What Does Sunna (Prophetic Practice) Mean in Arabic?
سُنَّة
sunna
Root: س ن ن
Sunna (Prophetic Practice) Sunna refers to the words, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. It is the second primary source of Islamic law after the Quran. In jurisprudence, sunna as a legal ruling means a recommended act whose performance is rewarded but whose omission is not punished. It is divided into sunna mu'akkada (emphasized) and ghair mu'akkada (non-emphasized).
The root of Sunna (Prophetic Practice) (sunna) appears 16 times in the Quran, reflecting its foundational importance in Islamic theology and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sunna (Prophetic Practice)
What does Sunna (Prophetic Practice) mean in Islam?
Sunna refers to the words, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. It is the second primary source of Islamic law after the Quran. In jurisprudence, sunna as a legal ruling means a recommended act whose performance is rewarded but whose omission is not punished. It is divided into sunna mu'akkada (emphasized) and ghair mu'akkada (non-emphasized).
How many times is Sunna (Prophetic Practice) mentioned in the Quran?
The root of the word Sunna (Prophetic Practice) appears 16 times in the Quran, underscoring its central importance in Islamic theology and practice.
What is the Arabic root of Sunna (Prophetic Practice)?
The Arabic root letters of Sunna (Prophetic Practice) are س ن ن.
Related Words
حَلَال
Halal (Permissible)
Halal refers to anything permissible or lawful under Islamic law. It applies to food, drink, financial transactions, and behavior. The Quran repeatedly instructs believers to eat from what is halal and good (tayyib). Halal is the opposite of haram (forbidden) and forms one of the five rulings (ahkam) of Islamic jurisprudence.
حَرَام
Haram (Forbidden)
Haram refers to anything strictly forbidden by Islamic law. Committing a haram act is a sin deserving punishment in both this world and the hereafter. Major categories include pork, alcohol, usury (riba), adultery, and murder. Islamic jurisprudence identifies five rulings (ahkam); haram is the most severe prohibition.
فَرْض
Fard (Obligatory)
Fard is an obligatory religious duty in Islam whose performance is rewarded and whose neglect is sinful. The five pillars of Islam — shahada, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj — are all fard. Fard is divided into fard ayn (individual obligation) and fard kifaya (collective obligation fulfilled when enough people perform it).
وَاجِب
Wajib (Necessary)
Wajib in Hanafi jurisprudence is an obligatory act slightly below fard in rank, established by probable (zanni) rather than definitive (qati) evidence. Neglecting it is sinful but less severe than neglecting fard. Examples include witr prayer, udhiyya (sacrifice), and sadaqat al-fitr. In Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, wajib and fard are synonymous.