The terms Hadith and Sunnah are usually interchangeable, but they’re not the same thing. Sunnah literally means tradition or way. In Islamic context, Sunnah refers to Prophetic tradition. It refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s (a) sayings, (b) actions, and (c) tacit approvals regarding Islamic/religious matters. Therefore, not everything from the Prophet is Sunnah. Hadith, on the other hand, refers to the collected reports and narrations of the Prophet’s Sunnah. So, Sunnah is the actual thing and Hadith is simply literature.

Allah, in the Quran, commands every believing Muslim to obey the Prophet Muhammad unconditionally. So if there were someone we are allowed to blind-follow, that would be him.

Following the hadith is not explicitly mentioned in the Quran, however, it contains many verses regarding obedience to the Messenger. Because what the Messenger says, does, and approves of regarding matters of religion is Sunnah, because obeying the Prophet is obligatory, then following the Sunnah is obligatory (generally speaking). Since Sunnah is collected and is known to us through what we find in sound hadith, then following the hadith is, generally speaking, obligatory as well. The Hadith is our only access to the Prophet’s Sunnah, therefore, we must follow it.

We have sent you bearing witness, bringing good news, and warning so that you might all believe in Allah and His Messenger as well as honor, respect, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening. Those who pledge their allegiance to you (O Muhammad) pledge allegiance to Allah. Allah`s hand is over their hands. Those who break their pledge only break it against themselves. But as for those who fulfill the contract they have made with Allah, We will give them an immense reward. (Surat al-Fath: 8-10)

One who has taken a vow of allegiance to the Prophet (saas) has taken it to Allah (swt). Our Lord also tells us that: "Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah." (Surat an-Nisa`: 80)

And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad SAW) the reminder and the advice (the Qur’ân), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought. (16:44)

[The believers are] those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written down with them in the Torah and the Gospel, commanding them to do right and forbidding them to do wrong, making good things lawful for them and bad things forbidden for them, relieving them of their heavy loads and the chains that were around them. Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the Light that has been sent down with him are successful. (Surat al-A`raf: 157)

You should accept whatever the Messenger gives you and abandon whatever he tells you to abandon. Have taqwa of Allah... (Surat al-Hashr: 7)

These verses show that in addition to what the Quran prohibits, the Prophet can prohibit other things to his community. Therefore, our Prophet states in one hadith:

"Avoid that which I forbid you to do and do that which I command you to do to the best of your capacity." (Sahih Muslim, book 30, hadith no. 5818)

When Allah and His Messenger have decided something, no believing man or woman has a choice about [following or not following] it. Anyone who disobeys Allah and His Messenger is clearly misguided. (Surat al-Ahzab: 36)

But if anyone opposes the Messenger after the guidance has become clear to him, and follows a path other than that of the believers, We will hand him over to whatever he has turned to, and We will roast him in Hell. What an evil destination! (Surat an-Nisa`: 115)

Say (O Muhammad): "If you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you and forgive your sins." (Surah Al `Imran: 31)

The Sunnah is indivisible from the Quran. These two must be taken together, with the Quran being superior over the other. The Sunnah is the Prophet’s living interpretation of the Quran. In fact, in the context of Fiqh, one cannot solely rely on Quranic text and interpret it without referring to the Sunnah/Hadith for guidance or explanation/clarification.

Allahu Akbar.