How do we deal with the Sunnah?

Linguistically, Sunnah refers to a customary way of life or method. In Islamic terminology, it encompasses the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and characteristics. The Sunnah is divided into: verbal (his sayings), active (his actions), and tacit (his silence regarding a saying or action performed in front of him without disapproval).

It is obligatory to believe that the Sunnah is the second source of legislation after the Holy Quran, and that its origin is Allah Almighty. It serves as a proof for deriving Islamic rulings. Allah has mandated obedience to and following the Prophet (peace be upon him), making obedience to him an obedience to Allah. The Companions unanimously agreed on the obligation of following his Sunnah, and reason dictates this because Allah commanded him to convey and clarify His message.

In relation to the Quran, the Sunnah either confirms a Quranic ruling, explains and clarifies it, serves as evidence for abrogation, or establishes a ruling on which the Quran was silent. What is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) must be accepted, whether it is an individual narration (Ahad) or a continuously transmitted one (Mutawatir), and whether it pertains to belief or action. The rulings of the Sunnah vary between obligatory (wajib), recommended (mandub), permissible (mubah), disliked (makruh), and forbidden (haram).