Proof of Sunnah
Question:
Salam
Why isn't verse 70 of surah 40 not used to support the concept of sunnah? it reads “Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers - they are going to know,When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame].” 40:70-72
Answer:
Salam
Verse 40:70 is as follows:
الَّذينَ كَذَّبُوا بِالْكِتابِ وَ بِما أَرْسَلْنا بِهِ رُسُلَنا فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُون
Those who deny the Book and that which We sent to Our messengers will soon know. (40:70)
I think it may not be straightforward to use this verse for the concept of Sunnah. Yes, you may argue that the verse is referring to something beside the Book that the messengers were sent with and that is Sunnah. However one may argue that the verse is not counting the things that the messengers were sent with, rather it is saying that those who reject the Qur’an are practically rejecting all the messengers of God.
The Sunnah as we define it contains those religious practices that are established by the Prophet (pbuh) among his companions and have passed to us by the consensus of generations. These religious practices have mostly originated from the religion of Ibrahim (pbuh) and the Prophet (pbuh) has made revisions to them or some additions where appropriate.
If we are looking for evidences for the above definition of Sunnah in the Qur’an then we can use other verses that seem to be more explicit about it, like the following verse:
يُريدُ اللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَ يَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ الَّذينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ اللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ
God intends to clarify for you and guide you to the Sunnan (ways) of those before you and to turn to you and God is All-Knowing and Wise. (4:26)
Note that this verse comes after revelation of some of the directives related to marriage. In other words the directives related to marriage were not revealed as a new concept. Adhering to these directives was in fact the path of the past nations who followed the guidance of the Almighty. Not all the religious practices (Sunnah) of these nations have been explained by the Qur’an. Only those parts have been explained that were very sensitive and could be misunderstood due to the passing of time. There are other parts of the Sunnah that are not in the Qur’an but are known by every Muslim, like eating with the right hand or pronouncing the name of God before eating.
Understanding and appreciating the connection that this verse makes between the religious practices of the nation of Muhammad (pbuh) and the religious practices of the other nations of God in the past is an opening to understanding and appreciating the concept of Sunnah (Established Sunnah) as defined above.
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August 2013
Salam
Why isn't verse 70 of surah 40 not used to support the concept of sunnah? it reads “Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers - they are going to know,When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame].” 40:70-72
Answer:
Salam
Verse 40:70 is as follows:
الَّذينَ كَذَّبُوا بِالْكِتابِ وَ بِما أَرْسَلْنا بِهِ رُسُلَنا فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُون
Those who deny the Book and that which We sent to Our messengers will soon know. (40:70)
I think it may not be straightforward to use this verse for the concept of Sunnah. Yes, you may argue that the verse is referring to something beside the Book that the messengers were sent with and that is Sunnah. However one may argue that the verse is not counting the things that the messengers were sent with, rather it is saying that those who reject the Qur’an are practically rejecting all the messengers of God.
The Sunnah as we define it contains those religious practices that are established by the Prophet (pbuh) among his companions and have passed to us by the consensus of generations. These religious practices have mostly originated from the religion of Ibrahim (pbuh) and the Prophet (pbuh) has made revisions to them or some additions where appropriate.
If we are looking for evidences for the above definition of Sunnah in the Qur’an then we can use other verses that seem to be more explicit about it, like the following verse:
يُريدُ اللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَ يَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ الَّذينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ اللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ
God intends to clarify for you and guide you to the Sunnan (ways) of those before you and to turn to you and God is All-Knowing and Wise. (4:26)
Note that this verse comes after revelation of some of the directives related to marriage. In other words the directives related to marriage were not revealed as a new concept. Adhering to these directives was in fact the path of the past nations who followed the guidance of the Almighty. Not all the religious practices (Sunnah) of these nations have been explained by the Qur’an. Only those parts have been explained that were very sensitive and could be misunderstood due to the passing of time. There are other parts of the Sunnah that are not in the Qur’an but are known by every Muslim, like eating with the right hand or pronouncing the name of God before eating.
Understanding and appreciating the connection that this verse makes between the religious practices of the nation of Muhammad (pbuh) and the religious practices of the other nations of God in the past is an opening to understanding and appreciating the concept of Sunnah (Established Sunnah) as defined above.
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August 2013
