Muslims, I'm a bit confused.....?

Question

When I first became a Muslim people told me that what is Sunnah are the things the prophet did that are good and that we should try to follow but that they are NOT obligatory. Is this true?

If it is true why all the problems on here (and off here) about if you should or shouldn't do this or that? Aren't we fighting in vain? It's one thing to discuss it but it is another to get nasty the way many of us have on here.

I'm NOT against the blessings and actually I was told this by ARABS.

Your first sentence: "Hell with everyone else and glory be to Allah Swt." is disgusting unfortunately because the end is great.

by the way I am NOT against Sunnah -I'm not one of those trying to do away with it or anything.

Answer 1

A Prophet is the perfect example of everything...
God only chooses Prophets from those who never sin (are infallible)...

You could do your best and follow what he did... but we are different... we don't have as much patience, intelligence, etc... etc... etc... as the Prophets did...
So don't take it hard on urself if u miss something here and there... God is all forgiving... and He says "......No one shall be burdened beyond his ability......" (2:233)
This is only part of that verse... so if you went looking for it... its almost in the middle :D

Answer 2

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Salaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

It can be confusing because the word Sunnah is used in a couple of different ways. In its broadest sense, a "sunnah" is anything that Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, did, said, or that others did in his presence that he approved of of that he did not forbid. The Sunnah is the second source of knowledge about Islam, after the Qur'an.

Now, within that framework, there are aspects of the Sunnah that are required "fard". This means that they are required and if you do not do them you are doing something wrong and you can be punished for that. For instance, the Qur'an tells us to pray, but it does not go into detail as to exactly how to do so. We know from the Sunnah that we must face the Qiblah, that we must recite al-Fatihah, and that we must do other actions or our prayer is not valid. So we say that reciting surat al-Fatihah is from the Sunnah of the Prophet, pbuh, and it is an obligatory "fard" action.

There are other sunnahs that are not obligatory, but are good to do. This means that if we do them we get reward, but if we fail to do them we don't get a sin. For instance, it is sunnah to pray four raka'ats before asr prayer, and if we do that we get reward, but it is not fard so if we omit that it is not a sin.

There are some minor differences of opinion as to whether certain actions, like men wearing a beard, are fard or sunnah, but overall the scholars are in complete agreement about 99% of what they teach. I refer particularly to the scholars of the four major mathhabs, Shafi'i, Malik, abu Hanifa, and ibn Hanbal. There is no reason for the minor issues where there is some disagreement to divide us. It is something that is a disgrace for the Ummah. We should focus on the important things like helping our brothers and sisters in Islam around the world.

If you have a question about a particular action, whether it is sunnah or fard, you are welcome to ask that as well. And Allah knows best.

Fi Aman Allah,

Nancy Umm Abdel Hamid

Answer 3

The Sunnah should be followed, however, there are things in the Sunnah that are recommended and not obligatory. Remember, the Quran tells us what to do and the Sunnah tells us how to do it. Doing things that are recommended, give us additional reward. Doing things that are obligatory shows Allah our obedience.

Answer 4

Dear brothers and sisters the sunnah of the prophet should be followed shia or sunni, tell me how do you pray where do you get that from the Quran, please brothers and sisters, Sunnah and shia, regardless if you follow the sunnah that is narrated by the companions or the family of the prophet it should be followed. Everything must be referred to the holy Quran and the Sunnah, the noble traditions of the holy Prophet (s.a.) and any Hadith that does not agree with the holy Quran it is a useless statement. If you come across a Hadith and you find evidence in the holy Quran to support it or in Hadith of the holy Prophet (you may follow it), otherwise, you follow the one that has come to you through the trustworthy narrator.

The holy Prophet who said, "Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. Let it be known that Allah loves those who seek knowledge." ‘Acquire good understand in religion because those of you who do not have good understand in religion are like the Bedouins. Allah has said in His book, ‘ Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God. (9:122)’"

"The holy Prophet once addressed the people in Mina (a place in Makkah) saying, "O people, whatever comes to you in the form of my Hadith you must see if it agrees with the holy book of Allah then know that I have said it but whatever comes to you that does not agree with the book of Allah then know that I have not said it."

Dear brothers and sisters of R&S here our beloved prophet is telling us to use our integance, to seek knowledge and not to follow anything blindly, even if your Imam tells you something you do not agree with do not be afraid to question, keep an open mind, do not reject what you do not understand.

Answer 5

Asalam Alaikum Sister,

It's said that you should stay away all that which has been prohibited and that you should to as much as you can of that which is commanded. On top of that it is a huge sin to make that which is lawful prohibited or that which is prohibited lawful. I totally agree with you that our fighting is in vain! I must clarify that the Sunnah are of varying degrees though. For instance we wouldn't be able to pray (acceptably) to Allah without the Sunnah. Allah (God) knows best!

Answer 6

It is not obligatory. It is recommended, however, and you will gain a greater reward, but there is no penalty if you do not follow the Sunnah. You should try as best as you can, but it is not manditory. For example, I am a male, but I don't plan on growing a beard in the future. However, I will eat sometimes with my hands, and sit down while I eat. I do what I can and what is reasonable for me, but I do not do everything. Like I said, it is not obligatory, but recommended. My only suggestion would be to try your best, but don't overexert yourself. Good luck.

Answer 7

I think you are creating another confusion for us by not telling ...which Sunnah is obligatory!

I am surprised how people are replying without knowing the matter??

Pls. Don't listen to every one. Find authentic scholar for consultation or read Islamic Books.

Answer 8

yes sunnah is not obligatory

i feel as long as you read your salah ans fast and read the quran thats the main thing everything else comes second obviously you get extra reward
the problem with a lot oif poeple nowadays is that they go around preaching do thid do that its sunnah but they themselves forget to do the compulsory

as long as you know that your relationship with god is strong in itself you alone are going to stand infront of god it doesnt matter what others say or do

Answer 9

Muslims as well as Christians, Jews and all of God's children have inside of them a basic understanding of what is truly moral and what truly is immoral. Whether or not they adhere to any moral code, they do basically intuitively know what is good and what is not. That may be the reason your Muslim brothers and sisters argue, sometimes vehemently, about the way a person ought to behave. This will happen in all societies no matter what the religious belief because of that "basic understanding" called "conscience" that god put there for our guidance.

Answer 10

in case you nonetheless believe interior the possibility of a supernatural author, than you would be extra agnostic than atheist. to this point as you "nonetheless being a Muslim", that is actual in a cultural and family individuals experience. I honestly have many Jewish friends who're no longer very religious, and lean in direction of agnosticism, or maybe atheism. yet they're nonetheless pronounced as Jewish.