WHAT IS SUNNATULLAH?
- Literally, the word sunnah means tradition, way, method, custom.
- When it is attributed to Allah --- SUNNATULLAH, it refers to the way of ALLAH’S DEALING WITH His creation. It is the governing or controlling of the movement of Allah's creations.
- It also denotes the practice of Allah and His judgment on different creatures of the universe.
- Sunnatullah means: pattern of Allah, laws of Allah, the creation of Allah and the command of Allah
ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF SUNNATULLAH
- It is a complete and integral system of cause and effect and it runs systematically and perfectly in accordance with the command of Allah (Ismail R. al-Faruqi)
- It is a power which forms and orders things and matter according to the Divine plan with perfection and without any waste(al-Baruni)
- It is laws of Allah which have been manifested and commanded by Allah directly according to the will of the supreme authority. The Quran mentions that:
“Doer of all that He intends” (85:16) --- Allah’s will is itself the word and deed. There is no interval between them --- No circumstances can change or influence His mind.
- It is the Divine laws and perfect system. The Quran says:
“He who created the seven heavens one above another. No want of proportion will you see in the creation of Allah most Gracious, so turn your vision again, do you see any flaw?
Again turn your vision a second time, your vision will come back to you dull and discomfited in a state worn out” (67:3-4)
Again turn your vision a second time, your vision will come back to you dull and discomfited in a state worn out” (67:3-4)
- His laws are in proportion and measure.
-every word, deed and thought of man has its fullest consequences.
-nobody can interfere with Allah’s work and plane
-no change in His creation
Miqdar means:
The thing, which cannot be increased and decreased for instance what occurs in the mother’s womb either male or female. Man does not have any influence or function in it. The Quran says:
“It is He who created all things in due proportions(25:2)
Miqdar means:
The thing, which cannot be increased and decreased for instance what occurs in the mother’s womb either male or female. Man does not have any influence or function in it. The Quran says:
“It is He who created all things in due proportions(25:2)
- Sunnatullah is a creature of Allah and His commandments. It is controlled by Al-Mighty through His laws according to His design and plan.
“Verily, When He intends a matter, He said to is “Be and It is”, so glory to Him in whose hands is the dominion of all things: and to Him will you be all brought back” ( 36:82-83)
- Everything will be perished but His Face, Existence, and Power will be remained.
“All that is on earth will perish but will abide forever the Face of your Lord-Full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor”(55:26-27)
The meaning of The Face is His personality, Glory, Majesty, Inner Being, essence, Self, the noble qualities which we associate with the beautiful names of Allah (2:112, 7:180 and 17:110)
The most important magnificent objects in nature-the mountains and valleys, the sun and the moon, etc will also pass a away.
All things mean the most magnificent works of man, i.e. Fleeting, Ships, Empires, the Wonders of Science and Arts and the splendors of human glory and intellect will pass a away
The most important magnificent objects in nature-the mountains and valleys, the sun and the moon, etc will also pass a away.
All things mean the most magnificent works of man, i.e. Fleeting, Ships, Empires, the Wonders of Science and Arts and the splendors of human glory and intellect will pass a away
- Laws of nature are unalterable as the Quran declares.
Nothings can happen against the divine decrees or commands
Man has been able to understand and comprehend all these and laws
There are some exceptional or supernatural issues happened in human history by the command of Allah, because of His will and His absolute power. Such as the miracles during the time of all prophets and karamat by the followers of prophet Muhammad (SAW)
It is true that there is no change in the creation of natural laws, even Allah will not interfere them but man has been given the authority to change his or her situation in life by using his capacity, intellect, knowledge and strife and the final fruits of the strife will be given by Allah (SAW).
CHARACTERISTIC OF SUNNATULLAH
The main characteristic of sunnatullah are the following;
- PERMANENT/ UNCHANGEABLE
The practice of Allah whether in terms of punishment or reward is constant and does not change. It is not influenced by the factor of time or condition. Allah says;
“Such was the practice approved of Allah among those who lived a foretime, no change will you find in the practice of Allah”(33: 62)
“(Such has been) the practice (approved) of Allah already in the past: no change wilt thou find in the practice (approved) of Allah.” (48: 23)
- FIXED
Allah’s will cannot be turned away by any cause whatever. Because if sunnatullah is not fixed or can be deviated or redirected there will be injustice whereas Allah never commit injustice
“On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil. But the plotting of Evil will hem in only the authors thereof. Now are they but looking for the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing): no turning off wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing).” (35: 43)
- VALID AND EFFECTIVE
“But their professing the Faith when they (actually) saw Our Punishment was not going to profit them. (Such has been) Allah's way of dealing with His servants (from the most ancient times). And even thus did the rejecters of Allah perish (utterly)!”(40: 85)
The people of A’d, Thamud, and the Pharaoh, Quraish with all power and wealth they had could not stop sunnatullah.
