thereupon 'Abdullah said: Should I not curse one upon whom Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) has invoked curse and that is in the Book also. Thereupon that woman said: I read the Quran from cover to cover, but I did not find that in it. Whereupon he said: If you had read (thoroughly) you would have definitely found this in that (as) Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has said:" What Allah's Messenger brings for you accept that. And what he has forbidden you, refrain from that." That woman said: I find this thing in your wife even now. Thereupon he said: Go and see her. She reported: I went to the wife of 'Abdullah but found nothing of this sort in her. She came back to him and said: I have not seen anything. Whereupon he said: Had there been anything like it in her, I would have never slept with her in the bed” (Muslim). • Without Sunnah, many rules of Shari’ah would be incomplete. The authority of the Sunnah vis-à-vis the Qur’an Three opinions:

Chapter 17 of 988 min read

5. As used by specialists in Aqeedah (Theologians)

٥. مفهوم السنَّة عند علماء العقيدة

Opposite of innovation (sunnah is the opposite of bid’ah). Food for Thought! Now can you, as a Faqeeh, tell me which definition is pertinent to law and legislation? Answer: The Usooli definition Authority of the Sunnah 0fQ a 8"6 p 3 / ; B S ? # " ) Allah states [in Surah anNisa]: “He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as a watcher over them” (alQur’an 4:80). Al-Awza’i narrates that Hassan ibn Atiyyah said, “The revelation used to descend on the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) and Jibreel would bring him the Sunnah which interprets that revelation, so the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) didn’t have any source for his statements, actions and approvals except the Wahi (revelation). Then he recited: " r3 ) | $ ٓ) ( '"A ۡ & "A g a ۟ a ) “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired” (alQur’an 53:3-4). Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 25

Obey the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) by following his example. Once a hadith has been confirmed as Sahih (authentic), it is a source of legislation. The Qur’aniyyoon • They claim that the Qur’an is the only source of legislation. • They believe that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was a regular man, so there was no reason to follow him. "k # 3 x v ;5) () m( 8+?a .Q : 2 k 93>,; =+ 7?e " Abu Rafi' narrated: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Let me not find one of you reclining on his couch when he hears something regarding me which I have commanded or forbidden and he says about it: ‘I do not know. What we found in Allah's Book we have followed” (alBayhaqi, Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others). • And in another narration: " k L a %N # L a 'A " “… but truly what the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) has forbidden is similar to what Allah has forbidden” (alBayhaqi, Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah). Faqeeh Says… The Qur’aniyyoon are those who claim to abide by the injunctions of the Qur’an and reject any other source of law, including the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him). They do not represent a specific sect but can be found everywhere, at any time and amongst different sects. The Role of the Sunnah with the Qur’an • Sunnah explains the meaning of the Qur’an. For example: -", ) 8 3 < )! ' ? 6H 8 & ^v 8 6 Mml c8 f" 8 6 7 "A Allah says [in Surah alAn’am]: “It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided” (alQur’an 6:82). The companions (May Allah Be Pleased With Them) were scared because they thought that “zulm” referred to any transgression so the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) explained that it referred to shirk (associating partners with Allah). Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 26

Narrated Abdullah: When:"...and confuse not their belief with wrong." (6.82) was revealed, the Prophet's companions said, "Which of us has not done wrong?" Then there was revealed:-- "Verily joining others in worship with Allah is a tremendous wrong indeed." (alBukhari) Another example: "L FT 1 8 ( %a , & 8 (RE -"7 "A j 6 gq , 8 7 8 ( gq ' 7: ; 8 3 + 8 (7 B 8 8 ( = 8 ( - Q7 8 ( B + \ & @ ' 8 (3 Q , ) a @ + ^v : 8 ( } "% "A L FT H/; 8 O " bQ 2 ^v : 8 7 & @ , ; k 2 ? a M; ?"e - / * ' Q+ "q3 ; )< B F , ) M!+ & ; B ) 8 6 > ' Allah says [in Surah alBaqara]: “It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Leebas (i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with her - as in Verse 7:189) Tafsir At-Tabaree), for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things, Allahs set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” (alQur’an 2:187). The Sunnah explains this further: 'Adi bin Hatim narrated: “When the above verses were revealed: 'Until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the black thread,' I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the next morning I went to Allah's Apostle and told him the whole story. He explained to me, "That verse means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn." (alBukhari). • Sunnah qualifies the absolutes in the Qur’an. The sunnah makes particular some Qur’anic verses that are general. • Sunnah comes to detail the commandments in the Qur’an. Several components of prayer are mentioned in the Qur’an (observe salah on time, times of salah, recite what you know of the Qur’an, ruku’, sujood) but the description of the way Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) prayed is necessary. Qabeelat Tayybah TCE Notes Revolution 27

“And perform As-salah (Iqamat-as-salah), and give zakah, and Irka (i.e. bow down or submit yourselves with obedience to Allah) along with ArRakioon” (alQur’an 2:43). Malik narrated: “We came to the Prophet and we were young men nearly of equal ages and we stayed with him for twenty nights. Allah's Apostle was a very kind man and when he realized our longing for our families, he asked us about those whom we had left behind. When we informed him, he said, "Go back to your families and stay with them and teach them (religion) and order them (to do good deeds). The Prophet mentioned things some of which I remembered and some I did not. Then he said, "pray as you have seen me praying, and when it is the time of prayer, one of you should pronounce the call (Adhan) for the prayer and the eldest of you should lead the prayer" (alBukhari). • Sunnah emphasizes some of the rules in the Qur’an • Sunnah can establish new laws This does not make Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) an independent lawmaker. This gives Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) permission to make ijtihad. Not everything that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did is considered a Shari’ah ruling. If he recommended (i.e. white clothing for men) or prohibited something, it is Shari’ah. Example: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) forbade the plucking of eyebrows, which is not found in the Qur’an: 'Abdullah reported that Allah had cursed those women who tattooed and who have themselves tattooed, those who pluck hair from their faces and those who make spaces between their teeth for beautification changing what God has created. This news reached a woman of the tribe of Asad who was called Umm Ya'qub and she used to recite the Holy Quran. She came to him and said: What is this news that has reached me from you that you curse those women who tattooed and those women who have themselves tattooed, the women who pluck hair from their faces and who make spaces between their teeth for beautification changing what God has created? Thereupon 'Abdullah said: Should I not curse one upon whom Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) has invoked curse and that is in the Book also. Thereupon that woman said: I read the Quran from cover to cover, but I did not find that in it. Whereupon he said: If you had read (thoroughly) you would have definitely found this in that (as) Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has said:" What Allah's Messenger brings for you accept that. And what he has forbidden you, refrain from that." That woman said: I find this thing in your wife even now. Thereupon he said: Go and see her. She reported: I went to the wife of 'Abdullah but found nothing of this sort in her. She came back to him and said: I have not seen anything. Whereupon he said: Had there been anything like it in her, I would have never slept with her in the bed” (Muslim). • Without Sunnah, many rules of Shari’ah would be incomplete. The authority of the Sunnah vis-à-vis the Qur’an Three opinions: