Doubt: Some May Say that The Quraan is Enough and There is No Need for The Sunnah

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Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree

9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013

Those who call to following the Quraan exclusively use Aayaat (proofs) from the Quraan such as;

“We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).” [Nahl 16:89]

Therefore, the Quraan explains everything, so according to them, we don’t need the Sunnah. This is their doubt.

But we say that this is a mistake, why? The Quraan has told us to follow the Sunnah and that it is a proof in and of itself. In fact, the Quraan can’t be complete without having the Sunnah.

For example, Allaah the Most High, says;

“…pay the due thereof (its Zakat, according to Allah's Orders 1/10th or 1/20th) on the day of its harvest…” [An’aam 6:141]

So how can we pay Zakaat on our harvest? What is the day of harvest? What is the Nisaab (threshold)?

We need to go back to the Sunnah. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “There is no zakaah due (i.e. the nisaab or the threshold) on less than five wasqs (an amount of measurement, approximately 612Kg depending on the type of food that is being weighed)…” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1405; Muslim, 979.

Therefore, it is not possible to rely on the Quraan alone as the Sunnah explains it.