Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah

Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah

by ReadWorks

From Hinduism to Christianity, each faith abides by a set of practices that outline a religiously accepted
way of living. In Christianity, these practices are written in the Bible. In Zoroastrianism, they are written
in the Avesta, a collection of the religion's sacred texts. In Islam, Muslims follow the teachings recorded
in the Qur'an, the holy book of the religion. The faith's prophet, Muhammad, established a set of
"habitual practices," or Sunnah, in Arabic. Sunnah defines the legal and social practices that are
followed within Islam, while the Qur'an outlines the beliefs of the religion.

Sunnah is comprised of hadiths-texts that describe the sayings, actions, and attributes of Prophet
Muhammad, who Muslims believe to be the Messenger of Allah, or God. Within these descriptions, one
can find instructions on how to conduct one's daily life according to Muslim law. For example, in one
chapter of one hadith, Muhammad instructs his followers on what to do and what not to do. The hadith
says [translated], "The Prophet said, "I order you to do four things and forbid you from four things. The
first four are as follows:

1. To believe in Allah, to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and [Muhammad]
Allah's Messenger
2. To offer prayers perfectly [at the stated times]
3. To pay Zakat [obligatory charity]
4. To give me Khumus [one-fifth of war booty].

The other four things which are forbidden are Dubba, Hantam, Muqaiyat, and Naqir [all these are
utensils used for the preparation of alcoholic drinks]. This hadith was written by Imam Muhammad al-
Bukhari (870 AD), a well-respected Imam (a Muslim leader) within the Islam community.

Therefore, Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari specifically states that the Prophet Muhammad instructs his

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 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah

followers to believe in God, to pray, to pay charity, and give Khumus, or Islamic tax. He also prohibits
the consumption of alcohol. The first three of the hadith nearly mirror the first three of five pillars of
Islam, the main acts of the faith, which are as follows:

1. To believe that there is only one true God, or Allah

2. To pray dutifully

3. To pay Zakat (obligatory charity)

4. To perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

5. To fast during the month of Ramadan

The Sunnah is very long, comprised of several hadiths; therefore, there are many instructions on how
to live a religious life. However, the Qur'an is the holiest of all texts for Muslims. It is divided into two
sections, which are further divided into suras (or chapters). One sura describes the different sections of
the Qur'an: one, named muhkamat, provides "the foundation of Allah's laws." Another, mutashabihat, is
said to be allegorical, giving stories that encourage various interpretations.

Whereas the Sunnah mainly focuses on specific laws and social practices within the faith, the Qur'an
focuses on belief, good deeds, and prayer. It preaches obedience unto Allah. It is very important for
Muslims to abide by the teachings in the Qur'an, as they are believed to be teachings of Allah. There
are also several good deeds outlined in this holy book that tell Muslims how to lead their daily lives. For
example, the text instructs its believers to be courteous to someone who is treating them with courtesy.
Furthermore, it specifies to do so in your own home or in the home of someone else-even if an
ignorant man is greeting you. This is just like another well-known golden rule, "Treat others the way
you would like to be treated."

In addition to general suggestions on how to act with kindness and goodwill, the Qur'an provides
specific suggestions for diet. Within the Islamic faith, pork is prohibited, along with strong alcoholic
drinks and wine. "Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good" (2:168). "Eat and drink but waste not by
excess" (7:31), the Qur'an states. Therefore, it instructs to eat and drink in moderation. Along with daily
eating directions, the Qur'an tells its followers to completely avoid calling each other by offensive
nicknames, as well as sarcasm.

The combination of the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah give rise to Sharia, or Islamic law.
According to this law, there are three different types of crime, defined as:

1. Had Crimes (most serious)

2. Ta'zir Crimes (least serious

3. Qisas Crimes (retaliation crimes)

Since some of the punishments given by the Qur'an can be violent, Islamic countries don't always
adopt them. Punishments for these crimes can include stoning or even execution; therefore, they are
extremely controversial within a wider international audience.

These are just a few examples of the numerous guidelines on daily living within the Islam religion. The
Qur'an is similar to the size of the New Testament and contains many more instructions than the ones
previously mentioned. Ultimately, both the Qur'an and the Sunnah encourage their followers to be kind
to one another, to put complete faith in God, and to act according to Allah's teachings.

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 ReadWorks Vocabulary - foundation

foundation foun da tion

Definition
noun
1. the base of something such as an action, substance, structure, or opinion.

He has enough money to give his business a good foundation.

Your ideas about her are completely without foundation.

2. the stone or concrete structure that holds up a building from beneath.

A house built on a strong foundation will last many years.

Advanced Definition
noun
1. the base or basis of something such as a process, substance, structure, or opinion.

These facts form the foundation of her theory.

2. the act of establishing or originating.

After the foundation of the hospital, the town's population grew.

He was involved in the foundation of the company.

3. the masonry or stone structure that supports a building from beneath.

Fortunately, the house was built on a solid foundation.

Water has seeped through the foundation.

4. an endowed organization that regularly grants money to individuals or groups.

