The Binding Proof of the Sunna

Adapted from 'Abd al-Ghani 'Abd al-Khaliq's Hujjiyyat al-Sunna With Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani's The Hadith of Gibril From Fath al-Bari From the Forward: 'The Sunna is the first subsidiary source (masdar far'i) after the Qur'an among the sources of Islamic law. We describe it as a subsidiary source because it is the Qur'an that actually indicated that it is a source, and the basis of everything is the Qur'an. The Qur'an commanded us to follow the messenger of Allah: therefore we follow the messenger of Allah.' -Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id Ibn Mulla Ramadan al-Buti "

The meaning of the expression Binding Proof of the Sunnah is that the Sunna points to the judgment of Allah Most High, either as definitive knowledge ('ilm) or as as probable knowledge (zann), bringing it out and disclosing it for us. We understand the Divine rulings by means of the Sunna and it becomes binding upon us to put its content into practice, So the real meaning of the Sunna as binding proof is exposition and proof-inference necessitating obligatory practice of their results because the latter is the Divine decision." Dr. 'Abd al-Ghani B, 'Abd al-Khaliq "The Sunna is the first subsidary source (masadar far i) after the Quran among the sources of Islamic Law.

 We describe it as a subsidary source because it is the Quran that actually indicated that it is a source, and the basis of everything is the Quran. The Quran commanded us to follow the Messenger of Allah: therefore we follow the Messenger of Allah." Dr. Muhammad Sa'id Ibn Mulla Ramadan Al-Buti