The Path of the Prophet

THE PATH OF THE PROPHET Evolution not Revolution The word “sunnah” in Arabic means a path. In the religious context, it refers to the manner of life pleasing to God, which has been revealed to man through His Prophets. The word is used in the Quran for all the forms divine law has taken throughout the ages. When God created the world, He also ordained a path to follow. Moreover, he enforced this divine course so strictly on the world of nature that there cannot be the slightest deviation from it. But God did not impose His will on humanity. Instead, he gave us freedom of thought and action: those who followed His path of their own free will would be rewarded with paradise, while those who deviated from it would be punished in hellfire. God wishes to make this known, guide you along the path of those who have gone before you, and turn to you in mercy. He is Wise, Knowing.39 God’s prophets came to the world to make this chosen path plain to us. In their words and deeds, they showed us how to live by the will of God. This way of life is known in Islam as the sunnah, or path, of the prophets. It covers every aspect of life, from personal matters to social reform and