| The primary source of Islamic
doctrine is Holy Quran and Sunnah is the secondary source.
Sunnah refers to the practices followed
by the Holy Prophet (sws) and denotes his habits, customary procedures,
or actions, norms and values.
Shari`ah: The Arabic word shari`ah
refers to the laws and way of life prescribed by Allah (SWT) for the believers.
The shari`ah deals with the ideology, faith and practices those acquire
the force of law, customs or ethical, moral and religious standards. Shari`ah
is based on commandments and prohibitions laid down in the Qur'an and the
sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sws).
Fiqah: The Arabic word fiqah means
knowledge, interpretation, understanding and comprehension. It refers to
the legal rulings of the Muslim jurists and scholars, based on their knowledge
of the shari`ah; and as such it is the third source of Islamic laws.The
science of fiqh started from the first century after Hijrah, when the Islamic
state expanded and the need arose to tackle new situations and issues
that were not explicitly covered in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Different Schools of Thought
As Islam spread in different parts of the
world, the dispensation of justice under a unified code became increasingly
difficult. Attempts in this regard were frustrated by bigots and attitudes
of different rulers,
The four Sunni schools of thought, Hanafi,
Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali, are in principle the same but variations exist
in interpretation of about one fourth of rulings based on Hadith and/or
interpretation or of their legal conclusions. Differing viewpoints sometimes
exist even within the same school of thought. The Imams who developed or
elaborated the issues and concepts are;
Imam Abu Hanifa 80-150 (After Hijra)
Imam Malik 93-179 (A.H.)
Imam Shafi'i 150-204(A.H.)
Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 164-241 (A.H.)
Rulings of the Shari`ah
The provisions of shari`ah for our day
to day affairs are classified in five categories: (1) Prescribed, (2) Recommended,
(3) Permissible, (4) Disliked and (5) Unlawful and Prohibited.
Each of the above is further classified
according to the rewards or punishments on their performance or nonperformance.
The prescribed (fard) is also referred to as obligatory (wajib), mandatory
(muhattam) and required (lazim). It is divided into two categories:
(a) Obligatory for individuals (fard al-'ayn),
such as salah and zakah; and (b) Obligatory for the group of Muslims (fard
al- kifaya), such as funeral prayers.
The recommended (mandub) is said to be
based on sunnah, and classified as preferable (mustahabb), meritorious
(fadila), and desirable (marghub fih). Examples are praying at night (tahajjud),
and reaffirmation and describing virtues of Allah (zikr).
The performance and nonperformance of the
permissible/ allowed (mubah) is neither rewarded nor punished.
Nonperformance of both the disliked (makruh)
and the unlawful/prohibited (haram) is rewarded. Performance of the unlawful
is punished, but that of the disliked is not punished.
The Primary Source Of Sunnah
As stated earlier the primary sources of
guidance for such rulings and categorization have been Holy Quran
and Sunnah. The primary source of Sunnah from earliest days of Islam continues
to be the continuity of the practices of the Holy Prophet (SWS) as followed
by the posterity of the relatives and companions of the Holy Prophet (SWS)
and the Imams from generation to generation. Secondary source are the Hadiths
which are the sayings attributed to the Holy Prophet (sws) or narrations
of events involving his actions or personality and told by different persons
including common men and women besides companions and the relatives of
Holy Prophet (sws).
From early days the Muhaddithiin (scholars
of hadith –Traditionalists) have played important role in spreading Islam
and in the evolution of Sharia and generally define Hadiths as 'what was
transmitted on the authority of the Prophet, his deeds, sayings, tacit
approval, or description of his abilities, qualities and features including
his physical appearance, habits and his sayings as well as events involving
his personality. However, the personal habits and physical appearance of
the Prophet are not included in the definition used by the jurists. Both
Sunnah and Hadith form secondary sources of Islamic laws – Holy Quran being
the primary source.
Hadiths Spread Through Word Of Mouth
And Handwritten Papers.
Word of mouth was the main source of communication
as at that time there were no printing presses or photocopying machines.
Illiteracy was prevalent. Few people could read or write. Ink and paper
or parchments for writing were obtainable with difficulty.
There were many Hiffaz who had memorized
the Holy Quran and recited them in different gatherings. The first Caliph
Abu Bakar (RA) had taken steps to preserve authenticated version of Holy
Quran in writing in hand and in the reign of the third Caliph Hazrat Usman
Ghani official copies were distributed far and wide among scholars, jurists
and Government officials. |
"Those
who follow the messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned
in their own (scriptures),-
in the law and
the Gospel;- 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. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and
follow the light which is sent down with
him,- it is they
who will prosper."
PICKTHAL: Those
who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom
they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them.
He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is
wrong.
He will make
lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and
he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to
wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and
follow the light which is sent
down with him:
they are the uccessful.
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