What is Sunnah?

Sunnah according to AL-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences

Literally means well trodden path(Tariqah) in Arabic.

Are those Abrahamic practices and rituals that were adopted and revived (Hajj) by the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), in some cases after modifications (Fatiha in salaah) and additions (Eidayaan), and instituted among his followers as integral part of God’s religion.

Sunnan have been transferred and established by the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), through practical demonstration to his Companions.

From the companions, these practices have been transmitted uninterrupted through successive generations of Muslims with consensus and practical perpetuation to date.

They have reached us through the same mechanism of history. The Qur’an has reached us by verbal (documentary) transmission whilst the Sunnah by practical transmission.

What is Hadith?

Hadith literally means a saying or something new. In Islamic terminology, it is defined as the individual-to-individual narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) regarding his sayings, actions, expressed or tacit approvals, his life history and personal description.

It includes

Life history of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), including his meetings with people, important events in his time e.g. Holy wars as narrated by his followers.

Record of the Prophet Mohammad’s (pbuh) everyday life, rituals and routines, these are those things that he liked but did not authorise their initiation as essential part of religion. These records reveal the Prophet’s (pbuh) excellent example (Uswa Al Hasana) in carrying out the directives of Islam.

Record of answers to questions and explanations given by the Prophet (pbuh) to his followers.

Record of any explanations about commandments in the Qur’an and the Sunnah by the Prophet (pbuh) to his followers

Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “It is not part of [the tradition of] my Ummah [the behaviour of] one who does not honour our elder and show mercy to our youngster and know for our scholar his due right.” [Ahmad & Tabaraani]

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad “salallahu alayhi’walsam) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allâh, Who then will tell them what they used to do.(6:159)

“Reviving the Islamic Spirit” convention is an attempt by the youth to help overcome new challenges of communication and integration. The convention aims to promote stronger ties within the North American Society through reviving the Islamic tradition of education, tolerance and introspection, and across cultural lines through points of commonality and respect.

Furthermore, the convention will be a celebration of our identity and Islamic faith. To help attain these ideals, the convention will feature a wide range of voices from various parts of the world.

The convention showcases Islamic leadership from across the globe sharing a common platform before the widest cross section of our community. This program hopes to empower the youth across North America and inspire a true revival.

“A Unique Youth Effort”

www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com

The Islamic lunar calendar begins with the holy month of Muharram. Muharram is amongst the months which are classified under the term Ashhur-ul-Horom “sanctified months.” Allah has stated in the Glorious Qur’an “The number of months, according to Allah is twelve months (which is mentioned) in the book of Allah on the day in which We created the heavens and the earth. Amongst these twelve months, four are sanctified; that is the right religion. So do not wrong yourselves’ therein,” (9:3).

The four months according to authentic traditions are Muharram, Rajab, Zul Qadah, and Zul Hijjah. It has been reported that Rasulullah (saw), on the occasion of the last sermon (hajjat-ul-wada), addressed the Sahabah (ra) saying, “One year consists of twelve months, out of which four are sanctified. Three of them are in sequence: Zul Qadah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab. (Bukhari)

The eminent commentator (mufassir) Ibn Katheer has written in his commentary (tafseer), “Allah has declared these four months sanctified and has increased their sanctity. He declared a sin therein more severe and has increased the virtue and reward of good deeds as well” (Ibn Katheer, Vol.2): The scholars of Islam have stated that the actions performed in these months have a great effect on the person as to what they will do, throughout the remainder of the year.

FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM:

It has been reported by Ali (ra) that a man came to Rasulullah (saw) and asked, “0 Prophet of Allah! During which month should I fast after the month of Ramadan?” Rasulullah (saw) replied, “If you are to fast in any month other than the month of Ramadan, fast during the month of Muharram, because it is the month of Allah. There is a day in this month in which a whole nation was forgiven and wherein Allah will forgive another nation,” (Tirmidhi H. 683).

THE ORIGIN OF THE FAST OF A’ASHURA: (10th MUHARRAM).

The word A’ashura is derived from the Arabic word which means ten in the English language. It has been named A’ashura because it is observed on the 10th of Muhharram. According to numerous authentic traditions, fasting on the day of A’ashura was initially obligatory upon the Muslims. However, it was made optional when Allah commanded the Muslims to fast throughout the month of Ramadan.

It has been reported by A’isha (ra) that when the Rasulullah (saw) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of A’ashura and directed the people to fast on that day as well. However, when the fast of Ramadan was made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadan, and the fast of A’ashura was made optional (Abu Dawood).

Nevertheless, Ibn Abbas (ra) relates, when the Prophet of Allah (saw) was informed that the Jews fast on the 10th of Muharram, Rasulullah (saw) asked them, “Why do you fast on this day?” They said, “This is the day when Sayyidna Musa (as) and his followers miraculously crossed the Sea, while Pharaoh was drowned in its water.” Upon hearing this Rasulullah (S.A.W) stated, “We are more closer to Musa than you.” He then directed the Muslims to fast on the day of A’ashura(Abu Dawood).

In addition to fasting on the 10th of Muharram, we should also fast on either the 9th or the llth. As Rasulullah (S.A.W) was informed that the Jews also fast on the 10th of Muharram, he said, “If I will be alive next year, I will also fast on the 9th of this month” (Muslim H. 1917).

VIRTUES OF FASTING ON THE 10th OF MUHURRAM:

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra) relates that Rasulullah (saw) preferred the fast of A’ashura to the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadan to the fast of A’ashura (Bukhari, Muslim).

Abu Qatadah (R.A) relates that Rasulullah (saw) said, “The fasting of the tenth of Muharram grants the forgiveness of one whole year,” (Tirmidhi H.683).

BEING GENEROUS TO ONES FAMILY ON THE DAY OF A’ASHURA:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud relates that Rasulullah (saw) stated, “Whosoever is generous to one’s family on the day of A’ashura, Allah will be generous (provide barakah) towards that person throughout the entire year,”(Razeen).

According to these types of traditions, one should be more generous to his/her family by providing more for them on the day of A’ashura as compared to other days. Although these traditions (above-mentioned tradition) are not very authentic according to the scholars of hadith, many other eminent scholars like Imams Ibn Hibban and Bahiqi have accepted them as reliable.

by Shaykh Fayaz Tilly

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The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not wear silk or Dibaja, and do not drink in silver or golden vessels, and do not eat in plates of such metals, for such things are for the unbelievers in this worldly life and for us in the Hereafter.” [Bukhari Book:65 No:337]

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever.”

[Bukhari Book:71 No:670]

The Prophet (sallallähu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.” [Bukhari Book:64 No:265]