Qur'an

Sunna

Describe the relationship of Hadiths with the Qur’an, giving examples of how Hadiths are used in understanding God’s words.

• The Prophet’s (pbuh) hadiths play a very important role in Islam and are second only to the Qur’an in formulating laws.

• God has given Muslims many injunctions in the Qur’an but it is the hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) that explain them.

• Explaining the divine book was one of the functions of the Messenger of God (pbuh).

  ‘We have merely revealed this book to you so that you may explain to them where they are differing over (and so it stands out) as a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.’ (Al-Qur’an, 16:64)

• The above and other verses clearly establish the fact that the teachings of the Qur’an cannot be put into practice without seeking guidance from the Prophet’s (pbuh) hadiths.

• Some examples to show how the two are used together could be given by candidates

  • e.g. they can say that hadiths explain Qur’anic verses

    e.g. God says in the Qur’an: ‘So be obedient to your Lord, O Mary. Prostrate (to Him) and bow down alongside those who bow down.’ (Al-Qur’an 3:43)

    • The Prophet’s (pbuh) hadiths expand on how to put the injunction from God into action, ‘Pray as you see me praying’.

  • Hadiths also restrict the meaning of a verse

    • e.g. in the case of theft the command is to cut off their hands. How much of the hand is to be cut off? Which hand is to be cut off? The Prophet (pbuh) educated the companions on both issues by stating that in the case of theft the right hand up to the wrist is to be cut off.

• Explanation of technical issues like those concerning fasting in the month of Ramadan, for which the Qur’an says:

  ‘And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of dawn.’

  • The Prophet (pbuh) interpreted the verse by saying that the white thread refers to day and the black thread refers to the night.

Write about the function of the Qur’an and Sunna as the two primary sources of Islamic law.

• The Qur’an is an authority in Islamic law;
• It is the word of God; it is not questioned or contradicted by the other sources;
• The sunna is the Prophet’s example and is recorded in the Hadith;
• They don’t contradict each other but rather they complement one another;
• The Hadith emphasise and expand on verses in the Qur’an;
  • e.g. Zakat is mentioned in the Qur’an but the way in which it should be given is detailed by the Hadiths;
• Hadith are used when the Qur’an is silent on a matter;
  • e.g. Inheritance given to grandmother is not specifically mentioned in the Qur’an, but is explained by Hadith;
• Hadith are important because the Prophet was the final and perfect messenger to follow;
• Hadith of Mu’adh ibn Jabal;
• They are interlinked so are the two main (primary) sources. Used together they identify the main principles of morality and action. This is why they are the authority for the foundation of legal matters.