Understanding the Sunnah

Question 1

What is the meaning of hadith

Answer 1

conveys the meaning of story, message, conversation and adjectivally to mean something new
‘any reports relating to the Messenger (pbuh)’

Question 2

Define Sunnah

Answer 2

something that should be done

literally means ‘a path’ regardless of whether it is praiseworthy or not

Question 3

are hadith and sunnah the same

Answer 3

no
hadith = information
sunnah = information for you to act upon, and how to apply this information

Question 4

what do hadith scholars define sunnah as

Answer 4

sunnah as being largely synonymous with hadith

Question 5

what do the scholars of fiqh define sunnah as

Answer 5

sunnah refers to any action for which one receives a reward for performing and for which one is not blamed for leaving

Question 6

scholars of jurisprudence on sunnah

Answer 6

sunnah is a reference for one of the principle sources of Islamic law

Question 7

Different types of hadith

Answer 7

words - qawl
action - fi’il
tacit approval - taqrir
a description - wasf

Question 8

what is tacit approval

Answer 8

thinking something is ok because no one said anything about it

Question 9

the role and authority of the Prophetic sunnah

Answer 9

Quranic and Prophetic

Question 10

Preservation of the Prophetic sunnah was done by who

Answer 10

the companions of the Prophet (pbuh)

Question 11

Factors that aided the Companions in preserving the Prophetic hadiths

Answer 11

Arabs capability for memorising
Religious fervour - such an integral part/duty of their lives
Importance of hadith in Islamic faith
The Prophet (pbuh) would use different styles to speak to audiences

Question 12

How would the Prophet (pbuh) speak to his audiences ie teaching styles

Answer 12

He (pbuh) would speak in a measured way, pausing so as to be understood
He (pbuh) would not speak aimlessly ie had specific intent
He (pbuh) would often repeat what he had said

Question 13

Describe the faithfulness of the Companions in ensuring the precise transmission of hadith

Answer 13

They took all the precautions to ensure that the hadiths had no errors

Question 14

How were hadiths verified at the time of the Companions

Answer 14

Aishah would correct senior companions

Question 15

example of Aishah correcting Abu Hurayrah in a hadith

Answer 15

Abu Hurayrah said evil lies in 3 things: women, transport and dwelling
Aishah said no, you took it out of context when the Prophet (pbuh) actually said that that was a saying of the pre Islamic Arabs

Question 16

define isnad

Answer 16

chain of transmission of the narrators who relate the hadith from their teachers back to the source of the hadith which is usually the Prophet (pbuh)

Question 16

define isnad

Answer 16

chain of transmission of the narrators who relate the hadith from their teachers back to the source of the hadith which is usually the Prophet (pbuh)

Question 16

define isnad

Answer 16

chain of transmission of the narrators who relate the hadith from their teachers back to the source of the hadith which is usually the Prophet (pbuh)

Question 17

define isnad

Answer 17

chain of transmission of the narrators who relate the hadith from their teachers back to the source of the hadith which is usually the Prophet (pbuh) ie like track and trace

Question 18

define matn

Answer 18

text of the hadith

Question 19

what are the 2 elements of the hadith

Answer 19

isnad and matn

Question 20

define adalah

Answer 20

legal probity