Sources of Islam

The Glorious Qur’an

The Qur’an was not the first Book to be revealed, nor was ‎Muhammad the first Messenger to be sent. Allah has revealed the Scriptures ‎to Abraham; Torah to Moses and the Gospel to Jesus. All these Books were ‎revelations from Allah to His Prophets and Messengers.

As for the Qur’an, Allah Himself guarantees its protection, so it is today the verbatim of what was revealed to the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, over fourteen centuries ago:

{{Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).}} (Holy Qur’an 15:9)

The Qur’an, the last revealed word of God, is the primary source of every Muslim’s faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects, which concern human beings:

Wisdom, doctrine, worship, transactions, law, etc., but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, it provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system. It also contains the fundamentals for which Allah sent the ‎Messengers.‎

The Qur’an guides mankind to the most righteous path in all aspects of their ‎life, for it contains a call to belief in the Oneness of Allah, and mention ‎His Names, Attributes and deeds. It calls to belief in the authenticity of what ‎the Prophets and Messengers brought. It affirms the Resurrection, reward, ‎reckoning and establishes evidences for that. It narrates the stories ‎of past nations, the punishment meted out to them in this world as well as the ‎torment and exemplary punishment that awaits them in the Hereafter.‎

The Prophetic Sunnah‎

Allah revealed the Qur’an to the Messenger and revealed to him an alike sayings ‎which are named as the Prophetic Sunnah to further the explanation of the Holy Qur’an.

The Sunnah is the second source of the religion of Islam. It means all what is ‎reported from the Prophet – with well-connected and authentic chain of ‎transmitters – of his sayings, deeds, confirmations and qualities. It is also a ‎revelation from Allah to His Messenger Muhammad, for the Prophet did not ‎speak of his own desire. Allah Almighty says:

{{Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.}} (Holy Qur’an 53: 3-4)

The Prophet only conveys to people what he is commanded to convey. Allah ‎says about him, ‎

‎

{{ Say (O Muhammad):”I am not a new thing among the Messengers (of Allâh) (i.e. I am not the first Messenger) nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am but a plain Warner.”}} (Holy Qur’an 46: 9)

The pure Sunnah is the practical implementation of the rules, beliefs, acts of ‎worship, kinds of relationship and manners that Islam enjoins.

Allah Almighty has commanded the believers to emulate him in all his ‎deeds and sayings to ensure that their faith is complete. He says: ‎

{{Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.}}

(Holy Qur’an 33: 21)

And Allah says: ‎
{{ ..And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), ..}} (Holy Qur’an 59: 7)

Yasser Gabr & Houda Karkour, Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh