Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the meaning of the phrase “laysa min al-sunnah” (ليس من السنة) — “This act is not from the Sunnah”?
In this phrase, the word Sunnah refers to an act in which following the example of the Prophet ﷺ is not obligatory. This is because the term Sunnah is used for every action of the Prophet ﷺ, even if the act was merely permissible (mubāḥ).
✔ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله (311 AH):
“The statement ‘laysa min al-sunnah’ means that the act is not from the Sunnah in which people are obligated to follow the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. Indeed, every act of the Prophet ﷺ, even if it is from the permissible, may still be referred to as Sunnah — meaning that people may adopt it because it is permissible, though they are not obliged to perform it.”
(صحيح ابن خزيمة, no. 2988)
Conclusion:
The phrase “ليس من السنة” does not mean an act is baseless or rejected; rather, it means the act is not from the Sunnah that is obligatory to follow. The Prophet ﷺ’s every action may be called Sunnah, but not all of them are binding — some are merely permissible.
◈ Question:
What is the meaning of the phrase “laysa min al-sunnah” (ليس من السنة) — “This act is not from the Sunnah”?
◈ Answer:
In this phrase, the word Sunnah refers to an act in which following the example of the Prophet ﷺ is not obligatory. This is because the term Sunnah is used for every action of the Prophet ﷺ, even if the act was merely permissible (mubāḥ).
❀ Statement of the Scholars
✔ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله (311 AH):
“The statement ‘laysa min al-sunnah’ means that the act is not from the Sunnah in which people are obligated to follow the practice of the Prophet ﷺ. Indeed, every act of the Prophet ﷺ, even if it is from the permissible, may still be referred to as Sunnah — meaning that people may adopt it because it is permissible, though they are not obliged to perform it.”
(صحيح ابن خزيمة, no. 2988)
Conclusion:The phrase “ليس من السنة” does not mean an act is baseless or rejected; rather, it means the act is not from the Sunnah that is obligatory to follow. The Prophet ﷺ’s every action may be called Sunnah, but not all of them are binding — some are merely permissible.
