Leaving a Sunnah, a Sin?

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Question:

Is ignoring or leaving a Sunnah a sin or simply missed opportunity on Sawab? For example many of us know that drinking water while sitting, and in three parts is part of Sunnah but we sometimes don't follow this. Does this become a sin for us?

Answer:

Salaam sister
 
Many thanks for your query. In the opinion of our scholars, not all Sunnah are of the same religious significance and importance. Whilst some are mandatory, like fasting and prayers and leaving them would be a sin, some pertain to etiquettes only, like saying Assallaam u Alaikum. There are others which are optional religious practices, like itikaaf. In all the latter examples, not doing them is not sinful but doing them will make us attain blessings.
 
There are also some Sunnah that may not be applicable upon every Muslim. Pilgrimage, sacrifice and zakah are only obligatory if one has the financial means.
 
Drinking water whilst sitting and in three parts, in the opinion of our scholars is the Uswa (supreme model) of the prophet Muhammad pbuh and not a Sunnah.
 
I enclose links from our sister web site that provide a definition of Sunnah, list of what are Sunnah and also the principles which are used to determine what are Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad pbuh, in our opinion.
 
http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=76
 
http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=77
 
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to e-mail them to us
 
Best regards
 
Waseem Aslam
 
UIUK Web Team

1. Definition of Sunnah
2. Determining Sunnah
3. For more questions about this topic, please go to our section, 'Sunnah & Hadith'

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