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How to classify a deed as Sunnah or Mustahab?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by HadithAnswers.com

1. If some act is not mentioned clearly in the Hadith, but is ‘deduced’ therefrom, can we classify this as a Sunnah as it is mentioned as a commentary of the Hadith but not clearly mentioned in the Hadith?

2. Is it correct that something which is found in a da’if Hadith cannot be classified a Sunnah , rather it will be a mustahab act?

Answer

1. In essence, if a reliable authority deduces a Sunnah from a Hadith, it would be acceptable. However, it is important to bear in mind that the Fuqaha are very particular when classifying a deed as Sunnah or mustahab. Besides it merely appearing in a reliable Hadith, there are several other factors that are taken into account.

You may refer to the books of Usulul Fiqh for details. Also see: Tuhfatul Akhyar of Moulana ‘Abdul Hay Laknawi (rahimahullah).

Furthermore, by us only managing to locate something in a commentary [and not in a clear Hadith] it does not mean that the Fuqaha did not have other proofs. They actually had much more access to Hadith, and deeper understandings of the Hadiths as well.

Therefore we are encouraged to stay within the rulings of the Fuqaha.

Imam Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) said:

التسليم للفقهاء سلامة في الدين

“In conceding to the Fuqaha (Jurists) is the security for our din”

(Refer: Atharul Hadith, pg.117)

2. Yes, this is correct. However, whatever was mentioned above should be kept in mind as well.

(Refer for details to: Hukmul ‘amali bil Hadithid da’if, of my Teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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