Definitions and examples of the verbal Sunnah.
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Many scholars of hadeeth have defined the Sunnah as everything that was passed on by the Prophet ﷺ . This includes his actions, manners, approvals and cautions. The character of the Prophet also played a major role in transferring the Sunnah to all Muslims. He is the type of character that Muslims want to emulate because they see the full spiritual value of it and feel secure in the knowledge that they are following an excellent example
Whatever is permitted or prohibited in the Qur’aan is presented in the manners and actions of the Prophet ﷺ .
The verbal sunan (plural of Sunnah) are many and they cover the Muslim’s daily life. A verbal Sunnah represents the words spoken by the Prophet to indicate the importance of a particular action and that it should be duplicated by Muslims. Often, the Prophet ﷺ would also advise us against certain actions that might be contrary to the Sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه” (البخاري ومسلم).
“No one of you becomes a true believer until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet ﷺ said,
عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “إذا انتهى أحدكم إلى المجلس فليسلم فإذا أراد أن يقوم فليسلم فليست الأولى بأحق من الآخرة ” (الترمذي)
“When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should extend greeting to those who are already there, and he should do so when he intends to leave. The first act of greeting is not more important than the last.” [Ar-Tarmizi]
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ
عن عبد الله بن عمر قال : أن رجلا سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أي الإسلام خير ؟ قال ” تطعم الطعام ، وتقرأ السلام على من عرفت ومن لم تعرف” (البخاري ومسلم)
“Which act is the best?” He replied, “Giving food and greeting those who you know and those you do not know.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
عن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “ما من شيء أثقل في الميزان من حسن الخلق” (الترمذي)
“Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection on the scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [AL-Tirmidh]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “خير الأصحاب عند الله خيرُكُم لصاحبه، وخير الجيران خَيْركُم لجاره” (أحمد)
“The best companion to Allah is the one who is good to his companions, and the best neighbor to Allah is the one who treats his neighbors well.” [Ahmed]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
عن جابر قال: سمعت رسول الله يقول: “طعام الواحد يكفي لإثنين، وطَعامُ الإثنين يكفي لأربعة، وطعام الأربعة يكفي الثمانية (مسلم).
“The food for one is sufficient for two and food for two is sufficient for four, and food for four people is sufficient for eight.” [Muslim]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“إذا أُكُل أَحدُكُم طعاماً : فليقل : بسم الله ، فإِنْ نَسِيَ في أَوَّلِهِ : فليقل : بسم الله أوله وآخره” ( الترمذي و أبو داود).
“When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of Allah. If he forgets to, he should say, ‘In the Name of Allah in the begining and at the end.” [At-Tirmidhi and Aboo Dawood).
These are a few examples of the verbal Sunan. The Sunnah is an extension of the Glorious Qur’aan and it teaches a Muslim how to live a complete life. Every one of us must make a concerted effort to incorporate the Sunnah into our lives and practice it consistently.
