Sunnah

Sunnah is the second primary source of Islamic Law. It takes

its priority as far as looking into Islamic law as concerned
when such law cannot be found or its ruling cannot be found in
the al-Quran. It used as reference or sources.
Hadith is the recorded one by the scholars
Sunnah is words, referring to all the narration of the prophet
Mohammad through his word , sayings, and actions or any
matters that received his tacit approval.
We can deduced that there are three categories of Sunnah that is
narrated by the Prophet Mohammad.
Surah Qauliyah ( Sayings)
Sunnah Fillyah (Actions)
Sunnah Taqririyah (Approval)
Example of Sunnah Qauliyah
i.)

All deeds are determined through intention.

Sunnah Fillyah (actions of Prophet which meant to be laid

down as rulings.)
Referring to the action of prophet Mohammad which have a
legal content to it.
i.) Perform your prayer as how you see me performing
it.
ii.) Pilgrimage performing Hajj
Sunnah Taqririyah
All it is narrated by Prophet Mohammad which receive the
approval from P.M.
Referring to what is done and what is said by the companions
of prophet Mohammad.
Such act or such sayings require a legal ruling to it, the
approval or should come directly from the prophet Mohammad
to indicate the legal rulings from the act and saying on its
companion.
Example: Taking ablution during travelling or in the absence of
water. Occasion happened during the lifetime of P. Mohammad
whereby they were travelling in the sea, there was no clean
water. They take ablution by using the sea water before
performing prayer. And also some of the companion take

ablution by way of Tayammun. (using dust) The Prophet

Mohammad replied as he nodded his head.
It is permissible to take ablution by using the sea water or by
way of Tayammun.
Example: Occasion in the dessert whereby in the long
travelling one of the companion ate dhab. (Desert lizard)
received the tacit approval from P.M.
The authorities of Sunnah
Referring to the authority from the al-Quran that support and
maintain the importance of legal injunction that comes from
Sunah as well.
The indication of the role of Sunnah as a primary source of law
can been seen in
Al Nahl 16:44
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We
revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people
what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.

Keywords: Message which refer to the Sunnah of Prophet

Mohammad that you may explain clearly to man.
Al Nahl 16:59
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and
those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer
it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the
Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
Keyword: Obey the messenger (PM)

Al Hashr 59:7
And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he
has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is
severe in penalty.

Al Nisa 4: 65
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make
you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they
dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no
discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing]
submission.

Al- Najm 53:3 Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
(Divine inspire)

Characteristic of Sunnah Legislation (How Sunnah

conveying the rules)
2

1.) Sunnah consists of ruling and injunction that

confirms, reemphasis and reiterates the al-Quran.
Sunnah confirm further on the law that is already
clearly indicated in the al-Quran.
Al-Nisa 4:29:
O you who have believed, do not consume one another's
wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual
consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed,
Allah is to you ever Merciful.

The rule of haram forbidden for a person to steal

other property unjustly, such rule has been further
confirm in Sunnah.
Hadith: It is unlawful to possess the property of
Muslim without his expressed consent.(unless there
is a consent from the other)
2.) Sunnah as elaboration and clarification
Sunnah explain and clarify further the legal
injunction in the al-Quran. Al-Quran may provide a
general legal injunction on that particular injunction
and it had been elaborated further in the Sunnah for
better understanding.
Al Baqarah 2: 110 :
And establish prayer and give zakah, and whatever good you
put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah.
Indeed, Allah of what you do, is Seeing

(General legal injunction that the above practice is

compulsory, how? The Sunnah its role in explain the
general ruling of the wajib which indicated in
Sunnah)
Sunnah : Perform prayer as how you see men
performing it or pay zakat, alms giving . No alms
giving is imposed on less than 200 dirhams.
Al- Baqarah 2:275:
But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So
whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists
may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah . But
whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the
companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

It is lawful or permissible for you to do trade, but

haram for you to commit riba in the business.

This is a general principle which does not state what

type of riba, and it has been further explained in AlSunnah.

3.) Sunnah qualifies the unqualified verses of Al Quran

and specifies the general injunctions of Al Quran.
The law is already and clearly indicate the ruling
and what did the Sunnah does, indicates further on
unqualified ruling to what has been given in alQuran
Al- Maidah 5:38:
[As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their
hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent
[punishment] from Allah.

It is clear indication that whoever commit theft

their hand will be amputated.
But Sunnah give further qualification of person who
commited theft and their hands to be amputated,
qualify the element of the crime to be fulfilled and
the amount of the stolen property must fulfil certain
amount e.g in hadith stated quarter of dinar then
only their hands will be amputated. Give specific
requirement and qualification.
Al Maidah 5:3
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and
that which has been dedicated to other than Allah , and [those
animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long
fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal
has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death]

Sunnah qualifies further or give exemption of the kind

of food that is permissible to be consumed.
The kind of animal that can be eaten that it is died itself
by human and Sunnah qualifies and give exemption of
food is carcass of fish, eel, blood, grasshopper, heart
and liver.