Table of Contents
Introduction to Sunnah and Ḥadīth
Sunnah and ḥadīth are two key concepts that explain how Muslims know and follow the way of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. The Qur’an is the final revealed Book, and the Sunnah is the practical explanation and living example of that Book. Ḥadīth are the recorded reports that preserve this Sunnah for later generations.
This chapter introduces what Sunnah and ḥadīth are in general, why they matter, and how they relate to the Qur’an, without going into the detailed topics that will be covered in the following chapters such as “Meaning of Sunnah,” “Preservation of Ḥadīth,” and “Following the Prophet ﷺ.”
The Sunnah as the Second Source of Guidance
Allah did not send the Qur’an alone without a teacher. He sent the Qur’an together with a Messenger who explained, lived, and applied it. The Messenger’s way, which is called the Sunnah, is therefore a source of guidance that comes from Allah.
Allah commands the believers to follow the Messenger ﷺ alongside obeying Him.
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.”
(Qur’an 4:59)
Allah also tells us that true love for Him requires following the Messenger.
“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’ And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
(Qur’an 3:31)
The Sunnah explains the Qur’an in detail. For example, Allah commands believers to establish prayer and give zakāh, but the Qur’an does not fully describe how to pray each prayer step by step, how many units each has, or the exact details of zakāh on different kinds of wealth. These details are found in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, preserved through ḥadīth.
The Prophet ﷺ himself explained that he was given revelation in two forms, the Book and something like it.
“Indeed, I have been given the Qur’an and something like it along with it.”
(Reported by Abū Dāwūd)
This “something like it” is the Sunnah, which is also based on revelation from Allah, even though it is expressed with the Prophet’s own words and actions.
“Nor does he speak from [his own] desire. It is only a revelation revealed.”
(Qur’an 53:3–4)
The Sunnah is a binding source of guidance for Muslims, alongside the Qur’an, and is not optional advice.
What Is a Ḥadīth?
Sunnah is the way and path of the Prophet ﷺ. Ḥadīth is the recorded report that carries a piece of that Sunnah to us.
A ḥadīth usually contains two parts. The first is the chain of narrators who transmitted it from one person to another. The second is the text of what was said, done, approved, or described. In simple terms, a ḥadīth is a narration about the Prophet ﷺ.
The content of a ḥadīth may include a direct statement of the Prophet ﷺ, such as:
“Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended.”
(Al‑Bukhārī and Muslim)
Or it may describe something he did, like how he performed wuḍūʾ or prayer. Or it may mention something that happened in his presence and he approved of it by remaining silent or by showing satisfaction. All of this is part of the Sunnah, carried to us in the form of ḥadīth.
Ḥadīth therefore preserve the teachings, manners, worship, and daily behavior of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. That is why they are central to understanding Islam correctly.
The Relationship Between Qur’an, Sunnah, and Ḥadīth
The Qur’an is the direct speech of Allah, revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, recited in Arabic, and preserved word for word. The Sunnah is the way of the Prophet ﷺ, which explains and applies the Qur’an. Ḥadīth are the reports that transmit that Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ described his role in relation to the Qur’an in a famous ḥadīth.
“I have left among you two things; you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
(Reported by Mālik)
Allah describes the Prophet ﷺ as a teacher and purifier who clarifies the Revelation for people.
“Just as We have sent among you a Messenger from yourselves, reciting to you Our verses, purifying you, and teaching you the Book and the wisdom, and teaching you that which you did not know.”
(Qur’an 2:151)
Many scholars understood “the Book” to mean the Qur’an, and “wisdom” to mean the Sunnah. Through the Sunnah, the meanings of the Qur’an become practical. For instance, the Qur’an commands kindness, justice, and mercy, but the Sunnah shows how the Prophet ﷺ treated his family, companions, neighbors, the poor, and even his enemies, which gives concrete examples of these commands.
The Qur’an cannot be properly understood or practiced without reference to the Sunnah that explains it.
Ḥadīth, therefore, do not stand separate from the Qur’an. Rather, they serve the Qur’an and guide Muslims in its correct application. When Muslims study ḥadīth, they are learning how the Prophet ﷺ understood and lived the Qur’an.
Types of Sunnah Reflected in Ḥadīth
Although the detailed classification belongs to later chapters, a simple overview helps to see why ḥadīth are so varied. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ appears in three main forms within ḥadīth.
One form is his sayings. These are statements where he directly teaches beliefs, rulings, advice, or warnings. An example is his clear explanation of the meaning of excellence in worship.
“…that you worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.”
(Muslim)
A second form is his actions. These show how he worshipped, how he interacted with people, and how he carried out daily life. For example, the companions described how he made wuḍūʾ, how he prayed, how he fasted, and how he performed ḥajj.
