What Does the Word “Sunnah” Mean in the Quran?

What Does the Word “Sunnah” Mean in the Quran?

The word sunnah (plural sunan) is mentioned 16 times in the Quran. The concept of sunnah is used in two senses in the Quran:

• Sunnah means the path or method followed (Ibn Manzur, Lisân al-ʿArab, headword S-N-N). Sunnah is the way that all prophets and therefore all believers must follow, that is, the way of revelation (wahy):
  “Allah wants to make clear for you, guide you to the ways (sunan سُنَنَ ) of those before you and accept your repentance…” (an-Nisa [4] 26).
• The concept of sunnah of Allah in the Quran means the social laws of Him:
  “This is the law of Allah (sunnatillah سُنَّةِ اللّٰهِ ) that He applied to those before. You will not find any change in the law of Allah.” (al-Fath [48] 23. See also al-Ahzab [33] 38, 62; Al Imran [3] 137; al-Hijr [15] 13; al-Isra [17] 77; al-Ghafir [40] 85). Example of Sunnah of Allah: If those who disbelieve repent, their past deeds will be forgiven. If they return again, they will go to hell (al-Anfal [8] 38. Also Fatir [35] 43; al-Kahf [18] 55).

As a result, the sunnah mentioned in the Quran, is the way of revelation (wahy) that every Believer must follow and the unchangeable social practices and prohibitions for societies.