EXAMPLE OF SUNNATULLAH IN MEN AND SOCIETY
- Sunnatullah is the punishment of Al- Mukadhibin ( المكذبين ) believers of prophets, the arrogant and corrupters etc.
- Sunnatullah is assisting the prophets and servants.
EXAMPLE OF SUNNATULAH IN NATURE.
- Nature is Allah’s creation, which function according to the laws and patterns of Allah.
All components of nature such as earth, trees plants, heavens, mountain, seas and oceans etc are governed by sunnatullah.
Scientist and scholars usually were hard to understand and discover the laws or patterns of nature and natural resources in their life and make sure of nature and natural resources in their industry, technology and scientific advancement. Allah invites people to think about it;
“Do they not look at the sky above them how We have made it and there are no flaws in it. And the earth We have spread it out and set thereon mountains standing firm and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)” (50: 6-7)
SUNNATULLAH IN MEN AND SOCIETY
Scientist and scholars usually were hard to understand and discover the laws or patterns of nature and natural resources in their life and make sure of nature and natural resources in their industry, technology and scientific advancement. Allah invites people to think about it;
“Do they not look at the sky above them how We have made it and there are no flaws in it. And the earth We have spread it out and set thereon mountains standing firm and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)” (50: 6-7)
SUNNATULLAH IN MEN AND SOCIETY
The laws of Allah govern also men and society because they are Allah’s creatures like any other natural creature.
Mankind’s life and all his activities; economic, political, cultural, etc. are subjugated to the patters of Allah.
Social scientist like sociologist, historians, philosophers have always been attempting to discover the laws governing men’s behaviour and practice in order to develop human life and plan for a good life.
Sunnatullah in man and society opens our minds and make us think objectively, wisely about anything we want to do.
It helps us understand the past and present. It helps us understand our social atmosphere and everything around us.
It also helps us to learn lessons from what happen to previous nations and generations and predict our future and take the appropriate measures and precautions.
Purposes and Implication of Sunnatullah
1. Human beings should observe natural beauty and discover the reality and the truth, the power and the glory of Allah. Allah has created everything and assigned to it its measure, role, purpose and destiny for human understanding and uses. The Quran says:
“Allah created every thing and assigned to its qadar, destiny, role and purpose” (25:2, 87:3)
In another verse, “We have not created heavens and earth and all that stands between them in sport”
‘Allah did not create the world in vain but for purpose, namely man may do the good works’ (11:7, 67:2 and 18:7)
2. To prove the existence of Allah through His created laws or natural laws
3. All prophets came to realize the existence of Allah and His power through natural laws. For instance Prophet Ibrahim, prophet Musa etc. The Quran says:
“When Moses came to the place appointed by us, and his Lord addressed him. He said: O my Lord, Show thyself to me that I may look upon you. Allah said: By no means you can see Me directly, but look upon the mountain, if it abide in its place, then you shall see me. When his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain.
He made it s dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said:
Glory be to you, to you I return in repentance. I am the first to believe” (7:143)
Prophet Moses observed and saw the true status of Allah and realized the distance between our grosser bodily senses and the true splendor of Allah’s glory.
He could not see Allah through his physical eyes but he fell down in a swoon
he realized the mysteries and hidden power of Allah.
In another quranic verse,
The dialogue between Allah and prophet Ibrahim about Allah’s power over life and death.
Mankind’s life and all his activities; economic, political, cultural, etc. are subjugated to the patters of Allah.
Social scientist like sociologist, historians, philosophers have always been attempting to discover the laws governing men’s behaviour and practice in order to develop human life and plan for a good life.
Sunnatullah in man and society opens our minds and make us think objectively, wisely about anything we want to do.
It helps us understand the past and present. It helps us understand our social atmosphere and everything around us.
It also helps us to learn lessons from what happen to previous nations and generations and predict our future and take the appropriate measures and precautions.
