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Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
Joukowsky_Institute@brown.edu
Sunna refers to the way in which the Prophet lived, the examples he set, the path he walked. For example, the way in which Muhammad prayed is part of the sunna, and Muslims should follow his example. Also included are things the Prophet might have approved of in others and things he himself had wished to do. The knowledge of these practices of Muhammad is deemed sunna, and they can form a guide of sorts for later Muslims on how best to live. It will play a role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence.
Posted at Feb 19/2009 10:59AM:
ian: Knowledge of the sunna is communication largely through the hadith. Sunna is essentially a category of revelation in the Muslim tradition and is seen as a lens through which Muslims can interpret the Quran.