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
(Al‑Bukhārī)
A third form is his approvals. Sometimes people acted in his presence or told him of something they had done. If he remained silent, smiled, or showed acceptance, that approval is part of the Sunnah. This shows what is allowed and what is not blameworthy.
All these forms appear in ḥadīth collections. Together they present a full picture of the Prophet’s guidance, both in worship and in character.
Sunnah in Belief, Worship, and Character
The Sunnah is not only about ritual acts such as prayer and fasting. It includes belief, manners, and behavior. Through ḥadīth we learn correct belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree. We also learn about repentance, the mercy of Allah, and warnings against sins.
In worship, the Sunnah guides Muslims in every pillar of Islam. It shows how to perform ṣalāh correctly, how to fast in Ramadan, how to pay zakāh with sincerity, and how to perform ḥajj and ʿumrah.
In character, the Sunnah is a model of mercy, honesty, justice, humility, and patience. Allah praised the Prophet’s character directly.
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
(Qur’an 68:4)
The Prophet ﷺ explained that his mission included perfecting good character.
“I was only sent to perfect good character.”
(Reported by Aḥmad)
By learning ḥadīth about his interactions with children, with his wives, with the poor, and with those who harmed him, Muslims discover what it means to live with noble character in real-life situations.
The Sunnah is a complete way of life that shapes belief, worship, and character, not only a set of rituals.
The Authority of the Sunnah
For many new learners, a key question is whether the Sunnah is truly binding, or if the Qur’an alone is enough. The Qur’an itself answers this in many verses that make obedience to the Messenger ﷺ a condition of faith and success.
“And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah, indeed Allah is severe in penalty.”
(Qur’an 59:7)
“But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you [O Muḥammad] judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have decided, and submit in [full] submission.”
(Qur’an 4:65)
The Prophet ﷺ also warned against people who might belittle the Sunnah and cling to the Qur’an in a way that breaks its proper understanding.
“There will soon be a man reclining on his couch, when a command of mine is mentioned, he will say: ‘Between us and you is the Book of Allah. Whatever we find in it of what is lawful, we will take as lawful, and whatever we find of what is unlawful, we will take as unlawful.’ Indeed, what the Messenger of Allah has forbidden is like what Allah has forbidden.”
(Reported by Abū Dāwūd and at‑Tirmidhī)
This shows that the Sunnah does not add human ideas to Islam. Rather, it clarifies what Allah revealed and sometimes gives new rulings that Allah has authorized the Prophet ﷺ to convey.
Rejecting the authority of the Sunnah while claiming to follow the Qur’an is itself a rejection of clear Qur’anic commands to obey and follow the Messenger.
Sunnah and Everyday Muslim Life
For a Muslim, the Sunnah is not kept in books only. It is meant to be lived. When a person says “I follow the Sunnah,” this means they try to make the way of the Prophet ﷺ their path in belief, worship, and manners.
Through ḥadīth, Muslims learn short daily supplications, the etiquette of eating and sleeping, how to greet others, how to treat family, and how to face hardships. The Qur’an gives the broad picture, and the Sunnah offers the detailed steps that turn belief into action.
Allah presents the Messenger ﷺ as a practical model to imitate.
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.”
(Qur’an 33:21)
Muslims therefore look to his Sunnah when they are unsure how to act. They ask what he said about a certain matter, how he behaved in a similar situation, and they find the answer preserved in ḥadīth.
Following the Sunnah also strengthens love for the Prophet ﷺ. The more a person learns his words and sees his mercy and concern for his followers, the more their heart is attached to him. This love is not mere emotion. It shows itself through obedience and imitation.
“None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people.”
(Al‑Bukhārī and Muslim)
Sunnah, Ḥadīth, and the Protection of Islam
The existence of detailed ḥadīth collections is one of the signs of Allah’s protection of this religion. Allah promised to preserve the Reminder.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
(Qur’an 15:9)
The Reminder primarily refers to the Qur’an, but the Sunnah is its explanation. Through the efforts of early Muslim scholars who collected, checked, and taught ḥadīth, the way of the Prophet ﷺ has remained known and accessible.
Because of this, Islam is not just a set of ideas about God. It is a documented and living tradition that records how the final Messenger ﷺ spoke, worshipped, judged, forgave, led, and lived among his people.
Later chapters will discuss how ḥadīth were preserved, how scholars distinguished between strong and weak reports, and how Muslims should follow and love the Messenger ﷺ in practice. At this point, it is enough to recognize that Sunnah and ḥadīth are essential keys for understanding and living Islam as it was meant to be lived.