Importance Of Hadith

Quran and Haith as a source of legal thinking

Sunnah literally means tradition.In Islamic terminology it means the Prophet`s tradition.On the other hand, Hafith means news or story.Hadith of the Prophet is the medium or channel through which Sunnah has reached us, e.g, the Hadith book.Now, both are interchangable terms. Quran and Sunnah are collectively called primary sources of Islamic Law.

Many verses support the use of Sunnah.Like it is stated: "And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those charged with aurthority among you." Here abey Allah means Allah`s book, the Quran; boeying the messenger means Prophet`s Sunnah.

"So, take what the Messenger gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you." The Prophet`s approval/disapproval are binding on Muslim.

"He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah." It means obedience to Allah and obedience of PRophet are inter-related and both can not condracit each other.Instructions of the Prophet himself regarding use of Sunnah.His instructions to various newly converted tribes in Madina:"Remember this (Prophet`s teaching) and report it to those whom you have left behind." His stress on the Sunnah during the Farewell sermon "Let him that is present tell it to him who is absent." In another Hadith he highlighted the close relationshipbetween the Quran and Sunnah: "Judge upon the Book of Allah. If you don`t find in it what you need, upon the Sunnah of the Prophet." His wife Ayesha aptly remarked: "Prophet`s conduct is the Quran."

Sunnah supports Quran either by fully interpreting the Quranic teachings or by supplementing them; both can`t contradict.Quran commands observance of the pillars of Islam: "Establish regular prayer and pay the poor-due." No details about exact timing, format and similar details regarding daily prayer.When the Prophet was asked about this by the companions, he replied: "Pray as you have seen me praying." He demonstrated all acts and postures involved in single rakat.He provided additional guidance by saying, "There is no prayer for the one who doesn`t recite the opening chapter of the Book." He also guided about the manners concerning the daily prayer, "When a person is drowsy in his prayer, let him go to sleep until he knows what he recites."

Similarly the Quran is silent about how much of one wealth is to be paid as the charity tax since it simply commands Muslims to pay Zakat and enlists those entitled to recieve it.Prophet said about this matter, "No charity tax is due on to property amounting to less than 2 uqiya of silver, and no charity tax is due on fewer than 5 camels, and there is no charity tax on fewer than 5 wasq of dates or grains."He further instructed, "Neither the property of differnet people should be gathered together nor should the joint property be spilt for fear of Zakat."Once some companions presented some dates of his farm to Prophet who was sitting with his grandson Hasan. Before accepting the dates, he inquired whether they were being presented as charity or as a gift and declared that he and his decendants could not recieve any charity; he thus clarified details of Zakat regarding those who were not entitled to recieve it.

Quran fobids practice of charginf Riba but gives no details about the nature of riba.The Prophet after carefully observing the markets of Madina and Makkah concluded: "The vartering of gold for gold, if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and wheat grain for wheat grain is riva except if it is hand to hand and equal in amount." Many clever traders used to earn unfair profits by giving inferior quality commodities in exchange for superior quality commmodities. This was one of the earliest form of riba/usury.

"O you beleive! intoxicatns and gambling ..... are a work of Satan`s handiwork."The Quran however mentions no punishment for drinking.The Prophet prescribed a punishment of whipping 40 stripes to a person found guilty of drinking wine. The Prophet aplied this penalty in his liftime e.g by pinshing Nauman bin Bahsir.