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Following the Sunna
« on: May 05, 2014, 06:02:54 AM »
Question asked on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/414334602037006?stream_ref=10

"Brother Joseph Islam.

Thank you for your writings. They have really been an eye opener in so many ways. Though I am still confused about the 'follow Prophet's sunnah'. I understand the books we have (hadith corpus) are centuries apart from Prophet's time. But you assert that Prophet is not just a 'postman' and he may also have received 'divine inspiration' not mentioned in the Quran. You also mention that 'obedience' of Prophet was limited to his minstry and time. So: 1) What do we make of that divine inspiration now? 2) What about the companions of the prophet? They prayed behind him and must have followed one or more forms of salat (Jumah salat e.g.). So what were they supposed to do when prophet died? Did they just told to each other that the salat taught to them by Prophet is just not valid any more and they will do salat as they please (including the congregation prayer). All those commandments of Obeying Prophet Muhammad are invalid from now on? Now that he is dead.

I hope you see my point. I fully understand and concur what should the people removed 14 centuries from Prophet can make of. But how do you understand the implication for the companions who were obeying everything prophet taught them (from salat to details of Zakat, Hajj, Ramadan, etc)

I understand that you don't debate on facebook and that is not my intention so I will be more than happy if you can point me to a link where you have addressed this issue. JAK"

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Re: Following the Sunna
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2014, 06:04:01 AM »
Joseph Islam's response:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/414334602037006?stream_ref=10

"Yes indeed, the prophet was not a mere ‘postman’. He had various roles during his prophetic ministry [1]. There is also no doubt in my mind that he received inspirations to best implement the guidance of the Quran to his particular circumstances. It is noteworthy that there are many ways in which humans receive inspiration [2]. However, explicit Divine guidance that what was necessary for mankind was recorded in the Quran. That is the base scripture from which believers today must work from.

Just because the prophet arguably received inspirations during his time does not mean that the reports recorded about him centuries later, at times in graphic sordid details are correct.

It is noteworthy that the prophet's circumstances or those of his companions DO NOT exist today. If those specific circumstances do not exist, then his particular Sunnah which was BASED on the (a) The Quran and (b) his SPECIFIC circumstances of his day would arguably, not be applicable in a different situation.

Sunna (Prophetic Practice) = Quran (Timeless Guidance) + CIRCUMSTANCES (Context driven situations) [3]

For example, if the same basic message of the Quran was inspired in the prophet today, no doubt, he would apply the Quran to the circumstances today.

As far as 'best practice' is concerned, indeed, many companions would have followed the prophet's examples. However, any 'religious' action must find its support from the Quran. The prophet would have arguably slept a certain way, eaten a certain way, smiled a certain way, travelled in a certain way, had favourite colours, favourite foods to suit his palate etc. However, this does not mean that these personal preferences are religiously prescribed by God for all believers as part of ‘Sunnah’. If they are followed, they are followed out of choice. What is ‘religious’ are those prescriptions explicitly mentioned in the Quran.

Therefore, I have no qualms in following those traditions that do not conflict with the Quran's guidance and at times, I find them very apt in implementing the best of the Quran's guidance. One example is establishing congregational prayer. Another, are the various aspects of Hajj. I do not see the need to 'reinvent the wheel' in many of these traditions. [4]

However, this does not mean we accept sordid reports about the prophet which have nothing to do with 'religion' and find no basis in the Quran.

There is a difference.

I hope that clarifies, God willing
Joseph

REFERENCES:

[1] Was the Prophet of God Akin to a Postman Who Simply Delivers a Message?
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/247680292035772
[2] How Did God's Agents (Prophets & Messengers) Receive Inspirations?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/inspiration%20FM3.htm
[3] Time-Bound Sunna
http://quransmessage.com/arti.../timebound%20sunna%20FM3.htm
[4] How I Engage with the Sunnah and Wider Islamic Secondary Sources Such as the Ahadith Corpus
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/258274607643007"