“Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed.” [Quran 53:3-4]
It is necessary for complete understanding of the meaning of the Sunnah to appreciate and understand the way Sunnah originates from the person of the Prophet . In essence, this took place in three forms or ways:Through sayings, actions, as well as his physical characters and personal attributes and his approvals of others’ acts and sayings:
Sayings: This includes everything he said. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “Indeed, all actions are based on intentions, and surely, every man shall have only that which he intended. Therefore, whosoever immigrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then his immigration is for Allah and His Messenger.” [Muslim]
Actions: All of his actions and deeds. For example, ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “He used to fast so much that we would say he would never break the fast, and he used to abstain from fasting for so long that we would say he will never fast.” [Bukhari]
Approval: This happens when someone does something in front of him, or in his absence but it gets reported to him then he approves of it either by being silent and not commenting on it (Tacit Approval) or by saying something that would indicate agreement or endorsement of it (Explicit Approval). An example of the tacit approval would be the incident reported by Sa’eed Ibn Abi Awfa, may Allah be pleased with him, that he went with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, on seven expeditions, and we ate locust with him (while he was watching).” [Bukhari and Abu Daawood] An example for the explicit approval is reported by Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that two men were traveling without water, so at the time of the Prayer they made dry ablution (Tayammum). Then sometime later, they found water and one of them repeated ablution and Prayer but the other did not. When they told the Prophet he told the one who did not repeat: ‘what you did is the Sunnah,' and said to the other: ‘you will get a double reward.’[Abu Daawood]
Descriptions: This includes everything related to his character like Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, description of him as being, “The most generous of all people.” [Bukhari], as well as his physical attributes, as in the Hadeeth, “He had a face that was more beautiful than all people’s, he was best in character, and was of an average height: not too long or short.” [Bukhari]
Comments:
It is recommended that one keep in mind, for general purposes, the definition used by the scholars of Hadeeth, mentioned before, as well as remember that rulings derived from the Sunnah may vary in their implication and weight as do the rulings derived from the Quran such that some of them are obligationsand prohibitions while others are just recommendations (Mustahabb) or dislikes (Makrooh). All, however, must be revered and applied. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: "Whoever avoids following my Sunnah does not belong to me.”[Bukhari] Also, Talhah Ibn Auf stated that once he was praying "behind Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, in a funeral prayer, when he recited Al-Faatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran, then said: ‘I have recited this chapter for you to know that this is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ."' [Bukhari]