The dance troupe gets financial support from one of the foundations for the
arts.

The heiress established a foundation to help the blind.

Spanish cognate
fundacin: The Spanish word fundacin means foundation.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 ReadWorks Vocabulary - foundation

1. This past July, a report was issued on the tower's movement. Happily, there was nothing to
report. The tower and its foundations aren't moving at all.
2. The Roman Arch also set the foundation for the magnificent triumphal arch. These
imposing structures are generally built over large thoroughfares to commemorate important
military victories.
3. Scientists are currently looking for the foundation of the first church that the Jamestown
settlers built. If found, it will be the oldest English church ever discovered in the United
States.
4. This sort of slow change through natural selection was the foundation of Darwin's theory of
evolution, the idea that all living creatures would evolve to carry the characteristics that
allow them to be most successful.
5. The intellectual foundation of the Declaration is explained in just a few sentences in the
second paragraph. "All men are created equal," writes author Thomas Jefferson. And
everyone has basic rights that cannot be taken away, including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness." Any government that tries to deny those rights to its people is a government
that should not deserve to exist.
6. The latest technology may be used to help create new types of robotic limbs for people who
have lost their arms or legs. "This is the foundation for what we may see in [robotics] in the
future," said scientist Michael Foster, who oversaw the development of the new walking
robots.

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 ReadWorks Vocabulary - practice

practice prac tice

Definition
noun
1. the repeating of some activity many times in order to become good at it.

Claude spends two hours a day at football practice.

“Practice makes perfect” is an old saying.

2. the work of an occupation or profession.

Three of my cousins are in the practice of accounting.

verb
1. To repeat something in order to do it better.

She practices piano every day.

2. to work at a particular job.

This doctor practices internal medicine.

Advanced Definition
noun
1. an activity that is habitual or customary.

It was never my practice to get up early in the mornings.

Giving store credit but no refunds is their usual business practice.

You shouldn't make a practice of borrowing money.

2. repeated performance in order to become skillful.

With a little more practice, you'll be able to play it perfectly.

3. the act or process of carrying out a thing.

Changing the school lunch program hadn't seemed too difficult in theory, but
in practice, many problems arose.
4. the pursuit of an occupation or profession.

She decided early on to enter the practice of medicine.

Tired of the practice of law, he decided to change careers.

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 ReadWorks Vocabulary - practice

5. the business of a professional who serves clients or patients, or the office where the
business is conducted.

She's a lawyer with a successful practice.

Their doctor has a busy practice on Fifth Avenue.

transitive verb
1. to do or observe habitually or customarily.

All of her family members practice yoga.

2. to repeatedly do or perform (something) to become skillful.

The band practiced the song until they could play it well.

If you practice your serve, your tennis game will improve.

You should practice parking the car a few more times before you take the
driver's test.

Another actor helped him practice saying his lines for the play.
3. to pursue (an occupation or activity).

She practices law and her sister practices medicine.

4. to drill or give repeated lessons to.

His music teacher practiced him in piano as well as in violin.

intransitive verb
1. to follow a profession.

He has a law degree but he never practiced.

2. to work systematically at acquiring a skill.

If you don't practice, you'll never succeed at this.

Spanish cognate
prctica: The Spanish word prctica means practice.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:
1. Soil conditions, fertilization practices, irrigation methods, and the specific plant varieties can
all affect nutrient content.

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 ReadWorks Vocabulary - practice

2. Farm practices that are unregulated or dangerous and cause harm to the public-
contamination of water supplies, for example- are definitely taken seriously in court.
3. Others feel differently about such practices. In fact, opinions about piercings and tattoos for
teens vary widely. Many teachers, employers, and other adults disapprove of them.
4. Certain buildings have more access to natural daylight, appliances that use less energy,
and encourage people to use environmentally friendly practices.
5. Although erosion occurs naturally at a very slow rate, human activities have sped up the
process by an estimated 10 to 40 times globally. The biggest culprit is unsustainable
agricultural practices and the industrialization of agriculture.

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 ReadWorks Vocabulary - prophet

prophet proph et
Advanced Definition
noun
1. one who predicts the future, esp. one considered to be speaking under divine inspiration
and revealing divine will.

2. in the Old Testament, one chosen by God as a messenger and guide to the ancient
Hebrews.

3. in the early Christian church, one who was divinely inspired to make revelations and
predictions.

4. (cap.) Muhammad, founder of the Muslim religion (prec. by the).

5. a teacher, leader, or spokesman of a movement or cause, esp. a religious one, who is

believed to be the recipient of some special inspiration or revelation.

Spanish cognate
profeta: The Spanish word profeta means prophet.

These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used:
1. Though Jesus is the son of God according to Christian tradition, in the Islamic faith, both he
and Muhammad are referred to as prophets.
2. "Samuel Morse sent, 'What hath God wrought?' Alexander Graham Bell said, 'Come here
Watson I need you'. Neil Armstrong had his giant leap. These guys were smart and they
understood media. We had no such concept but the message we created, 'lo,' [short for
"login"] that's the most prophetic, succinct, powerful message we could have come up with
by accident."

