Excerpted from the book:The Messenger of God: Muhammad

by Fethullah Gulen

Hadith: His words, his actions and the actions that he approved

Fiqh: (Islamic Law) Concerned about his actions which are relevant with law, not his personal likes or dislikes

Sunna: His word, act and confirmation and it is the second source of Islam

The Qur’an and the Sunna are inseparable and the Sunna clarifies the ambiguities in the Qur’an

For example: How to pray, give alms and make pilgrimage

The Messenger ordered his companions to follow his sunna absolutely.

Hadith compilations from the time of companions: al-Sahifa al-Sadika by Abdallah b. Amr b. As, al-Sahifa al-Sahiha by Hammam b. Munabbih, al-Majmu by Zayd b. Ali b. Husayn

The Verbal Sunna:◦ “No bequest to the heir”◦ “Don’t harm (others) and don’t return harm with

harm”◦ “A sea is that of which the water is clean and the

dead animals are lawful to eat”

The Practical Sunna:◦ The Quran usually lays down only general rules:

Daily Prayers

The Approval Sunna:

◦ Two companions traveling in the desert could not find enough water for wudu…

◦ The Messenger ordered a march upon the Banu Qurayza immediately after the Battle of Trench…

“He who raised among the unlettered ones a Messenger from them, reciting to them His revelations, purifies them and instructs them in the Book and the Wisdom” (62/2)◦ The wisdom refers to the Sunna◦ “Take care! I have been given the Book and its like

together with it” (Hadith)

“O you believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you!” (4/59)◦ Obey refers to the authority for commanding and

forbiding

“If you love God, follow me so that God loves you.” (3/31)

“Nay, by your Master, they will never become believers until they choose you as judge to settle the matters in dispute between them.” (4/65)

The example of Abdullah ibn Mesud about tattoo…

The way of the Prophet is the way of God “Whoever obeys me, obeys God; whoever disobeys

me, disobeys God.” (Hadith)

The Sunna links all past, present, and future of Muslims.

Following Sunna becomes vital when Islam is attacked and Muslims lose their supremacy.

First, it enjoins and prohibits, lays down the principles related to establishing all religious obligations and necessities.

Second, it interprets the Qur’an◦ “Those who believed and did not mix their belief

with wrongdoing: for them is security and they are those who are truly guided.” (6/82)

Third, it fills in the details about those subjects that the Qur’an mentions only briefly.◦ For instance: How to pray.

Fourth, it also restricts general laws and commandments in the Qur’an◦ “The community of Prophets does not leave

anything to be inherited. What we leave is for charity.” (Hadith)