Purposes and Implication of Sunnatullah
1. Human beings should observe natural beauty and discover the reality and the truth, the power and the glory of Allah. Allah has created everything and assigned to it its measure, role, purpose and destiny for human understanding and uses. The Quran says:
“Allah created every thing and assigned to its qadar, destiny, role and purpose” (25:2, 87:3)
In another verse, “We have not created heavens and earth and all that stands between them in sport”
‘Allah did not create the world in vain but for purpose, namely man may do the good works’ (11:7, 67:2 and 18:7)
2. To prove the existence of Allah through His created laws or natural laws
3. All prophets came to realize the existence of Allah and His power through natural laws. For instance Prophet Ibrahim, prophet Musa etc. The Quran says:
“When Moses came to the place appointed by us, and his Lord addressed him. He said: O my Lord, Show thyself to me that I may look upon you. Allah said: By no means you can see Me directly, but look upon the mountain, if it abide in its place, then you shall see me. When his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain.
He made it s dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said:
Glory be to you, to you I return in repentance. I am the first to believe” (7:143)
Prophet Moses observed and saw the true status of Allah and realized the distance between our grosser bodily senses and the true splendor of Allah’s glory.
He could not see Allah through his physical eyes but he fell down in a swoon
he realized the mysteries and hidden power of Allah.
In another quranic verse,
The dialogue between Allah and prophet Ibrahim about Allah’s power over life and death.
4. To develop and understand Allah’s mysteries and spiritual dimension of human life through the natural process and uniformity of the laws of the physical world (6:75-76) the Quran says:
“We did show Ibrahim the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might with understanding have certitude” (6:75-76
to lead and cultivate the collective life of humanity through the gradual process of the creation of human beings because the process of human creation is one of signs of Allah’s power when he is in mother’s womb
Allah created his partner with love, affection, atmosphere and mercy
“We did show Ibrahim the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might with understanding have certitude” (6:75-76
to lead and cultivate the collective life of humanity through the gradual process of the creation of human beings because the process of human creation is one of signs of Allah’s power when he is in mother’s womb
Allah created his partner with love, affection, atmosphere and mercy
He made different colors, different faces, voices and different patterns and structures of his body
He created day for him for earning human subsistence and night for taking rest
He created male or female according to His will in the mother’s womb as a consequences of the wonderful mystery of sex, in the mother’s womb there are three veils of darkness (30:21)
Ears, sights, intelligence, hearts and understanding are created by His command.
Allah breathes the spirit of man from Him into the body of man (38:72, 23:12)
He created day for him for earning human subsistence and night for taking rest
He created male or female according to His will in the mother’s womb as a consequences of the wonderful mystery of sex, in the mother’s womb there are three veils of darkness (30:21)
Ears, sights, intelligence, hearts and understanding are created by His command.
Allah breathes the spirit of man from Him into the body of man (38:72, 23:12)
The continuous process of human physical growth, i.e. child is born, he grows, he decays and he dies.
5. The universe, the earth and its contents were made subservient to man(14:33-34)
Everything in this world visible and invisible is subservient to man by Allah to be utilized by human beings in accordance with His laws
Allah has created the universe in purpose of providing all facilities and fulfilling all necessities to mankind
Every creature has his own role and it gives us thousands of benefits
Man is the best creature in the best form who will survive to get the pleasure of Allah by utilizing all facilities provided by Allah according to His measured laws
Man can also make dwelling and tents from the wool of sheep, the hair of goats and the soft hair of camels.
6. To understand the sunnatullah through the understanding of human life, human intellect, human analogy, human heart and human thought.
5. The universe, the earth and its contents were made subservient to man(14:33-34)
Everything in this world visible and invisible is subservient to man by Allah to be utilized by human beings in accordance with His laws
Allah has created the universe in purpose of providing all facilities and fulfilling all necessities to mankind
Every creature has his own role and it gives us thousands of benefits
Man is the best creature in the best form who will survive to get the pleasure of Allah by utilizing all facilities provided by Allah according to His measured laws
Man can also make dwelling and tents from the wool of sheep, the hair of goats and the soft hair of camels.
6. To understand the sunnatullah through the understanding of human life, human intellect, human analogy, human heart and human thought.
Assalamualaikum Brother.
ReplyDeleteI think you are confusing sunnatullah with fitrah like most other people and scholars. First you say the word sunnah means tradition, way, method, then you take it to mean the laws of nature. Nature is creation (makhluk) which are imbued with certain characteristics termed as fitrah. Fitrah is the characteristics of nature. Sunnatullah is the way ordained for mankind as passed on through the scriptures and the messengers. Not the other way round.
If you take this meanings then things become so much clearer.