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Definitions and sample sentences within definitions are provided by Wordsmyth. 2015 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. What is the holy book of the Islamic religion?

A. the Bible
B. the Avesta
C. the Qur'an
D. the Sunnah

2. How does the author compare the Qur'an and the Sunnah?

A. Both define the social and legal practices that Muslims should follow.
B. Both outline the religious beliefs of Islam.
C. Both are believed to be the teachings of Allah.
D. Both encourage their followers to act according to Allah's teachings.

3. While the focus of the Qur'an is on belief, prayer, and good deeds, it also provides
some specific guidelines for daily living. What evidence from the passage supports
this conclusion?

A. The Qur'an provides directions for daily eating and diet.

B. The Qur'an preaches obedience unto Allah.
C. The Qur'an is believed to be the teachings of Allah.
D. The Qur'an is about the same size as the New Testament.

4. Based on the passage, what conclusion can be made about Sharia, or Islamic
law?

A. All Islamic countries must adopt Sharia.

B. Sharia is controversial within Islamic countries.
C. Today no Islamic countries follow Sharia.
D. Sharia has been changed for modern usage.

5. What is this passage mostly about?

A. the Prophet Muhammad and his influence on the Sunnah

B. differences in beliefs between Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism
C. how the combination of teachings in the Qur'an and the Sunnah form Sharia
D. similarities and differences between the Qur'an and the Sunnah

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 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Comprehension Questions

6. Read the following sentences: "Since some of the punishments given by the
Qur'an can be violent, Islamic countries don't always adopt them. Punishments for
these crimes can include stoning or even execution; therefore, they are extremely
controversial within a wider international audience."

As used in this sentence, what does "controversial" mean?

A. easy to understand
B. similar or alike
C. causing opposing opinions
D. challenging or difficult

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

The Sunnah contains many directions for social and legal practices; ________, one
hadith prohibits the consumption of alcohol.

A. for instance
B. although
C. especially
D. meanwhile

8. What is a hadith?

9. Explain how the Qur'an and the Sunnah are different.

10. Explain whether the teachings of the Sunnah and the Qur'an are both needed to
live according to Islam.

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 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Comprehension Questions Answer Key

1. What is the holy book of the Islamic religion?

A. the Bible
B. the Avesta
C. the Qur'an
D. the Sunnah

2. How does the author compare the Qur'an and the Sunnah?

A. Both define the social and legal practices that Muslims should follow.
B. Both outline the religious beliefs of Islam.
C. Both are believed to be the teachings of Allah.
D. Both encourage their followers to act according to Allah's teachings.

3. While the focus of the Qur'an is on belief, prayer, and good deeds, it also provides
some specific guidelines for daily living. What evidence from the passage supports
this conclusion?

A. The Qur'an provides directions for daily eating and diet.

B. The Qur'an preaches obedience unto Allah.
C. The Qur'an is believed to be the teachings of Allah.
D. The Qur'an is about the same size as the New Testament.

4. Based on the passage, what conclusion can be made about Sharia, or Islamic
law?

A. All Islamic countries must adopt Sharia.

B. Sharia is controversial within Islamic countries.
C. Today no Islamic countries follow Sharia.
D. Sharia has been changed for modern usage.

5. What is this passage mostly about?

A. the Prophet Muhammad and his influence on the Sunnah

B. differences in beliefs between Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism
C. how the combination of teachings in the Qur'an and the Sunnah form Sharia
D. similarities and differences between the Qur'an and the Sunnah

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 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Comprehension Questions Answer Key

6. Read the following sentences: "Since some of the punishments given by the
Qur'an can be violent, Islamic countries don't always adopt them. Punishments for
these crimes can include stoning or even execution; therefore, they are extremely
controversial within a wider international audience."

As used in this sentence, what does "controversial" mean?

A. easy to understand
B. similar or alike
C. causing opposing opinions
D. challenging or difficult

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

The Sunnah contains many directions for social and legal practices; ________, one
hadith prohibits the consumption of alcohol.

A. for instance
B. although
C. especially
D. meanwhile

8. What is a hadith?

A hadith is a text within the Sunnah, which describes the sayings,

actions, and attributes of Prophet Muhammad.

9. Explain how the Qur'an and the Sunnah are different.

The Qur'an outlines the religious beliefs of Islam, while the Sunnah
defines the legal and social practices that are followed within Islam.

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 Teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Comprehension Questions Answer Key

10. Explain whether the teachings of the Sunnah and the Qur'an are both needed to
live according to Islam.

Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage. Answers

should indicate that both the Qur'an and the Sunnah are needed to live
according to Islam, because each text has different teachings and serves
a different purpose. The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam and is believed
to be the teachings of Allah. Its teachings are necessary to live according
to Islam as it outlines the beliefs of the religion. The Sunnah is
composed of habitual practices established by Prophet Muhammad,
who is believed to be the Messenger of Allah. The Sunnah provides
specific instructions on how to live one's life according to Muslim law.

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