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The dictionary meaning of Sunnah is way or road (whether good or bad).

Abu Juhaifa () transmits that the Messenger of Allah () stated: "Whoever starts a good act and thereafter it was acted upon then the person who started the act will be rewarded along with others who have been acting upon it and the reward of those who have been acting upon it will not be reduced.  And a person who starts a wicked act which was later acted upon then he will receive the retribution for his own sin and also of the sins of others and the people who have been acting upon the wicked way, their amount of sin will not be diminshed."¹

Anas () transmits that the Messenger of Allah () stated: "Whoever avoids following my way does not belong to me."²

Talha bin Abdullah bin Auf () stated: I was behind (Abdullah) bin Abbas () in a funeral prayer.  He recited the opening chapter of the Book (Quran) in the prayer and stated: "(I have recited this chapter) for you to know that this was the way of the Messenger of Allah ()."³

Sunnah is of three kinds:

Oral Sunnah 

The oral statements of the Messenger of Allah () are referred to as Sunnah-e-Qauli.  An example of which is as under.

Hazaifa () transmits that the Messenger of Allah () stated: "Before starting to eat food if 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah) is not recited then Satan considers the food to be permitted for him."⁴

Physical Sunnah

Any act or deed of the Messenger of Allah () is referred to as physical Sunnah.  An example of which is as under.

Nu'man bin Basheer () stated: "When we stood up for prayers the Messenger of Allah () straightened the files (ranks).  When we stood straight then he would recite Allahu Akbar and commence the prayer."⁵

Approved Sunnah

When in the presence of the Messenger of Allah () some deed is performed and he kept quiet or has expressed satisfaction about it then this is called Hadith-e-Taqreeri (Approved Sunnah) which is illustrated as under.

Qais bin amr () related: The Messenger of Allah () saw a person performing two cycles of prayer after the morning obligatory prayer and asked: "The morning prayer consists of two cycles?" The man replied: "I did not perform the two cycles of prayer before the obligatory prayer.  Therefore, I am now completing them."  The Messenger of Allah () was silent (i.e. gave permission).^6,7

¹ Collected by Ibne Maaja (Sunan Ibne Majaa (Arabic-English translation by Muhammed Tufail Ansari), (Pakistan: Kazi Publications, 121-Zulqarnain Chambers, Ganpat Road, Lahore, 1st Ed., 1993), Vol 1, p. 116-7, No. 207 and authenticated (Sahih) by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibne Maaja lil Albani, Vol. 1, p. 41, No. 72, (Published by: Maktab-ul-Islami, Beirut, 1st Ed., 1407 H (1986).

² Collected by Bukhari (Sahih Al-Bukhari (Arabic-English), Vol. 7, p. 1-2, No. 1.

³ Collected by Bukhari (Sahih Al-Bukhari (Arabic-English), Vol. 2, p. 234, No. 419.

⁴ Collected by Muslim (Sahih Muslim (Arabic-English), Vol. 3, p. 1114, No. 5004.

⁵ Collected by Abu Dawood (Sunan Abu Dawood (English translation by Prof. Ahmad Hasan), (Pakistan: Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, Publishers & Booksellers, 7-Aibak Road, Lahore, 1.st Ed., Reprinted, 1988), Vol. 1, p. 173, No. 665, and authenticated (Sahih) by Albani in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood lil Albani (Arabic), Vol. 1, p. 131, No. 619, Published by: Maktaba-tut-Tarbi'ah-tul-Arabi Li-Do'wal Al-Khaleej, 1st Edition, 1409 H (1989).

⁶ All the three types of Sunnah are of equal status and considered the final authority in the Islamic law (Shari'ah)

⁷ Collected by Abu Dawood (Sunan Abu Dawood (English trans.), Vol. 1, p. 333, No. 1262, and authenticated (Sahih) by Albani in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood lil Albani, Vol. 1, p. 236, No. 1128.