Hadith Studies and Researches

Hadith Studies and Researches

The Authority of the Prophetic Sunnah: Foundations, Views, and Implications with an Emphasis on the Prophet’s Consultations (PBUH)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babulsar, Iran.
Abstract
The Prophetic Sunnah, after the Holy Qur’an, is the second authoritative source for deriving Islamic teachings; however, its scope and degree of authority have long been subjects of debate among Islamic scholars. In this regard, three main viewpoints can be identified: "The absolute authority of the Sunnah, the authority of the Sunnah in religious matters but not in non-religious affairs, and the differentiation of authority based on the Prophet’s threefold roles, prophetic mission, judiciary, and governance." Using a descriptive-analytical method and a critical approach, this study seeks to present a rational explanation of the Prophet’s consultations based on the theory of differentiating these roles. The findings indicate that consultation holds different positions in each of these three domains; in the context of the Prophet’s mission, consultation has no place because the mission is sacred in nature; in the judicial role, consultation is clearly relevant, since judicial rulings are issued on the basis of hearing evidence and outward judgments, making consultation functional; but in the domain of governance and leadership, consultation differs from the previous two. Here, consultation represents the application of collective reasoning in non-revelatory matters and in the system of governance. Therefore, it is not merely educational or ceremonial but an effective and decisive element in decision-making. This analysis shows that the Prophet’s consultations are not only compatible with his infallibility and exalted status, but also reflect the rational dimension of the Prophetic practice.
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Volume 3, Issue 3 - Serial Number 11
Summer 2026
Pages 215-243

  • Receive Date 28 November 2025
  • Revise Date 01 April 2026
  • Accept Date 24 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 23 July 2026
  • Publish Date 23 July 2026