The Relationship between the Sunnah and Revelation
The Sunnah is revelation from Allah to His Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah says in the Qur’ân:
We have sent down to him the Book and the Wisdom.
The Wisdom refers to the Sunnah. The great jurist al-Shâfi`î said: “Allah mentions the Book, which is the Qur’ân. I have heard from people who I consider authorities on the Qur’ân that the Wisdom is the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him).” Allah says:
Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His signs and purifying them and instructing them in the Book and the Wisdom.
It is clear from the preceding verses that Allah revealed to His Prophet (peace be upon him) both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah, and that He commanded him to convey both to the people. The Prophetic hadîth also attest to the fact that the Sunnah is revelation. It is related from Makhûl that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Allah gave me the Qur’ân and what is like it from the Wisdom.”
Al-Miqdâm b. Ma`dî Karab relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “I have been given the Book and with it something like it.”
Hisân b. `Atiyyah relates that Jibrîl (Gabriel) used to come the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the Sunnah just like he would come to him with the Qur’ân.
An opinion from the Prophet (peace be upon him) was not merely his own thoughts or deliberations on a matter; it was what Allah revealed to him. In this way, the Prophet was different from other people. He was supported by revelation. When he exercised his own reasoning and was correct, Allah would confirm it, and if he ever made a mistake in his thinking, Allah would correct it and guide him to the truth.
For this reason, it is related that the Caliph `Umar said from the pulpit: “O people! The opinions of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) were correct only because Allah would reveal them to him. As for our opinions, they are nothing but thoughts and conjecture.”
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