The Hadiths

The Interpretation of the Qur’an: Sunna and Hadith

• It was originally believed that the Qur’an did not need interpretation.

• After Muhammad’s death, as Islam spread to new countries, cultures, and languages, many Muslims needed help understanding the Qur’an.

• Two sources that complement the Qur’an are the Sunna and the Hadith.

• The Sunna is a collection of Muhammad’s own words and actions, as memorized and recorded by his inner circle of family and friends.

  • “Sunna” means “beaten path.”

• The Hadith is a record of Muhammad’s words, actions, and statements about current religious practices by others, and whether he approved of those practices.

• It also gives stories about what Muhammad was like in person.

• It is not based on first-person accounts by Muhammad’s inner circle, and some of the texts are still being debated by Islamic scholars.

• A Muslim with a problem will first consult the Qur’an, then the Sunna or Hadith to find out what Muhammad said or did in a similar situation.

• Together, the three books form the law (called shariah in Arabic) for Muslims.