What is the “Sunnah” of Muhammad? What are “Hadith”? 18
The term Sunnah refers to the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, as distinct from the revelations that comprise the Qur'an. It is the second source of Islam after the Qur'an, for in the Prophet there is a "beautiful pattern of conduct for any whose hope is in God and the Last Day" (Qur'an, 33:21).
When the Prophet's wife Aisha was asked about her husband's character, she stated simply, "It was the Qur'an," meaning that his life was the Qur'an in application. Based on this premise, the Prophet is considered by all Muslims a guide and role model for living a successful life—one who emulates the Prophet receives God's mercy and forgiveness. Following Muhammad's example contributes to a Muslim's efforts to fulfill obligations to God and gain entrance into Paradise.
One form in which Muhammad's Sunnah has been recorded and preserved is the Hadith (traditions of the Prophet). Hadith are records of the doings and personal sayings of the Prophet. Hadith were painstakingly verified and compiled by scholars in various books in the centuries following the Prophet's death. Six collections of hadith are considered the most authentic, the most commonly used ones being the volumes titled Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
When the Prophet's wife Aisha was asked about her husband's character, she stated simply, "It was the Qur'an," meaning that his life was the Qur'an in application. Based on this premise, the Prophet is considered by all Muslims a guide and role model for living a successful life—one who emulates the Prophet receives God's mercy and forgiveness. Following Muhammad's example contributes to a Muslim's efforts to fulfill obligations to God and gain entrance into Paradise.
One form in which Muhammad's Sunnah has been recorded and preserved is the Hadith (traditions of the Prophet). Hadith are records of the doings and personal sayings of the Prophet. Hadith were painstakingly verified and compiled by scholars in various books in the centuries following the Prophet's death. Six collections of hadith are considered the most authentic, the most commonly used ones being the volumes titled Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
