Saturday, May 15, 2004

Importance of Sunnah

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

My thoughts and comments on the article I posted in the previous post (The War on Hijab) & subject matter


Alhamdulilah, brilliant article by the Islamic Tarbiyah Academy. It touches on quite a few things. Firstly, reviving the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Unfortunately, nowadays Muslims are more involved and wrapped up with the Dunya, worldly life, that we forget the real purpose of our existence. We forget the reason as to why we are here. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) doesn't even seem important to us anymore. We look at it as a mere 'burden', something which stops us from enjoying our worldly life. Astaghfirullah. Our Prophet (SAW), the mercy to the worlds, went through so much just for his Ummah, yet today this is the way we are repaying him! Allah (SWT) says in the Glorious Qur'an;

"Laqad kana la-kum fi Rasuli-(A)llahi uswatun hasanah(tun) - Indeed! In the Messenger of Allah you have a good example." (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 21)

In another verse, Allah (SWT) says;

"Qul' in kuntum tuhibbun(a) Allaha fattabi'u-ni yuhbib-kumu (A)llahu wa yaghfir la-kum dhunuba-kum - Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins." (Surah Al 'Imran, verse 31)

Allah (SWT) sent the Prophet (SAW) as the best example for us. He sent the Nabi (SAW) as a mercy to all mankind, to guide us all to the right path. Today people do not realise the importance of the Sunnah/Hadith of the Prophet (SAW). They feel that just following the Qur'an is ok. How wrong they are. You can not even carry out even the basic Qur'anic commandment without the Sunnah of Nabi (SAW). Let me give you an example. I was listening to Shaykh Ahmed Ali's bayan called 'History of the Sunnah' and in it he mentioned how in the Qur'an over 73 times 'Aqimu-(a)s-Salaat' (establish the prayer, observe the Salaah) is mentioned. Yet nowhere in the Qur'an does it tell us how to pray the daily prayers, nor does it tell us how many rakaats in each prayer, nor does it tell us what is Fardh in Salaah, the Waajibaat of Salaah, what is makrooh in Salaat or what breaks Salaat and so forth. All of this we know through the Sunnah of Nabi (SAW). Without the Sunnah of Rasulullahi (SAW) we would not have even be able to practise the basic Command of Allah 'establish Salaah'. SubhanAllah. So now you see just how important the Sunnah is. Many people do not even know this. Which just goes back to how important seeking deeni knowledge is.

Insha-Allah, I'll go on to talk about Hijab as mentioned in the article 'The War on Hijab', tomorrow or in the days to come.

May Allah (SWT) give me and all of you the tawfeeq to follow all His Commands. Ameen.

"And the end of our prayer is; Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds and blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, the chief of His messengers and his family and all his companions."

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.