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Unlock This CourseThe last lesson was about the Qur'an. Muslims also turn to the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Remember from Muslim Nurture, the Qur'an and the Sunnah that his example is called the sunnah. This lesson shows where Muslims find it and how they use it.
The Hadith are reports of what the Prophet said, did or approved. Approved means that something was done in front of him and he did not object. One report is called a hadith. The Hadith were remembered by the companions, passed on from person to person, and later written down in collections.
Key terms:
Each hadith has two parts. The isnad is like a list of witnesses: "A heard it from B, who heard it from C", and so on back to a companion who saw or heard the Prophet. The matn is the message itself. Putting both parts in a collection let later scholars check where a report came from.
Not every report is equally trusted. Scholars of Hadith studied the people in each isnad. Was each person honest? Did each have a good memory? Could they really have met the person before them? Scholars also asked whether the matn agreed with the Qur'an and with other well-known reports.
From this work, hadith were graded. A sahih (sound) hadith has a trusted chain and a sound text. A da'if (weak) hadith has a gap or a doubtful person in the chain. There are grades in between as well, such as hasan (good). This grading is why Muslims can say that one saying is firm and another is not.
Sunni Muslims honour six main collections. The two most trusted are Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, both put together in the 800s CE. The word sahih in their names shows they were meant to hold only sound hadith. The other four are by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.
Shi'a Muslims have their own major collections, such as al-Kafi. They also include the sayings of the Imams (leaders Shi'a Muslims believe were chosen from the Prophet's family), not only the Prophet's. For Shi'a Muslims, reports passed down through the Prophet's family carry special weight.
The Sunnah is the Prophet's example, and Muslims learn most of it from the Hadith. Many Muslims try to copy it in daily life, because the Qur'an calls the Prophet an excellent example (Qur'an 33:21).
The Sunnah also explains and fills out the Qur'an. Here are two examples:
For most Muslims, the Qur'an is the first source of authority and the Hadith and Sunnah come second. The Hadith shape daily life in many ways: how to pray, what is lawful food, good manners such as greeting others and visiting the sick, and parts of Islamic law.
Sunni Muslims rely on the six collections and the Sunnah of the Prophet, and use the grading of sound and weak hadith to decide what to follow.
Shi'a Muslims value the Prophet's Sunnah too, but they also rely on teachings handed down from the Imams, and use their own collections.
A small number of Muslims say that the Qur'an is enough by itself. They think the Hadith were written down too late to be fully trusted.
Other Muslims reply that the Qur'an itself tells believers to follow the Prophet, and that without the Sunnah they could not pray or give zakah as the Prophet taught. Among those who accept the Hadith, there are still debates about which are reliable, and how to apply a hadith in a modern setting.
Paper 2, (a) Outline two features of the Hadith. [4 marks, AO1]
Paper 2, (b) Explain why the Sunnah is important for Muslims. [6 marks, AO1 and AO2]
Paper 2, (c) "The Qur'an is the only teaching a Muslim needs." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion with reasons. [10 marks, AO1 and AO2]
(a) One feature is that each hadith has an isnad (1), a chain of people who passed it on back to the Prophet (1). Another feature is that hadith are graded (1), so scholars call some sound and others weak (1).
(b) The Sunnah is important because the Qur'an calls the Prophet an excellent example (Qur'an 33:21), so many Muslims try to copy how he lived. It fills out the Qur'an, for example it shows the details of how to pray, which the Qur'an commands but does not describe in full. It guides daily life, such as manners, food and law, so it affects how Muslims behave at home and in the community. It also links Muslims to the Prophet, so following it can feel like following Allah's guidance in practice.
(c) For: the Qur'an is the word of Allah and the first source of authority, so some Muslims say it is complete. Muslims who rely on the Qur'an alone point out that the Hadith were written down later. Against: most Sunni Muslims say the Qur'an tells believers to follow the Prophet, and the Sunnah shows the details of prayer. Shi'a Muslims would add the teachings of the Imams. Possible conclusion: the Qur'an is the main source, but most Muslims would find it very hard to practise their faith without the Sunnah.
In (c), name at least one other point of view, such as Sunni, Shi'a or Qur'an-alone Muslims, and then give your own judgement.