|
subject |
Sacred Books & Places |
|
topic |
The Hadith |
|
grade |
Seven |
|
time |
30 minutes |
|
objective |
To enable students to understand the importance of the Hadith in Islam. |
|
instructional material |
Info Sheet 7J – Hadith Worksheet 7J – Hadith |
INTRODUCTION
Sunnah or Hadith is the second source from which the teachings of Islam are drawn. Hadith literally means a saying conveyed to man, but in Islamic terminology Hadith means sayings of the Prophet. Sunnah literally means a way of life, but in Islam it refers to Prophet Muhammed’s actions, practices, and even preferences. Hadith and Sunnah are used interchangeably, but sometimes these are used for different meanings.
In Islam, Muslims must believe and follow the Quran AND the Sunnah and Hadith.
DEVELOPMENT
Let students read the Info Sheet.
REINFORCING ACTIVITIES
Let students do the Worksheet.
Sunnah or Hadith is the second source from which the teachings of Islam are drawn. Hadith literally means a saying conveyed to man, but in Islamic terminology Hadith means sayings of the Prophet. Sunnah literally means a way of life, but in Islam it refers to Prophet Muhammed’s actions, practices, and even preferences. Hadith and Sunnah are used interchangeably, but sometimes these are used for different meanings.
The Qur'an contains dozens of reminders of the important position of the Prophet. For example the Qur'an says:
"And verily in the messenger of God you have a good example for him who looks unto God and the Last Day and remembers God much." [Al-Ahzab 31]
"But no, by thy Lord, they can have no real faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions but accept them with the fullest conviction."[An-Nisa: 65]
"The answer of the believers, when summoned to Allah and His apostle, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: They say: we hear and we obey." [An-Nur: 51]
"Obey Allah and obey the Messenger." [An-Nisa 59]
"Whatever the Messenger giveth you take it and whatever he forbiddeth abstain from it." [Al-Hashr: 7]
According to these verses, every Muslim is bound to have the good example of the Prophet as an ideal in life.
Qur'an is very clear in expressing its view on the position of the Prophet. According to the Qur'an the Prophet has four capacities and he must be obeyed in every capacity: one who explains the Book, a law-giver, a judge, and a ruler. In all these capacities he is an ideal example for the Muslims. Look at some more verses from the Quran:
"God did confer a great favour on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves rehearsing unto them the signs of God, sanctifying them in scripture and wisdom while, before that, they had been in manifest error." [Al-Imran: 164]
"And We have sent down unto you the Message that thou may explain clearly to men what is sent for them."[An-Nahl: 44]
"For he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good and pure and prohibits them from what is bad and impure. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them." [Al-Araf: 157]
"O you who believe! Obey God and obey the apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything amongst yourselves refer it to God and His Apostle, if you believe in Allah and the last day." [An-Nisa: 59]
"It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman when a matter has been decided by God and His apostle to have any option about their decision. If any one disobeys God and His apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path." [Al-Ahzab: 36]
"If any one contends with the Prophet even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen and land him in Hell, what an evil refuge." [An-Nisa: 110]
The Qur'an while pressing the Muslims to obey the Prophet, goes a step further when it announces that the Prophethood of Muhammad is above all the limitations of time and space. He is believed to be the last Prophet and is a Messenger of God for the whole of humanity for all time to come.
Hadith and Sunnah gave details to issues that were spoken about broadly in the Quran. The details were generously supplied by the Prophet himself, either by showing in his practice how an injunction shall be carried out, or by giving an explanation in words. The Sunnah or Hadith of the Holy Prophet was not, as is generally supposed, a thing of which the need may have been felt only after his death, for it was very much needed in his lifetime.
For example, the two most
important religious institutions of Islam are prayer and zakat; yet when the
injunction relating to prayer and zakat were delivered, and they were
repeatedly revealed in both
Payment of zakah is again an injunction frequently repeated in the Qur'an yet it was the Prophet who gave the rules and regulations for its payment and collection. These are but two example; but since Islam covers the entire sphere of human activities, hundreds of points had to be explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him) by his example in action and in words.
Therefore, Islam for Muslims is the Quran AND the Sunnah and Hadith.
1. What does “sunnah” mean?
2. What does “hadith” mean?
3. According to the Quran, what were the four capacities that Prophet Muhammed had?
4. What is the general purpose of the use of hadith and sunnah, for Muslims?
What two examples show the role of hadith and sunnah?