Meaning of the Term “Sunnah” When Used by a Companion
Source: Fatawa Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri❀ Question:
If a Companion refers to an action as “Sunnah,” what is meant by it?
❀ Answer:
When a Companion describes an action as “Sunnah,” it refers to a marfuʿ hadith of the Prophet ﷺ.
On this matter, there is consensus among the scholars.
❀ Imam al-Hakim (رح) said:
قد أجمعوا على أن قول الصحابي : سنة ، حديث مسند
"The scholars are unanimous that when a Companion says, ‘This is Sunnah,’ it means a marfuʿ hadith."
Reference: [المستدرك، تحت الحديث: 1323]
