Sunnah means the sayings, actions or silent approvals of the Prophet (P.b.u.h).

Sunnah of the
Prophet is not only an elaboration of the meaning of the Quran, but also addresses issues upon
which Quran is silent. As the Muslim community grew, need was felt to supplement the Quran
with Sunnah.

The Quran itself mentioned the need to resort to Sunnah in particular situations by saying:

“We have sent the admonition to you (O Muhammad) so that you should make plan and explain
to the people the teachings of the book which has been sent for them”

Relationship Of Quran With Sunnah:

The Quran tells us repeatedly “Establish prayers and pay charity”, but it doesn’t explain how
frequently a person should pray or what is the method of praying and timing of prayers e.t.c.

This was explained by the Prophet as he himself said: “Pray as you have seen me praying”

Similarly Quran enjoins the Muslims to pay Zakat but it doesn’t explain the rate of the Zakat or
how many times in a year a person should pay Zakat, all this was explained by the Prophet as
he said:

“No Zakat is payable on property until a year passes away on it”

Allah commands that teachings of the Prophet (P.b.u.h) should be obeyed:

“Obey Allah and obey the Prophet”

“Whatever the Prophet gives you take it and whatever he forbids you refrain from it.

Ijma:

It is the third and secondary source of Islamic Law. Its meaning is unanimous agreement.

It is the consensus of majority opinion of the Muslim Jurists at a particular time and of a
particular generation.

Quran itself approves of the Ijma:

“O you who believe, obey Allah, and Obey His messenger and those charged with duty amongst
you”
However it must be noted that to perform Ijma, the legal experts must have complete knowledge
of Quran and Sunnah, because Ijma of modern experts cant go against the teachings of Quran
and Sunnah.

They should also have in depth knowlwdge about the previously performed Ijmas and also of
the new problemundr consideration.

Prophet Muhammad (P.b.u.h) once said:

“Hold fast to my sunnah and the sunnah of Khulfa- e – Rashidin”

Ijma was practiced even during the life of the Holy Prophet when he consulted his companions
on different occasions before giving his personal opinion.

Examples Of Ijma performed during Prophet’s (P.b.u.h) Life:

Battle Of Uhad: Prophet consulted his companions and agreed with the opinion of the majority
and fought the war out of Madina.

Battle Of Trench: He had the trench dug around Madina on the suggestions of Sulman Al Farsi.

He once said ”My companions are like stars those who follow them get guidance”

​Other Examples Of Ijma After The Death Of Prophet:

Compilation of the Quran​:

On suggestion of Umer and by Ijma of the companions, Quran was compiled in a book form
when many companions of the Holy Prophet were killed in the battle of Yamama.

Two Calls for Friday Prayers:

During Hazrat Usman’s Caliphate it was decided by the experts to have two calls for prayers on
Fridays.

Trawih Prayer:

The Prophet prayed trawih only 3 or 4 times in congregation in his life time. It was later during
the caliphate of Hazrat Umer that the system of congregation of Trawih was added after Isha
prayer during Ramazan.

​Qiyas:
It is the fourth source of Islamic Law.It is the legal method of deducing one principle from
another by comparing them together.
It can only be performed when both Quran and Sunnah are silent on a particular issue and even
no Ijma is performed earlier.The purpose of Qiyas is to fascilitate Muslims to fashion their lives
according to Islam in the modern world.

Permission of its use is found in the famous dialogue between the Prophet (P.b.u.h) and Muadh
bin Jabal when he was appointed governer of Yemen. The Holy Prophet allowed him to
exercise his own opinion if he had failed in finding a solution, to some problem in Quran and
Sunnah.

Qiyas like Ijma is required to be in accordance with the primary sources of Islamic Law.

The Quran says:

“Marry women of your choice, two or three or four, but if you fear you shall not be able to do
justice then only one”

Here the second clause (but if you fear..) allows for humans to apply their own reasoning and
choose for what suits them best but within the limits defined by Quran.

Quran at another point says:

“There are signs in this for people who understand”

Components Of Qiyas:
Asl: The actual injunction in Quran and Sunnah.

Illa: Reasoning behind the injunction.

Hukm: The new deduction made.

Far: The link between the injunction and deduction.

Example:

The Quran forbids sales transactions after the call of prayer on Friday (Asl). By analogy /Qiyas
all kinds of transactions (Far) have been forbidden (hukm) because like sales they also distract
Muslims from the Friday Prayers (Illa).

“Every intoxicant is khamr so every intoxicant is haram”

The Holy Quran forbids the use of Khamr (an alcohol of grapes) (Asl). By Qiyas (analogy, heroin
and other intoxiacnts (Far) are also because like Khamr they also cause intoxication. However,
since it involves a lot of individual effort, it is sometimes not encouraged by some scholars.

Why Some Scholars Reject Qiyas:

A verse of Quran says:

“O ye who believe! Put not your selves forward before God and his apostle…”

Thus some scholars claim that Qiyas means” putting yourself forward”

Analogy leads to discord among the Muslims, because it doesn’t lead to exactly the same
opinions where different jurists are exercising it and what leads to differences should be
stopped. Thus due to the varying and conflicting answers that can be given it is rejected by
some scholars.

​Significance Of Quran As The Basis Of All Thought And Actions

For Muslims:
The Quran is Allahs Final Message to human kind.
It is the undisputed text for all Muslims.
It contains the principles of all aspects Deen, Belief and Practice.
It shows difference between right and wrong.
It contains the laws for all situations personal, financial, criminal and law making.
It is the first and invariable source of law
The Quran says:
“Blessed is he who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it may be on admonition to all
creatures”