• To attainthe pleasure of Allah through seeking knowledge about the Sunnah
• To provide students with an understanding of the meanings of Sunnah and Hadith and the relationship between the two.
• To provide students with the knowledge of the importance and authority of the Sunnah;
• To help students appreciate the efforts of the scholars to purify and authenticate the Sunnah
• To equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to refute the arguments and claims of those who reject the Sunnah or trivialize its role,
•  To prepare students to be able to clarify the prominent misunderstandings concerning the Sunnah

Required text:   

The Authority and Importance of the Sunnah by: Jamaal Al-Din M. Zarabozo

Supplementary resources:

• PowerPoint Presentations (in the Student Library)
• Audio Lectures of the instructor (can be downloaded from the Student Library)
• Dr. Mustatfa As-Siba’ee, The Sunnah and its Role in Islamic Legislation, International Islamic Publishing House
• Mohammad Mustafa Azmi, Studies in Early Hadith Literature, American Trust Publication
• Yusuf, S. M., An Essay on the Sunnah: Its Importance, Transmission, Development  and Revision, Institute of Islamic Culture

Course Topics:

The Definition of Sunnah and Hadith

Proofs Establishing the Authority and Importance of the Sunnah

The Roles of the Messenger (Peace be upon him)

The Authority of the Sunnah vis-à-vis the Quran

Allah’s preservation of the Sunnah

The Ruling Concerning One Who Rejects the Sunnah

The People of the Sunnah

C. Organization

Week 1

1. Introduction
2. The Importance of this Subject Matter
3. The Definition of Sunnah and Hadith

Week 2        

1. Continuation of the Definition of Sunnah and Hadith
2. Proofs Establishing the Authority and Importance of the Sunnah

Week 3

1. The Roles of the Messenger (Peace be upon him)

Week 4

1. The Authority of the Sunnah vis-à-vis the Quran

Week 5

1. Allah’s preservation of the Sunnah

Week 6

1.  The Ruling Concerning One Who Rejects the Sunnah

Week 7

1.  The People of the Sunnah

Week 8

1.  Review of Course material