(a) Distinguish between Hadith and Sunnah.
(b) Outline six benefits of Sunnah.
Explanation
(a)- Sunnah is always an act of the prophet, alaihissalaam, while a hadith is a report of his statement, act, silent approval or an incident that took place in his life.
- Sunnah has come down to us from generation to generation while hadith has been reported, in most cases, by one individual to another. Thus the act that qualifies as sunnah is undoubtedly authentic - quite as authentic as the Quran itself - while hadith, at best, carries a strong probability that it may have been correctively reported. This is because God Almighty arranged the two sources to be the way they are: He arranged sunnah to remain completed beyond doubt, because it was to be a part of His last message and allowed hadith to be a human effort at preserving information about the prophet.
-Sunnah is clear in what it stands for where as the context of a hadith had to be understood (and therefore interpreted) by all the narrators involved in the chain of transmission. The process of interpretation has also got to be done now by whoever is to benefit from a hadith.
(b) Benefits of following Prophet's Sunnah
There are great benefits of following Prophet's Sunnah in this life as well as in the life hereafter too. By following Prophet's Sunnah we can lead a happy and healthy life which we are going to discuss below:
- Sleeping and Waking up Early: Sleeping early results in rising early and it has the great impact on our daily routine and also in our body functioning. A sleeping pattern that is the time of sleeping plays a great role in our ability to function properly and effectively during daily activities. Starting the day off by praying the morning Salah sets you in the right frame of mind to be the best you can be throughout the day. It was the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to rise early and offer prayers, which helps in reshaping a person at the start of the day into his proper frame. Hazrat Aisha (R.A) narrated Prophet (SAW) sleeping habit that: "He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed." (Al Bukhari). Wake up early and sleep early to be the strong, successful you that you want to be and Insha Allah you will get all these things.
- Use of Miswak: Miswak comes from the "Salvadora persica" tree and has many anti-bacterial qualities, making it a great way to maintain hygiene of the mouth. Prophet (SAW) used to do Miswak and we all should also do it because it is very important to maintain oral hygiene. This Sunnah introduces preventative measures against a problem that can have you rolled up in bed for days. Miswak is easily purchasable and relatively cheap, making it an easy Sunnah to uphold. It keeps the mouth clean and fresh naturally and effortlessly all the time. Hadith related to Miswak usage is as follows: "If it were not that it would be difficult on my nation, then I would have ordered them to use the siwak for each pray." [Al Tirmidhi]
- Having always a pleasant smile: Smiling is a simple way to looks like happy and also try to do other's happy. With the help of smile, you can lift up someone's mood that is sad and worried. By doing so you can make someone be more grateful and relief from sadness. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) frequently doing it and all of us should follow his Sunnah of having always a pleasant smile. Ibn Jaz reports: "I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah (SAW)." (Tirmidhi). Try to smile more often and spread joy and peace around you as our beloved Prophet (SAW) instructed to do so.
- Having Hijama (Cupping): Cupping therapy is the modern form of regulating blood flow via putting suctions on human skin to mobilize the flow of blood for healing the wide range of medical ailments. This form of treatment has been used throughout history in a number of countries. The benefits of cupping are vast, including the removal of toxins from the blood. Hadith narrates: "I there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don't like to be (cauterized) branded with fire." (Al Bukhari). Cupping on daily basis helps in removal of hazardous toxins that human body accumulates on daily basis along effectiveness for fertility, migraine, and joint pains. So for getting cure from diseases, we should try to follow this act of Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
