Hadith as Sunna, but it is not necessary that a Sunna would have a supporting hadith sanctioning it. Some sources (Khaled Abou El Fadl) limit hadith to verbal reports, with the deeds of Muhammad and reports about his companions being part of the "Sunnah", but not hadith. Joseph Schacht quotes a Hadith by Muhammad that is used "to justify reference" in Islamic law to companions of Muhammad as religious authorities — "My companions are like lodestars." According to Schacht, (and other scholars) in the very first generations after the death of Muhammad, use of hadith from "Sahabah" ("companions" of Muhammad) and
Criticism of Hadith these not just inspirational or informational but laws "sacrosanct or immutable Shari'ah" to be enforced, and because to others (especially modernist and liberal Muslims) the laws thus developed are "contrary to the intent and spirit of the Qur'an and Islam's fundamental commitment to justice and fairness", the "problem of the authenticity of the Sunnah" or hadith has become an issue for those (especially modernist and liberal Muslims) who believe there is a conflict between the "intent and spirit of the Qur'an" and "centuries-old" ahadith-based jurisprudence. According to M.O. Farooq, despite the widespread belief that sahih hadith are authentic hadith and