The Sunnah: The second source of legislation

The Sunnah (the actions, sayings and confirmations of Prophet
Muhammad, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam is the second source of Islamic
legislation and must be incomplete agreement with the first source (i.
e. the Quran).
The term Sunnah comes from theroot word 'sanna', which means to pave the way.
Sunnah can be used to describe a path that people follow. In Islamic
terminology, Sunnah applies to a prophetic way which includes
references to the Prophet's sayings, actions, approvals, physical
features and character traits.
His actions pertain to anything hedid, as authentically reported by
the Companions . His silent approvals on different issues meant he
didn't oppose or mind what he saw, heard or knew of the actions or
sayings of his Companions. Sunnah also includes everything
authentically narrated concerning the Prophet's physical features and
his traits.
The Quran and the Sunnah complement each other. Withoutthe Sunnah,
Islam is not complete, likewise without the Quran, Islam is not
complete.
Actually, Sunnah is so important that without it one cannot fully
understand the Quran and Islam, or be able to apply it to his life.
Both of these sources guide us tothe right path.
The Quran is the word of Allah, whereas the Sunnah is its practical
interpretation. Sunnah also gives a full account of the lifeof the
Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
The Quran principally deals with basics. It is the Sunnah which gives
the details and necessary explanations of Quranic injunctions. For
instance, Allaah Says in the Quran what means: "…Establish the
prayer…" [2: 43] But it does not specify how the prayer has to be
performed.
Even after knowing the details, it may not be possible to follow
thedivine injunctions contained in the Quran. For not everything canbe
properly understood by wordsalone. Therefore, the Messenger of Allaah
salallaahu alayhi wa sallam demonstrated before the believers how the
prayer was to be performed.
Thus, not only did the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam inform the
believers of the divine injunctions, but he also put theseteachings
into practice in all matters pertaining to religion and daily life. He
salallaahu alayhi wa sallam himself practiced these injunctions
scrupulously. His practice was not a private matter; it had the status
of a detailed interpretation and application of the Quran.
Importance of the Sunnah
The Quran repeatedly reminds us of the importance of the Sunnah,
enjoining us to strictly follow the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa
sallam.
Allaah, Almighty, Says what means: " …And whatever the Messenger has
given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from…"
[Quran 59:7]
Allaah also Says what means: "But no, by your Lord, they will not
[truly] believe until they makeyou [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.." [Quran 4:65)
Again, Allaah Says what means: "It is not for a believing man or a
believing woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decided amatter,
that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And
whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into
clear error." [Quran 33:36]
According to many verses in the Quran, the Muslim is bound to follow
the Sunnah of the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam. No one remains
Muslim if he does not accept the Prophet's Sunnah, salallaahu alayhi
wa sallam.
The Sunnah is nothing but a reflection of the personality of the
Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who is to be obeyed at every
cost.
The Sunnah was not, as is generally supposed, a thing of which the
need may have been felt only after the Prophet's deathsalallaahu
alayhi wa sallam, for it was very much needed in his lifetime. The two
most importantreligious institutions of Islam are Prayer and Zakaat
(obligatory alms giving); yet when the injunction relating to Prayer
and Zakaat were delivered, and they were repeatedly revealed in both
Makkah and Madeenah, no detailswere supplied. 'Keep up prayers' is the
Quranic injunction, and it was the Prophet himself salallaahu alayhi
wa sallam who by his own actions gave details ofthe prayer by saying:
"Pray as you see me praying." [Al-Bukhaari]
Zakaah is again an obligation frequently repeated in the Quran, yet it
was the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam who gave the rules and
regulations for its payment and collection. These are two examples,
but since Islam covers the entire sphere of human activities, hundreds
of points had to be explained by theProphet salallaahu alayhi wa
sallam in word and deed.
The importance of the Sunnah, even as a second source of Islam, was an
openly accepted issue by the Companions of the Prophet salallaahu
alayhi wa sallam. Whenever they couldn't find a solution to a problem
in the Quran, they would refer to the Sunnah. And they were the most
diligent in preserving it for those who came after them.