Authority of the Sunnah

‫حجية السنة‬
Introductory Comments
 The Salaf were unanimous on the authority of
the Sunnah as a source of Sharee’ah
Note, for example, the well known practices of Abu
Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them,
in consulting the Sunnah when making any rulings
 “Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.
It is not but a revelation revealed,” (An-Najm
53: 3)
Al-Ghazaalee:
○ Some revelation, Qur’aan
○ Remainder, Sunnah
 ‫القرآن والسنة‬
(The Qur’aan & Sunnah)

The Qur’aan v.
The Sunnah
(Authority)

The Qur’aan The Sunnah

precedes the precedes the Both are equal
Sunnah Qur’aan
 The Qur’aan
precedes the
Sunnah (proofs)

Ash-Shaatibee The Qur’aan is Hadeeth of

& as-Salafee Mutawaatir Mu’aath

Not sufficient as Controversial

proof authenticity

Weakened by Narrated by
al-Bukhaaree, unknown
at-Tirmithee, & Companions of
others Mu’aath
 The Sunnah precedes
the Qur’aan (proofs)

We Know What’s
Sunnah Explains Qur’aan by a
Qur’aan Statement of the
Prophet (PBUH)

Al-Awzaa’ee & Yahyaa bin Katheer:

Makhool: “The Book is “The Sunnah judges
in more need of the the Qur’aan, but the
Sunnah than the Qur’aan doesn’t judge
Sunnah is of the Book.” the Sunnah.”

Ahmad bin Hanbal: “I would NOT be so bold as to venture that far. But I
would say that the Sunnah explains & clarifies.”
 Both are equal (proofs)

“And We did not send

The basis of authority
any messenger except
is being revealed; both Commanded by many
Ibn Hazm to be obeyed by
the Qur’aan & Sunnah Aayaat
permission of Allaah.”
are revealed
(An-Nisaa’ 4: 64)

“He who obeys the

Conjunction used, ‫و‬,
Also attributed by some Obeyed whether there’s Messenger has obeyed
implies equality in duty
to: a book or not Allaah;” (An-Nisaa’ 4:
of obedience
80)

Hanafee Maalikee Shafi’ee

 Conclusions
 The Qur’aan preceding the Sunnah
‘Proofs’ don’t stand up to scrutiny
 The Qur’aan and the Sunnah are equal
authorities
Strongest argument
○ Main point; both are revelation, and there’s no
justification for making distinctions between them in
this matter
 The Sunnah preceding the Qur’aan
Proponents few
Seen by some (i.e. Ahmad bin Hanbal) as extreme
 A Closing Thought
Understanding and application are the most important
matters.

Consider the Companions, who were agreed and eager to

carry out ALL instructions; whether from a book or not.

Someone once said to al-Mutraf bin ‘Abdullaah bin as-

Sukhayr, “Don’t talk to us except with the Qur’aan.”
He replied, “By Allaah, we do no want any substitute
for the Qur’aan, but we want the one (the Prophet)
who is more knowledgeable of the Qur’aan than us.”