The Prophet ﷺ Emphasized the Importance of Sunnah Through His Words

❖ Introduction
This article is taken from Islam Mustafa ﷺ by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi. It discusses how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, through his blessed words, commanded the Companions and the Muslim Ummah to obey and follow his Sunnah, highlighting its indispensability.

❖ Obedience to the Prophet ﷺ is Salvation​

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse... Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me has refused."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 827

Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to say in sermons:
"The best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst matters are innovations, and every innovation is misguidance."
— Sahih Muslim, 2005

❖ Sunnah is a Safeguard Against Misguidance​

"I have left with you two matters, you will never go astray as long as you hold onto them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet."
— Muwatta Malik; Mustadrak Hakim

Ibn al-Qayyim (RH) wrote in Al-Nuniyyah that whoever is not satisfied with the Qur'an and Sunnah, Allah will leave him to the trials of time and deprive him of guidance and healing.

❖ Following the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs​

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"You will see great differences, so adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold to it firmly with your molar teeth and beware of innovations."
— Sunan Abu Dawud, 4607; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, 2676

❖ Sunnah is Revelation and Binding Like the Qur’an​

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, I have been given the Qur'an and something similar to it along with it."
— Sunan Abu Dawud, 4606

Hassan bin Atiyyah (RH) said:
"Jibril would bring the Sunnah to the Prophet ﷺ just as he brought the Qur’an."
— Sunan al-Darimi

The Prophet ﷺ also stated:
"Indeed, what the Messenger has made unlawful is just like what Allah has made unlawful."
— Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 2664

❖ Exclusive Acceptance of Sunnah in Worship​

"Take your rituals from me."
— Sunan al-Nasa’i, 3062

"Pray as you have seen me pray."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 631

"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 5063; Sahih Muslim, 1401

"Whoever denies my Sunnah, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people."
— Mustadrak Hakim, 2/525

❖ Sunnah Explains the Qur’an in Detail​

Ibn al-Qayyim (RH) in I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in explains three ways Sunnah elaborates the Qur’an:
① It reaffirms the Qur’an’s rulings (e.g., obligations of prayer, fasting).
② It explains the general or ambiguous statements in the Qur’an (e.g., prayer details).
③ It legislates in areas where the Qur’an is silent (e.g., stoning for adultery).

"The Prophet’s ﷺ omission is as much a Sunnah as his actions."
— I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in, 2/370

❖ Sunnah Clarifies Qur’anic Commands​

✔ Trust and Revelation:
"Trust was sent down and so was the Qur’an, and people learned the Qur’an and then the Sunnah."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 7272

✔ Example 1 – On Oppression:
Clarified that “ظلم” in Surah Al-An‘am (6:82) means “shirk,” not general sin.
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

✔ Example 2 – Punishment for Adultery:
The verse about 100 lashes (24:2) is for unmarried people; the Sunnah mandates stoning for married adulterers.
— Sunan Abi Dawud, 4426

✔ Example 3 – Lawful and Unlawful Dead Meat:
Fish and locusts are lawful, as well as liver and spleen.
— Musnad Ahmad; Sahih al-Jami‘, 210

✔ Example 4 – Gold and Silk:
Halal for women, haram for men.
— Sahih Sunan al-Nasa’i, 5148

✔ Example 5 – Wudu (Ablution):
The Sunnah explains method, order, and frequency.
— Sahih Muslim, 538

✔ Example 6 – Fasting Time:
Clarified “white thread from black thread” means day and night.
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 4509


✔ Example 7 – Theft Punishment:
Explained minimum value and what is exempt.
— Sunan Abi Dawud, 4388

✔ Riba (Interest):
Defined categories and forms of riba not detailed in the Qur’an.
— Sahih Muslim, 1584