Sunnah

The normative example of Muhammad’s words, actions, and approvals, preserved in Islamic tradition as a guide for belief and practice.

Hadith: A report describing Muhammad’s words, actions, approvals, or personal characteristics. Hadith reports are the principal transmitted accounts through which the Sunnah is known.
Hadith criticism: Methods for evaluating hadith transmitters and reports’ reliability and historical attribution. Critics assess whether a report can reliably establish an aspect of Sunnah.
Salah: The prescribed Islamic ritual prayer performed at appointed times. Prophetic practice supplies details of prayer that the Quran does not specify fully.
Sunni Islam: The largest branch of Islam, shaped by allegiance to the Prophet’s Sunnah and the early Muslim community. The branch’s name reflects the central place of Sunnah in its religious identity.
Muhammad: The religious and political leader regarded by Muslims as God’s final prophet and messenger. His words, actions, and approvals constitute the prophetic example called Sunnah.
Quran: The central scripture of Islam, understood by Muslims as revelation to Muhammad. Islamic interpretation relates the Sunnah to the Quran as a source of guidance.
Sahih hadith: A hadith classified as sound under a tradition’s criteria for reliable transmission and content. Sound reports commonly provide strong evidence for Muhammad’s normative example.
Islamic jurisprudence: The scholarly interpretation and derivation of Islamic legal rules and principles. Jurists use Sunnah alongside other sources to reason about legal questions.
Shia Islam: A major branch of Islam that recognizes Ali and the Prophet’s family as rightful sources of religious authority. Shia traditions also value prophetic Sunnah but differ in authority and transmission.
Companions of the Prophet: The Muslims who met Muhammad and followed him, especially those who transmitted his teachings and example. Companions witnessed and conveyed accounts that became foundational Sunnah reports.

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