what is the difference between sunnah..

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Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

 

Question

 

While we r in jama’at, we learn alot about certain adaab. What I don’t understand is what is the difference between sunnah and adaab ?

For example:

Not facing your face towards qiblat,

Not eating while leaning on the wall,

Covering your head while eating,

Do not sit in the masjid leaning at your hands at the back, use thongs while in toilet, etc..

r all these sunnah or adaab?

If they r sunnah, i believe they are all based on some hadith or other narrations of shahabah..

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

Muhtaram / Muhtaramah

 

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāh wa-barakātuh.

 

Islam has divided Adaab into three categories: (i) Adaab of rights and obligations, (ii) Adaab of virtues and vices, and (iii) General Adaab. Thus, Adaab differ in their rulings.

The third category of aadab covers the performance of every act in a right and proper way. This is called good manners and etiquette: for example, the conduct and manners of conversation and of eating and drinking. These aadab are either sunnah or mustahab.

•           It has been narrated that the Prophet sallahu alaihi wa sallam has never been seen eating while leaning. Abu Dawud vol.4 pg.877

•           Rasulullah sallahu alaihi wa sallam said hayaa is a branch of faith. (Zaadut-Talibeen)

•           Generally, stretching one’s feet towards a person is a sign of disrespect. Similarly, stretching one’s feet in the direction of Qiblah, be it behind a wall or in a Masjid is disrespectful to the Ka’bah.

These Adaab are mentioned with much emphasis in many books of Ahadith, namely, Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.

 

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah

 

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