The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 129
3. HADITH AND THE SUNNAH OF THE. HOLY PROPHETSA. To hold fast to Islamic injunctions, the Muslims have three things. . Sources of Islamic Guidance. First, the Holy Qur'an which is the Book of God than which we have no more conclusive and certain statement. . It is the Word of God and is free from all doubt and speculation. . Secondly, the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be on him), which is called the Sunnah. Here we are not speaking in terms of the terminology used by the Ahl-e-Hadith. We do not regard Ḥadīth and Sunnah as one and the same thing, as is done by traditional scholars of Ḥadith. They are distinct, Ḥadith is one thing and Sunnah is another. By Sunnah we mean the practice of the Holy Propheta, to which he adhered and which appeared along with the Holy Qur'an and will accompany it. In other words, the Holy Qur'ān is the. Word of God Almighty and the Sunnah is the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be on him). It has ever been the way of God that the Prophets bring the Word of God for the guidance of people and illustrate it in practice with their conduct so that no doubt should remain in the minds of people with regard to the. Divine Word. They act upon it and urge others to do the 129