📜 The Sunnah — The Second Source of Legislation

﴿ And whatever the Messenger gives you - take it; and whatever he forbids you - abstain from it ﴾

— [Al-Hashr: 7]

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📖 Introduction

📜 Scene: Mu'adh on His Way to Yemen

Medina, 9 AH...

The Prophet ﷺ appointed Mu'adh ibn Jabal — may Allah be pleased with him — as judge in Yemen.

Before his departure, the Prophet ﷺ asked him:

"How will you judge when a case comes to you?"

Mu'adh replied: "I will judge by the Book of Allah."

The Prophet ﷺ asked: "And if you don't find it there?"

Mu'adh replied: "By the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah."

The Prophet ﷺ asked: "And if you don't find it there?"

Mu'adh replied: "I will strive with my opinion and spare no effort."

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Praise be to Allah who guided the messenger of the Messenger of Allah to what pleases the Messenger of Allah."

⚠️ Important Note: This hadith is famous among scholars for establishing the ranking of sources, though some hadith scholars have discussed its chain of transmission. But its meaning is confirmed by the practice of the Companions.

🎯 Thus the Sunnah was established as the second source of legislation!

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📜 Scene: The Importance of the Sunnah

A man came to Imran ibn Husayn — may Allah be pleased with him — and said:

"Tell us only about the Quran!"

Imran replied:

"You and your companions pray, where do you find in the Quran that Dhuhr is four rak'ahs, with silent recitation? Where do you find the tawaf around the Ka'bah seven times? Where do you find stoning the jamarat?"

The man was silent.

Imran said:

"This is the Sunnah! You cannot dispense with it!"

🎯 The Sunnah explains, clarifies, and specifies what is in the Quran!

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📖 Definition of the Sunnah

The Technical Definition

The Sunnah: What is transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ of:

• Statements (what he said)
• Actions (what he did)
• Approvals (what was done in his presence without objection)
• Characteristics (his physical and moral descriptions)

Types of Sunnah

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⚖️ Position of the Sunnah in Legislation

The Ranking

The Proof

Allah says:

﴿ And obey Allah and obey the Messenger ﴾

— [An-Nisa: 59]

And He says:

﴿ Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ﴾

— [An-Nisa: 80]

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🔗 Relationship of the Sunnah to the Quran

Types of Relationships

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📊 Classification of Hadith by Transmission

By Number of Narrators

Ahad Divisions

Practical Example

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🔍 Classification by Ruling

According to Scholars

Conditions of Sahih

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📜 Story: Imam Al-Bukhari and His Methodology

His Rigor

Imam Al-Bukhari — may Allah have mercy on him — did not write a hadith in his Sahih except after:

• 🚿 Performing ghusl and praying two rak'ahs
• 🔍 Verifying every narrator in the chain
• 📜 Being certain of the authenticity

The Result

He selected approximately 2,600 hadith (without repetitions) from more than 600,000 hadith he memorized!

💡 This shows the rigor of hadith scholars!

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📜 Types of Sunnah by Nature

1️⃣ Legislative Sunnah

2️⃣ Human Sunnah

3️⃣ Specific Sunnah

How to Distinguish?

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🎯 Contemporary Cases

📱 Case 1: Weak Hadith in Preaching

Situation: A preacher uses a weak hadith to encourage good deeds.

❓ Is this permissible?

📜 Click for answer

Three scholarly opinions:

Opinion	Ruling
🟢 Permissible with conditions (Majority)	If weakness is slight, and mentioning it's weak
🔴 Not permissible (Some scholars)	Only sahih and hasan are used
🟡 In virtues only	Not in rulings

💡 Always clarify the status of the hadith!

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🔬 Case 2: Scientific Miracles in Hadith

Situation: Someone rejects a hadith because it contradicts modern science.

❓ What is the position?

📜 Click for answer

Important principles:

Principle	Application
🔒 Authentic hadith	Cannot be rejected
🔬 Scientific theories	May change
⚖️ Method	Seek reconciliation, science may be incomplete

💡 The one who authenticated hadith is more expert than a scientist in non-religious matters!

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📚 Case 3: Citing Hadith from Internet

Situation: I found a hadith on social media.

❓ Can I share it?

📜 Click for answer

Necessary precautions:

Step	Action
🔍 Verification	Check in authenticated books
⚖️ Grading	Know the status (sahih, hasan, da'if...)
⚠️ Caution	Do not share without verification

💡 "Whoever narrates a hadith knowing it is fabricated, is one of the liars."

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🕌 Case 4: Sunnahs of Habit

Situation: Should I imitate the Prophet ﷺ in his way of eating and sleeping?

❓ What is the ruling?

📜 Click for answer

Important distinction:

Type	Ruling	Example
🕌 Legislative	Obligatory or recommended	Eating with the right hand
👤 Habitual	Recommended out of love	Sleeping on the right side
🌍 Cultural	Permissible	Type of clothing

💡 Imitating out of love is rewarded, even in habitual matters!

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📖 Case 5: Acting on Hadith Ahad

Situation: Someone refuses to act on a hadith because it is ahad (singular).

❓ Is this position correct?

📜 Click for answer

Scholarly consensus:

Principle	Explanation
⚖️ Ahad is proof	By consensus of the Salaf
🔒 If authentic	It is binding
📜 Evidence	The Companions accepted and transmitted ahad hadith

💡 If the chain is authentic, the hadith is proof, whether mutawatir or ahad!

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💭 Reflection

Imam Ahmad — may Allah have mercy on him — said:

"Whoever rejects the hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is on the brink of destruction."

🎯 The Sunnah is revelation from Allah — ﴿ Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed ﴾

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📚 Summary